Professional Development: Personal Skill Audit and Plan Report

This report begins with an introduction highlighting the importance of personal and academic skills in achieving goals. It details a personal skill audit, identifying strengths in communication, leadership, and time management, and weaknesses in problem-solving, multi-tasking, and technological skills. SMART targets are established for skill development, focusing on problem-solving, technological proficiency, and multi-tasking. The report then examines note-taking skills, emphasizing the use of listening and reading strategies to gather information from various sources like technical classes, face-to-face conversations, newspapers, articles, and aptitude tests. A research plan is outlined, including aims, methodology, and data analysis. Finally, a personal development plan is presented, detailing targets, activities, and progress for skill improvement. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the student's self-assessment, goal setting, and skill development strategies.

Academic and Research
Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a. Personal skill audit..................................................................................................................1
b. Setting up of SMART target...................................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Note taking..................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................4
Personal development plan ........................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
The personality and skills are two important traits which helps in completion of difficult
tasks in more easy and appropriate manner. The skills which are possess by an individual are
classified into two categories such as personal and academic. It is important to determine skills in
which are we are good and need improvement before starting any task or project for their
completion within stipulated period of time. Personal development plan includes aims and
objectives which guides the individual is to attain them through application of appropriate
approaches.
In the present report explain about, process of determination of own strengths and
weaknesses, formulation of SMART objectives, application of the skill of note taking in
achievement of objectives, formulation of research plan and carry the research activities with the
help of primary and secondary methods and preparation of personal development plan.
TASK 1
a. Personal skill audit
Personal skill audit is the best way to identify their own strengths and weaknesses. This
will includes the analysis of their own personal and academic skills to identify which we perform
best and where need to improve for transferring of such skills from their weakness to strength.
There is huge role is played by such development process in creation of healthy atmosphere. It
provides the opportunity regarding attainment of effective career development track to easily
grab future opportunities and targets.
From past of my workings I observed that there are many aspects which I perform
adequately through use of my strengths but after that not bale to complete the project within
given frame of time due to lack in some areas. The different kind of skills in which I am good
and weak are understood with the application of the approaches of personal skill audit which are
defined below:
Strengths
 Analysis of past performance and current assessment of the skills identified that I am
good in communication skills. There are many difficult situations through which I come
out with the aid of my communication skill. In this, I am good in all aspects such as
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speaking, listening and writing. This will allows me to present my thought and views
effectively in front of large number of individuals.
 I also observed from the analysis of my own skills that I am good in leadership and
having the capability to handle the group of members effectively and influence their
behaviour. Many times I take the difficult from front and effectively complete it on time.
 The skill of time management is also my strength which allows me to effectively allocate
the time to different aspects which are necessary in the process of development my own
career.
Weaknesses
 The issues which are identified by me in myself is regarding to solving of problems in
effective manner. At the time of creation of such situation I panic and stressed which has
negative impact upon my decision making power.
 I also assessed from analysis of own skills that I am not good when there is need to carry
multiple tasks on single time. I always confused in the process of carrying many tasks
and also forgets some of the important steps which are necessary to achieve any task and
project.
 I also felt that I am not good in technological skills. I always tried to compete my work
and assignments through application of old methods and feel hesitate while time to come
to use innovate techniques.
b. Setting up of SMART target
The process which provides the opportunity regarding removal of weaknesses from skills
includes formulation of targets which acts as base in the process of development. This will
motivates the candidates is to design their plan and adopt approaches according to that which
aids in improvement of skills. All these targets which are going to set is needed to be SMART
means specific, measurable, achievable, reliable and time.
 To develop the skill of problem solving within the time period of 6 months.
 To develop technological skill within the time period of 8 months
 To develop the skills multi tasking within the time period of 4 months
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TASK 2
Note taking
Note taking is a particular skill which allows the candidate to write and record the
information in appropriate manner which is gathered through application of their listening and
reading strategies (Bhatia, 2014). There is huge role is played by the process of note taking in
course of learning and improvement of the many other aspects of working life. To mastered in
note taking skills candidates are required to build up their listening and reading skills. Also, the
skill of paraphrasing and summarising has huge contribution in improving the ability of their
note taking. It is important while making notes that they are precise and easy to understand.
Also, need that only important information should be record which further used in effective
manner in development of their career and learn new aspects (Shapiro, 2011).
I identified that I am good in note taking skill and effectively make the notes after
assessment of information from varied sources. There are many sources from which I take the
notes which are defined below:
Noted key points from various sources application of listening skills
I gain large information and knowledge through application of my listening skills. The
different kind of sources where I used my listening skills in achievement of the set targets are
defined below:
Technical classes: It is assessed that I faced many problems regarding use of innovative
technologies. The change in technology is happen on continuous basis. To effectively use them
in process of completion of task need to know their details. One of the important aspect which is
observed to improve my technical skills is attending of technical classes on regular basis. My
listening skill plays an huge role to effectively grab the information from such class with focus
(Stagg and Kimmins, 2012).
Face to face conversation: I face the issue in solving the problems whenever they arise
in between the performance of any project and assignment. This will raise my stress level and
lowers down my capability regarding completion of project within time. The direction of seniors
and professors who have experience of facing these kind of situations are effective source which
provides guidance regarding how to tackle problems and keep calm in such situations.
Simultaneously, it also helps in development of the skill of multi-tasking because the major
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problem which is restricts in performance of functions at a time is stress level and confusion
which can be removed with the effective direction of seniors and professors.
Noted key points from various sources through application of reading strategies
There are many sources from where information is attained through application of
reading strategies. The different sources which are used by me and applied my reading
capabilities to gather information is defined below:
 Newspapers: It is effective source which contains detailed information regarding all the
advance technologies which are arise in current period of time. I used this source to
collect to improve knowledge regarding the technologies which are arise and the details
regarding their usage. Here, my reading skills are optimally utilised to collect important
information and make effective notes which provides only reliable information and saves
the time (Thiry, Laursen and Hunter, 2011).
 Articles and Journals: There are many articles and journals are provided by different
authors which includes the approaches and information which contribute in removal of
problem solving skills and reduction in level of stress. I read many articles and journals
and identifies many important approaches from which notes are prepared which provides
the opportunity is to use further in development of their skill and attain the desired results
in most appropriate manner (Wong, 2011).
 Aptitude tests: I assessed that the process which helps in development of the skill of
multi-tasking is aptitude tests. This will checks all the perspectives of my personality and
provides the issues where I lack which can be further improved through use of corrective
actions. Overall, impact is assessed on my personality which groomed after these tests.
TASK 3
Research can be described as to carrying out several required events to observe, analyse
and evaluate about particular concept to know about possible success. It is necessary for me to
make an effective as well as efficient plan of action along with appropriate strategies and policies
that are helpful to gain desired outcomes properly. The research involves required information
which can be collected from primary and secondary sources in needed manner. The term primary
resources includes several factors such as historical or legal documents, eyewitness accounts,
results of experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative writing, audio or video recordings,
speeches and art objectives. Apart from this, secondary sources refers to just describe, discuss,
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interpret, comment upon, analyse, evaluate, summarise and primary primary resources as well. I
had utilised required resources of knowledge such as technical classes, face to face conversation,
newspapers articles journals and aptitude tests to conduct an accurate research program in proper
way to generate desired outputs by building suitable plan of action.
Research plan refers to those effective steps which are included in an appropriate
procedure of this activity to attain desired results. An efficient research plan was made by me
and it is followed by me it properly which is given below:
Research Plan
Topic of research  Impact of marketing on profitability.
Aims and targets of research  To determine impact of marketing on profitability.
Methodology of research  Market survey.
Strategy for research  Appropriate allocation of resources.
Budget required  Approximate funds.
Concept of innovative approach  Innovation in marketing.
Data analysis  Analysis of collected information.
Interpretation  Marketing is helpful to gain better profits.
Findings  Marketing is necessary for growth of business.
Recommendations  Conduct marketing activities with more creations to
generate desired profits.
TASK 5
Personal development plan
My personal
development
targets?
Shor
t or
long
term
targ
et?
How will I achieve
my targets? What
activities do I need
to undertake to
achieve my
objectives? What
Date
of
review
Progress made
towards target
Further
action
required
Actual date
of
achieving
target
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support do I need?
Skill of
problem
solving
Sho
rt
ter
m
I required to
follow an
efficient plan of
reading journals,
articles and
newspapers to
adopt generate
skill of problem
solving.
10
July,
2018
I observed that
little bit
improvement is
gained by me to
solve small
issues easily.
It is
required
to put
more
efforts to
learn
about
criteria of
problem
solving at
large
scale.
10
December
, 2018
technological
skill
Lon
g
ter
m
It is necessary
for me to take an
effective
technical classes
to learn about
appropriate
practices about
several software
and techniques.
12
July,
2018
I have learned
some techniques
from group of
technological
soft-wares.
I have to
pay
attention
with
more
concentra
tion to
become
perfect in
technical
field.
12
December
, 2018
Multi tasking
skill
Sho
rt
ter
m
To create an
ability of multi
tasking, it is
required to go
through an
accurate aptitude
test properly to
15
July,
2018
I have analysed
that several
skills are
generated to
complete few
tasks.
I need
more
focus to
gain
informati
on or
education
15
December
, 2018
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gain desired
outcomes of
efforts.
about to
become
an
efficient
multi
tasking
person.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that to improve their career need to adopt the
approaches which helps in development of the skills. Skill audit helps to determine strengths and
weaknesses and determination of aim regarding removal of such aims contributes in
development of overall personality. Note taking is important skill which can be performed well
through application of their listening and reading capabilities. Research plays and significant role
in improvement of skills as their two methods primary and secondary helps in identification of
different sources through which they can improve knowledge regarding such skills in which they
are weak. Personal development plan helps in assessment of the progress in skills and the time
period up to which they actually achieved their target.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bhatia, V. K., 2014. A generic view of academic discourse. In Academic discourse (pp. 31-49).
Routledge.
Shapiro, E.S., 2011. Academic skills problems: Direct assessment and intervention. Guilford
Press.
Stagg, A. and Kimmins, L., 2012. Research skills development through collaborative virtual
learning environments. Reference services review. 40(1). pp.61-74.
Thiry, H., Laursen, S.L. and Hunter, A.B., 2011. What experiences help students become
scientists? A comparative study of research and other sources of personal and
professional gains for STEM undergraduates. The Journal of Higher Education. 82(4).
pp.357-388.
Wong, B. ed., 2011. Learning about learning disabilities. Academic press.
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