University IT Graduate Developer Career Planning Report

This report details a student's self-assessment and career planning process, focusing on their suitability for a Graduate Developer position. The student analyzes their personal attributes, including self-reliance, creativity, flexibility, and adaptability, and identifies key employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Strengths highlighted include strong verbal and written communication skills, experience in freelance graphic design and web design, and effective listening abilities. The report also acknowledges weaknesses, particularly a lack of confidence, and outlines strategies for improvement. The student's selection criteria for a Graduate Developer role are addressed, emphasizing relevant qualifications, technical skills, and transferable abilities. The report underscores the importance of effective communication in a globalized world and demonstrates the student's commitment to professional development, making it a valuable resource for career exploration and self-improvement. The report demonstrates the students ability to meet the requirements of the job profile and how the student will be a valuable asset to the company by highlighting the strengths and acknowledging the weaknesses.

Running head: PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Planning for Professional Career
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Self-Assessment
Introduction
Understanding our personal goals, values, interests, personal attributes,
attitudes and skills is known as self-awareness. It involves honest reflection and self-
exploration. In this part of the assignment, I shall be describing about my personal
attributes and skills highlighting my strengths and weaknesses, being a student
pursuing Bachelor degree of information for determining whether I am suitable for
the job of Graduate Developer.
Self-reflection exercises
The self-assessment exercises were comprised of the skill tests and
personality tests. These exercises made me feel well-prepared and helped me in
feeling more self-confident at the time of assessment. Through this self-assessment I
enabled my employers to know who I am and what I can bring to their organisations.
I am completely aware of the fact that my personal values, my value of profession as
well as my social status have a great influence on building a professional helping
relationships in between me and my work practices. In this entire process, I found
one thing very surprising. This self-assessment has enabled me to critically identify
my strengths and weaknesses and I feel a positive change within me now. Until
today, I was unaware of my weaknesses and I never thought of them in this way. But
today, I do and I have understood that in order to excel in my professional career, I
need to overcome the weakness of mine and foster my strengths. I have realised a
change in myself to overcome this weakness.
Personal Attributes and employability skills
As far as my personal attributes are concerned, I want to mention that of my
skills and attributes of self-reliance, creativity, flexibility and adaptability. I am very
creative. I love making eye-catching presentations and easy to handle
documentations. With the same, I am very flexible and always have the willingness
and ability to respond to positive changes readily within the organisation. I never say
things like “It’s not my job” like things whenever I am asked to make on new
assignments or new work. Even in during my project, the things that my team
members failed in doing, were done by me. I never afraid of taking responsibilities
and always willingly take the responsibility of anything if it is within my expertise. I
have identified my employability skills. I have found that I have a good
communication and problem solving skills. Through various stages in my life, I
have been given the task of public speaking and speaking with new members in my
society. Whether it is in inter-school competition or in community program or in my
part time job that I am doing being a second year student, I have always been
successful in ensuring thorough communication. I do believe that communication is
undoubtedly one of the most important skills to possess in contemporary scenario.
Being able to communicate effectively and in clear manner in our environment and
comfort zone do seems challenging sometime but it increases rapidly in different
culture. Globalisation is something that is completely unavoidable in today’s world
and this has made effective communication in the face of cultural diversity important
than ever before. I am good with working with other and improving my own learning.
Moreover, I have the potential of speaking confidently about my business. I have
always listened what others want to convey to me and I have always considered
their suggestions and advices respectfully. I am also good at problem solving and I
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can say this because of the fact that I have always been in the advisor and problem
solver during my school and university years. I was the one to solve the conflicts
among my peers as well. I always think before reacting and never show
aggressiveness. This is why, I am good at handling conflicts sportingly. Hence, I can
assure that if I am given the job of being the Graduate Developer, I shall be
effectively playing my role and would assist the escalated support team with all the
technical supports for resolving the customer issues in proper and timely manner.
Furthermore, my other key skills include the team working skill. I always
work towards knowing more. I do believe that there are things that I am not good
enough. Like, for example, I usually suffer from low motivation for leading a team of
huge members. Once, during my graduation years, I was given a team project. The
team was quite big of 8 members. Since, my academic career was good, I was in the
good books of most of my professors. Hence, they made me the team leader. I faced
many challenges in leading the team effectively and managing them and our project.
Different members had different opinions and they wanted to handle the work in their
own different way. Finally, I let my team members finish their allocated work in the
way they want and I just ensured that they meet the deadline and accuracy and
deliver the desired results. Along with that, I personally believe that I can become an
effective leader as well. I have good leadership skill and I ensure that my team
follows all the standard processes that are required for maintaining the accuracy and
quality of the work. While taking any decision, I do not usually take them for my
people, rather I allow them to make their own. I always inspire my team members to
make the best decision that would surely to be fruitful for our entire team and the
best one for all the concerned. Therefore, I believe that I am a good decision maker
as well. Furthermore, it is also to note that I always pay much attention to minute
details of everything and thereafter, take the necessary decisions. I never take any
step quickly in a single go.
Identified Strengths
To my viewpoint, I would like to mention that there are several strengths of
mine that I believe, help me in being an effective employee in the workplace. One of
the most significant of them is that of having a good verbal and written
communication skills. I believe that for running a successful business, one needs
to communicate effectively with the peers, the staffs as well as the management. I
helps in avoiding the misunderstandings which could influence the workplace
productivity, efficiency and workplace morale. I had my own freelance graphic
designing business that went on good for a total of 3 years. I am also a web designer
and have designed more than six websites for several events and companies. I had
to interact with many international clients as well. I never even acquired any negative
review from any of my clients. I am very good at managing and conducting meetings
and presenting verbal presentations. Through various stages in my life, I have been
given the task of public speaking and speaking with new members in my society.
Also, I am very good at making conversations in between employees. As I have
already mentioned that I have always been good at communicating and meeting with
new members. I am very jolly natured and have the potential to get jell up with
people very easily. I speak clear and ensure that the electronic messages that I send
are not vague in any way. With the same, my other strengths include being effective
listener, determined and team working. I would also like to mention that I am
always clear on my goals and I ensure that same at my place of work as well as I
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think that my performance towards achieving my goal is the only thing that would be
reflected back to me. The better my performance would be, the better would be my
result. Furthermore, I have the potential of speaking confidently about my business. I
have always listened what others want to convey to me and I have always
considered their suggestions and advices respectfully.
Professional development required
Notwithstanding these facts, it is also to mention that like any other
individuals, I too possess weaknesses and it require further development. However,
there are many weaknesses of mine but the only one related to my career world is
that of lacking in confidence. I do lack in confidence many times and in many
situations. For example, although I have all the potentials and capacities of leading a
team in right way, sometimes, the lack of confidence within me wants to quit when
something gets wrong. When I was given the role of team leader during the project
at my university, there were times, I felt completely shattered. I was failing in
managing my team as many among them were non-cooperative. The final deadline
of the University was reaching and there were only five days left. I thought of quitting
and make other the team leader. I have decided to use several strategies to boost
my confidence level. I will groom myself, dress myself nicely and always think
positively by killing all by negative thoughts. I will always try to make eye contact
while speaking to people and practice appreciation. I know that I have the potential
to become an asset for my organisation and I always play an active role in whatever
I do.
Summary
From my self-assessment, I have identified my good fit for satisfying my
career. I have identified my personality traits, attributes, employability skills and my
strengths and weaknesses. I have good communication, team working, and problem
solving and leadership skills. With the same, I also pay attention to minute details
and have strong written skills. I do think that I have the potential to become a
valuable asset for my company and this is sure to happen if my successfully
overcome my weakness of low confidence level.
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PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Selection Criteria
Position: Graduate Developer
Name of the Applicant’s: XYZ
Vacancy Reference Number: XXXXXXXX
Address to the Selection Criteria:
A relevant qualification and experience for the Job
Ample of knowledge and skills have been acquired from bachelor’s degree in
Information that strongly fit with the position of Graduate Developer. Well-prepared
for working in the field of information technology industry as the degree has major
focus on technology and computers. Technical skills have been effectively gathered
and demonstrated over a number of years by serving as a graphic designer.
Several transferable skills and abilities relevant and helpful over different
areas of life are attained through owing a freelance graphic designing business that
went on good for a total of 3 years. Communication skills (both verbal and written),
problem solving skills and time management skills have been effectively
demonstrated over three years of being a web designer and designing more than six
websites for several events and companies.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Communication is undoubtedly one of the most important skills to possess in
contemporary scenario. Globalisation is something that is completely unavoidable in
today’s world and this has made effective communication in the face of cultural
diversity important than ever before. A strong verbal, interpersonal and written
communication skills have been achieved throughout the academic career.
Being a professional freelance graphic designer at own business, more than 1000
graphic designs projects were completed successfully and they all dealt with several
international clients as well. There were never any negative review attained from any
of the clients. Working in own business has helped in improving written and verbal
communication skills as it required interacting with many international and national
clients and customers and communicating with the staffs.
Developed some strong transferrable skills through dealing with varieties of
customers and communicating effectively in proper manner at variety of situations. I
speak clear and ensure that the electronic messages that I send are not vague in
any way. With the same, attained technical writing skills through professional
experience and have excellent command in grammar, punctuation and spellings.
Ability of explaining technical issues to a non-technical audience
Potential of explaining technical issues to non-technical audience. The ability
of translating the technical problem to non-technical audience is key and as a
graduate developer, I will be doing it many time while communicating with the
customers, business partners and anyone who is non-technical audience. For this
purpose, I opt for explaining the issues as a story. Participated in many storytelling
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events and hence, good at storytelling as well. At the same time, very patient and
empathetic in nature.
Strong attention to detail
Strong skill of paying attention to minute details of everything and thereafter,
take the necessary decisions. Never chose to take any step quickly in a single go
and always try to achieve thoroughness and accuracy during accomplishing a
particular task.
Advanced troubleshooting and excellent skill of problem solving
Excellent at problem solving as have always been an excellent advisor and
problem solver during my school and university years. I was the one to solve the
conflicts among my peers as well. Think several times before reacting and never
show aggressiveness while speaking or explaining something to anyone. Hence,
have a strong skills of handling conflicts sportingly. Very effectively playing my role
and would assist the escalated support team of the organisation with all the technical
supports for resolving the customer issues in proper and timely manner as a hands-
on software troubleshooting experience is possessed.
Self-motivated and able to work autonomously
Highly self-motivated and work autonomously. Often start the projects all on
my own without any direction from my peers and enjoy doing so. As compared to
most of the people of the same age, I have much more willingness and self-discipline
for trying out new things.
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PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Cover letter
Applicant’s name:
Address:
City, Postal Code:
Phone number:
Email ID:
Company Name:
Address:
City, Postal Zip Code:
Dear HR Manager,
This letter is to express interest in the possibility of gaining employment as
Graduate Developer at ______. Being a second year student in Bachelor’s Degree in
Information and having an experience of being web designer and graphic designer at
my own business of 3 years, I am confident enough that I would be an asset for your
company.
It is also to mention that there are many personal skills, traits and attributes I
possess that suites to the job requirements. Enjoy being challenged and working on
diverse projects for which it is required to work going out of the comfort zone and
knowledge set as such projects help in acquiring more knowledge. Continuously
learning the development techniques are very important for me as well as the
success of the organisation.
The listed requirements of yours match very closely to my skills and
backgrounds. Some of them are highlighted below that are likely to enable me to aid
to the organisation’s bottom line and they are:
a) Hands-on software troubleshooting experience
b) Thorough knowledge of the back end development best practices
c) Good written and verbal communication skills
d) Very attentive and determined
e) Ability of explaining technical issues to a non-technical audience
f) Strong attention to detail
g) Advanced troubleshooting and excellent skill of problem solving
h) Self-motivated and able to work autonomously
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A copy of my resume is attached below with all the necessary details about the
educational background and experience in the field of software development. You
can reach me anytime via mailing or phone call.
That you very much for giving your precious time and consideration. I would be
looking forward to speaking with you regarding this opportunity.
Yours Sincerely,
(__Signature___)
(__Typed Name___)
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