FY027: Preparing for Success Module: Portfolio and Reflective Summary

This document presents a student's portfolio and reflective summary for the FY027 module, titled 'Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility.' The assignment includes a reflective summary answering how mini-project workshops contributed to the development of the student's employability. The portfolio contains appendices covering various aspects of professional development, including time management, SWOT analysis, Belbin's Team roles, job search strategies, academic writing examples, interview preparation, employability skills, referencing, reflective logs, and a LinkedIn profile. The student reflects on the skills gained and how they contribute to becoming more employable, emphasizing the practical application of academic knowledge and decision-making processes. The appendices offer detailed analyses of each topic, providing insights into the student's learning journey and skill development.

Preparing for Success: Self
Development and
Responsibility
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Contents
Reflective Summary............................................................................................................................3
Appendices...........................................................................................................................................3
1. Time management...................................................................................................................3
2. SWOT Analysis........................................................................................................................4
3. Group formation: Belbins Team............................................................................................5
4. Facilitating your job search....................................................................................................5
5. Academic writing example......................................................................................................6
6. Preparing for an interview......................................................................................................6
7. Employability skills.................................................................................................................7
8. Referencing sources.................................................................................................................7
9. Reflective log............................................................................................................................7
10. LinkedIn profile...................................................................................................................8
References.............................................................................................................................................9
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Reflective Summary
While completing the mini project workshops i was able to learn about various new
skills and abilities that helped in the enhancement of my learning and development so that i
can become more employable. These skills can help me in taking effective decisions by the
way of thinking rationally so that profits of company can be maximised. These skills have
also made me capable of using my academic knowledge in a practical manner which have
contributed to my employability. Thus, these mini projects have helped me in learning about
various aspects like time management, formation of effective teams, applying for desirable
jobs etc. so that i can become more employable.
Appendices
1. Time management
Time management is the most important component of a project so that it can be
completed on time by effectively distributing time among all the activities so that they can be
carried out in an efficient manner (Chourmouziadis and Chatzoglou, 2016). Time
management has helped me in efficiently managing my time so that the project can be
completed effectively and all the activities can be completed in desired manner which has
improved my project management skills so that desired results can be achieved on time.
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2. SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
Time management Conflict resolution
Communication skills Coordination
Project management Reflection
Opportunities Threats
Future projects Increased pressure from other candidates
Employability skills New needs in the market
SWOT analysis has helped me in determining my strengths and weaknesses which is
helpful in my self evaluation. I can use my strengths and grab the opportunities that are
available for my personal and professional growth. The weaknesses need to be minimized so
that the threats do not negatively affect my growth. Thus through SWOT analysis self
evaluation is possible. Through SWOT analysis I can make improvements in my skills so that
I can become better at my employability which can help me in getting job in my desired
company.
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3. Group formation: Belbins Team
Belbin model help in formation of effective team and distributing tasks among them
based on their skills and abilities so that the team goals can be achieved within time (Dunst,
2019). I am a monitor-evaluator time of person which means that I take decisions based on
rational thinking which help me in taking effective decisions so that the project can be
efficiently completed. This role has helped me in developing my employability skills so that I
can more efficiently perform my job which can help me in becoming successful in my career.
4. Facilitating your job search
While searching for jobs the candidates can use various sources from where they can
search for job opportunities in market some such sources are monster, LinkedIn, CV library
etc. The candidates can make their job profile on these platforms so that the job specifications
which meet their capabilities can be applied for by candidates (Jenner, 2016).
I used Monster and LinkedIn for my job search where I made my job profile so that
the employers who were interested in my job profile approached me and also I applied for
jobs of my choice which helped me in searching for job efficiently.
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5. Academic writing example
Academic writing is related with writing down the knowledge which is received so
that it can be restored for a long period of time and can also help in revision over a period of
time (Luo and Wu, 2016). It also help in researching about a topic in detail so that high
knowledge about that topic can be generated which help in making the skills of student more
efficient. Academic writing also helps in improving the way in which the acquired knowledge
can be presented which can help in making the presentation skills of a person better which is
crucial in future developmental process.
6. Preparing for an interview
Interview is a method of recruitment and selection which is being used increasingly by
companies so that they can select the most suitable candidate for a job role. Following are the
basic questions that are asked and the candidate should be well prepared for them:
 Tell me about yourself and your skills and abilities that make you different from other
candidates.
 Why does this job profile interests you?
 Do you think you will be able to do your job effectively?
 How will company be benefitted from you?
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7. Employability skills
Employability skills are those which help in making a candidate eligible for being
employed for a job role in a company based on their skills and abilities so that they can help
in fulfilling the job requirements in an efficient manner (Meifort, 2016). Some of the skills
that a candidate should possess are communication skills, team working skills, self-
management, problem skills, technology, planning and organization etc. These skills are
important as they help the candidates to get their desired jobs and become successful in their
life.
8. Referencing sources
Referencing a research work helps in acknowledging the work of other writers and
authors in making the project more valuable (Siew, 2016). Referencing also help in
increasing the authenticity and reliability of information contained in the project as it has also
been proved by other writer which makes the project better. Following are the different ways
in which referencing can be done:
Book:
Lapan & Quartaroll (2009) Research Essentials: An Introduction to Designs and Practices,
Jossey Bass, San Francisco. p32, p72
Journal:
Guesmi, K., Saadi, S., Abid, I. and Ftiti, Z., 2019. Portfolio diversification with virtual
currency: Evidence from bitcoin. International Review of Financial Analysis, 63,
pp.431-437.
Online
Portfolio Management .2020. [Online] Available through:
<https://efinancemanagement.com/investment-decisions/portfolio-management >
9. Reflective log
The group presentation went well as all the team members did their part well and helped
in making the overall presentation understandable and we were also able to achieve the
objective of the group project. In future I can focus more on my coordination skills and
conflict resolution so that the objectives of future projects can be achieved more efficiently. It
will also help me in using my skills more effectively.
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10. LinkedIn profile
The LinkedIn profile can help me in gaining knowledge about the available jobs ion the
market so that I can apply for the job roles in accordance with the job requirements and my
capabilities (Wild, 2017). It will also help me in getting in contact with many employers in
market so that I can select my desired business where I can apply for desired job role. This
profile can also help me in making contacts and increase my base of known people on this
platform so that I can increase my visibility to the employers.
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References
Books and Journals
Chourmouziadis, K. and Chatzoglou, P.D., 2016. An intelligent short term stock trading
fuzzy system for assisting investors in portfolio management. Expert Systems with
Applications, 43, pp.298-311.
Dunst, K.H., 2019. Portfolio-Management: Konzeption für die strategische
Unternehmensplanung. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Jenner, S., 2016. Transforming government and public services: realising benefits through
project portfolio management. CRC Press.
Luo, C. and Wu, D., 2016. Environment and economic risk: An analysis of carbon emission
market and portfolio management. Environmental research, 149, pp.297-301.
Meifort, A., 2016. Innovation portfolio management: A synthesis and research
agenda. Creativity and innovation management, 25(2), pp.251-269.
Siew, R.Y.J., 2016. Integrating sustainability into construction project portfolio
management. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 20(1), pp.101-108.
Wild, T., 2017. Best practice in inventory management. Routledge.
Zamyadi, A., Choo, F., Newcombe, G., Stuetz, R. and Henderson, R.K., 2016. A review of
monitoring technologies for real-time management of cyanobacteria: Recent
advances and future direction. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 85, pp.83-96.
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