Professional Employability Plan: Skills, Goals, and Industry Analysis

This report presents a comprehensive professional employability plan, focusing on the water treatment industry. It begins with an analysis of contemporary recruitment practices in Australia, highlighting the significance of technology, social media, and networking. The report then critically evaluates the role of networking in the industry, emphasizing its impact on career advancement. The core of the report involves a self-assessment of career goals (short, medium, and long-term), skill reflection, and identification of strengths and development needs. The plan incorporates SMART goals and action plans to bridge skill gaps and enhance employability. The report also includes an analysis of the industry and its trends, aiming to give the reader a clear understanding of the requirements and the necessary steps to achieve their career goals.

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN
Professional Employability Plan
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN
Recruitment practices in the industry
Australia is an increasingly competitive market for talent. The modern working
landscape of the country is changing with the entrance of Generation Z in the workforce and
the millennials are expected to make up almost half of the total Australian workforce by the
end of 2020 [1]. The modern Australian companies recruit candidates through a variety of
medium. Especially in the water treatment industry, recruitment are done by means of using
technology, insourcing and outsourcing, through private recruitment agencies and also,
through social media platforms. Recruiters make online advertisement about job openings
[2]. Often they use online job boards in similar manner for classifying the job advertisements
in the daily newspapers. Employers pay to these job boards for advertising and posting one or
more vacancies and these advertisements are substantially less expensive compared to the
print media. They are also fast and easy to publish. It is to mention that the broad reach of the
generalised job boards like CareerOne, Seek, Indeed and Jobsearch.gov.au, generates huge
numbers of candidates and applicants belonging from the industry or are interested in
working under the water treatment industry. There has been a significant rise in the careers
and vacancies websites and different search engine optimisation. It is often referred as direct
sourcing. Often firms within this industry use their websites for encouraging best applicants
to apply for and accept the jobs with them.
Apart from this, an additional consideration for the employers advertising job
vacancies on the career websites is the increasing usage of smartphones for searching jobs.
The total number of Australians today who use smartphones for accessing social media and
browsing online has increased by about 67per cent from 2012 to 2013 [3]. People are making
more use of their mobile phones to search for jobs. Optimisation of the mobile browsing
comprises of mobile detection. Furthermore, social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter
and Facebook are also emerging as important platforms for recruiting and attracting more
number of candidates. Social media along with the new information technology platforms
are the biggest areas of growth in Australian recruitment practices. Some institutions like
RCSA and AHRI are playing significant role in providing support and guidance on the role of
social media in the process of recruitment.
The role of networking in the industry
Networking and relationship building have the potential of advancing one’s career
and even can help in landing a person to his next role. Advancing one’s job search is very
hard a feat most engineers who attaining on their own. Often they get engaged in job search
networking where they take the advantage of different benefits. It gives the engineers the
opportunity of sharing valuable insight and building their personal brand in the manner.
However, it is to mention that within the water treatment industry, networking does not play
much role. It is all dependent on the skills, qualification and knowledge that a candidate
possesses. Recruitment within this industry are done by means of using technology,
insourcing and outsourcing, through private recruitment agencies and also, through social
media platforms. There are certain job roles like that of water treatment engineer, water
engineer, wastewater engineer and water treatment manager etc. that falls within this industry

2PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN
and all these job roles require some specific skill sets and talent. Having networks cannot
help in getting the right platform [4]. However, still, there are employees who use many
simultaneous recruitment sources like job boards, social media, and careers website, print
advertising, personal networking etc. social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and
Facebook are also emerging as important platforms for recruiting and attracting more number
of candidates. The employers who are aimed at maximising the return on their time of
recruitment and dollar investments are seen conducting yield analysis for evaluating the
channels that yield the highest number of suitable candidates. Jobs positions are advertised on
a regular basis in the academic networking sites, especially for each discipline and sub-
discipline, in the academic job search sites, international publications, university websites, e-
mails etc. Also, campusing are conducted by the universities to help the graduate engineers to
get a right path for them through their networking with good big Australian companies within
the sector [5].
Reference Links
[1] Veles, N.; Carter, M. Imagining A Future: Changing The Landscape For Third Space
Professionals In Australian Higher Education Institutions. Journal of Higher Education
Policy and Management 2016, 38 (5), 519-533.
[2] Jackson, D. Factors influencing job attainment in recent Bachelor graduates: evidence
from Australia. http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1026&context=ecuworks2013 (accessed Apr 10, 2020).
[3] Khan, B.; Olanrewaju, R.; Baba, A. A Compendious Study of Online Payment Systems:
Past Developments, Present Impact, and Future Considerations.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317311952_A_Compendious_Study_of_Online_Pa
yment_Systems_Past_Developments_Present_Impact_and_Future_Considerations (accessed
Apr 10, 2020).
[4] Chin, C.; Evans, N.; Choo, K. Exploring Factors Influencing the Use of Enterprise Social
Networks in Multinational Professional Service Firms.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10919392.2015.1058118 (accessed Apr 10,
2020).
[5] Lyons, N.; Shaw, N.; Nicola-Richmond, K.; Curtin, M.; Rowan, S.; Ingwersen, K.
Occupational Therapy Enhanced Practice Education Approach: Student
Perspectives. International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social
Care 2017, 5 (2), 51-68.
Career Clarity
Short Term What do you want to achieve in your career in one to three years?
My short term goal that I want to achieve within one to three years is that of getting my first
job in a multinational corporation that would give me job satisfaction as I would be able of
supporting my family financially and quickly adapting to the job requirements and learning

3PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN
the work role and doing work quickly. I would try my level best for becoming a team lead
from being an assistant water treatment engineer within 2 years of getting the job.
Mid Term What do you want to achieve in your career in three to five years?
My mid-term goal is to acquire all the knowledge and skills within the domain and make
myself appropriate for gaining a higher post within the water treatment industry. I want to
work upwards for becoming a mid-level manager or a mid-level supervisor. I want to
pursue a masters in water resource management as well in order to develop my professional
network with the contacts of mine at all the levels of my selected industry.
Long Term What do you want to achieve in your career in five years +?
My long term goal that I want to achieve in my career within five years is that of working
in diverse industries for gaining maximum exposure. I am looking forward for gaining
global exposure along with some cross functional experiences for making myself more
professionals. Finally, I want to own my own business which I would be operating on an
independent basis.
Skill Reflection
Short Term Career Goal
(post graduation) What do
you want to achieve in
your career in one to three
years?
Skills Required
What are the key
skills required to be
successful in your
target roles?
Strengths
Which skills do
I align with?
Development
Needs Where can
I bridge the gap?
My short term goal that I
want to achieve within one
to three years is that of
getting my first job in a
multinational corporation
that would give me job
satisfaction as I would be
able of supporting my
family financially and
quickly adapting to the job
requirements and learning
the work role and doing
work quickly. I would try
my level best for becoming
a team lead from being an
assistant water treatment
engineer within 2 years of
getting the job.
a) Good time
management
b) Proficiency in
basic MS Office
software
c) Excellent
analytical skills
d) Complex
problem solving
e) Good academic
performance
f) Intellectual skills
g) Good driving
record
h) Communication
skills
i) Technical
knowledge and
skills on water
resource
management
j) Analysis skills
I am very
collaborative
and have always
preferred to
work in teams
and groups.
I respond
promptly to the
progressively
changing
environment and
have continuous
learning ability
within myself.
 I default to
believing that I
can solve any
issue on my
own. Although
it does help in
some
situations, but
it other cases, it
don’t. I sought
help from
others for
overcoming the
factors that are
beyond my
control.
 Secondly, I
often find
myself judging
individuals. I
consider this as
my greatest
weakness. I
usually judge

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my team
members by
their character
of personality
and by their
performance
levels and
working
commitment.
 I lack in
cooperation. I
do not always
find myself
playing well
with other
seeing as I am
quite unsocial.
Also, I feel lack
of inspiration
on my part and
find difficult in
inspiring my
peers
SMART Action Plan
SMART Goal Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time
based
I want to achieve
within one to three
years is that of
getting my first job
in a multinational
corporation that
would give me job
satisfaction as I
would be able of
supporting my
family financially
and quickly adapting
to the job
requirements and
learning the work
role and doing work
quickly. I would try
my level best for
becoming a team
lead from being an
assistant water
Completing
graduation
with good
scores and
developing
all the
necessary
skills and
knowledge
for working
in an MNC
Financial
improvement
in family
condition,
adapting to
all the job
requirements
Scheduling
team building
activities and
taking a
course for
developing
necessary
skills
Better work
performance
and ability
Two
years

5PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN
treatment engineer
within 2 years of
getting the job
Strengths Action Plan
Development
Activity
Where When Measure Captu
re
Progress
Tracking
Expanding my
personal capacity
of working
individually.
 Classrooms,
 Projects,
 Workplace
 Given projects
5
months
Taking
risk
Focusing
on the
work and
finishing
within
the
deadline
Yes Number of
projects
completed
successfully
individually.
Look for different
ways for serving
other with the
same issue.
 Classrooms,
 Projects,
 Workplace
 Given projects
5
months
People
able to
complete
their
work
with my
guidance
Yes Number of
projects of others
that are
completed
successfully with
my help.
Weaknesses Action Plan
Development Activity Where When Measure Captur
e
Progress Tracking
Stepping back before
diving into a problem
solving mode and
identifying people and
groups, who would be
good resources for
me.
 Classrooms,
 Projects,
 Workplace
 Given
projects
5
months
Potential of
problem
solving
Yes Number of cases
solved effectively.
Being more
Cooperative
 Classrooms,
 Projects,
 Workplace
 Given
projects
5
months
Leading
other by
example
and help
them in
feeling
worthwhile
Yes Increase in number
of people who
approach me for
some or the other
kind of help

6PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYABILITY PLAN