Reflection Paper on Self-Assessment for Career Preparedness

This report is a reflection on self-assessment for career preparedness, focusing on the application of the Happenstance Learning Theory (HLT) and its relevance to future work skills. The author explores the concept of "learning to love learning" as a key element in adapting to the evolving demands of the job market. The report discusses the importance of skills like analytical abilities, emotional quotient, and tacit knowledge in the service industry, aligning with the IFTF framework's "People's skill." It examines the use of self-assessment methods, like the STAR model, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and the need to bridge gaps in education through supplementary tools. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the effectiveness of practical methods like "walking the talk" and lifelong learning to become future-ready, contrasting them with traditional educational approaches that may not fully prepare individuals for the contemporary job market. The author intends to use the self-assessment to identify and address gaps in their education, preparing for the demands of the future job market.

Reflection Paper: Self-assessment for career preparedness

1.
The role of the Happenstance Learning Theory in the development of self-concept
The Happenstance Learning Theory or HLT describes the concept of self as an outcome of
various “experiences and skills” learned by a person during the course of his preparation for
acquiring skills, using the skills for the purpose of earning a livelihood and satisfying the needs
of career and life. While studying this theory as a tool for the process of career orientation, the
concept of “learning to love learning” fascinated me to a great extent.
I agree with the view that “learning to love learning” holds the crux of the theory because it
reminds me to open the gateways for all types of leanings like associative learning and others for
me. In order to complete the curve of the knowledge on the subject this theory also gives a fair
account of the types of studies and researches, when I correlate the impacts of this theory for the
future job markets, I find that future job markets demands a consistent up-gradation of skills and
the crux of the HLT promotes the same spirit (Future Skills update plus literature review , 2019).
2
Future work skills
My studies in the subject suggest that frameworks associated with the future work skills
identifies, analytical skills, intelligence, tacit knowledge and Emotion quotient as the major skills
that will act as the deciding factor. The technical knowledge is necessary; however, the above-
mentioned skills will provide a cutting edge to the aspirants competing in the job market of

service industry. I am planning a career in the service industry, handling people and practice of
the highest order of the servitude can be considered as the key result areas for me.
I am aware of the fact that it is very important to admit the fact that industries of the future are
changing the primary set of skills that are important to ensure a job in the coming ten years.
Under the realms of the IFTF framework, the set of these skills is also known as “People’s skill.”
A variety of self-assessment methods corresponding to the traits related to adaptive thinking,
media literacy, and social intelligence, cross-cultural management and virtual collaboration are
available in both paid and non-paid categories. A deep study of the HLT framework prompted
me to change my outlook on the assessment of these results. For instance in the STAR model my
ratings establishes me as a problem solver who has the capacity to deal with the issues of the
people very sensitively. My score in the T quadrant of the model are very encouraging for me.
Factors like the globally connected world, the emergence of the super structured organization
new media ecology, computational and most importantly the rise of the smart machines and the
systems are creating a new set of demands. The existing structured systems of education are not
aware of these major changes. I want to utilize the results of the self-assessment methods to
identify the gaps in my education and fill them up with the help of supplementary education
tools.
3
Methods and Learning
“Walking the talk” and “learning to love learning” are two methods that are essential for me to
become future-ready. The conventional methods of education like “ knowing more and more
about more and more” and “ know more and more about less and less” are not making me job-

ready. They are making me subject ready, this is a big gap and I can suffer a lot of problems at
the entry levels of the job fields.
The concept of “walking the talk” presents a less time-consuming option for experimentation
with the latest methods at the same time “learning to love learning” opens the gateway for
consistent up-gradation of the skills in an informal environment.