Reflection on Career Aspirations: Skills, Values, and Experiences

This essay presents a student's reflection on their career aspirations, highlighting the skills and values that have shaped their academic and professional journey. The reflection includes a ranked list of personal values influencing life choices and an explanation of essential hard skills. It also provides responses to common job description criteria, such as educational qualifications, transferable skills, extracurricular activities, work experience, and language proficiency. A skill gap analysis with an action plan is discussed, along with a concluding elevator pitch summarizing the student's qualifications and experiences. The essay also features a personal career SWOT analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The student emphasizes their versatility, adaptability, and enthusiasm for continuous learning and professional development.

Running head: REFLECTION ON CAREER ASPIRATIONS
Reflection on Career Aspirations
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REFLECTION ON CAREER ASPIRATIONS
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
Ranked list of at least 5 personal values influencing life choices...............................................2
List and explanation of 5 hard skills needed...............................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
Responses to 5 most common example criteria in job descriptions............................................3
Reflection and action plan for a skill gap....................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................6
Elevator Pitch as words...............................................................................................................6
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The degrees and academic achievements that I have acquired so far have taken up time
and monetary resources. It has also made me flourish not just academically, but also helped me
build up a personal values and skills of my own. I am a Cruise Supervisor by profession and so
far there have been many milestones that I have achieved so far regarding my academic career as
well as my work experiences. Thus, I would like to put forward a reflection based on the
achievement of mine so far and how these have affected my career and personality. I would like
to represent all my career achievements to articulate a value of my own learning so far with the
skills and knowledge enhanced by my academic and professional career.
Task 1
Ranked list of at least 5 personal values influencing life choices
Below would be a ranked list of the 5 personal values that I believe is responsible for
shaping up my academic career. These have been made according to the rank they hold in order
of priority in my career. They are:
1. Achievements I have acquired so far
2. Balance that I have maintained in my career
3. Compassion I have towards people
4. Leadership skills that I have acquired through my career
5. Competency that I have gained so far regarding my academic career to utilize it
further in my professional career

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List and explanation of 5 hard skills needed
Below would be the hard skills that I have acquired throughout my academic and
professional career that put me forward in having the abilities that would help me succeed in my
career. This would also be a ranked list that would be provided by me according to my own
discretion:
1. Communication
2. Ability to Work under Pressure
3. Decision Making
4. Time Management
5. Self-motivation
Task 2
Responses to 5 most common example criteria in job descriptions
In any job description the 5 most common examples of criteria are the educational
qualifications, transferable skills, extracurricular activities, work experience, and language
proficiency. I would like to describe my personal skills regarding these criteria as below:
 Educational qualifications: I have majored in Hospitality Management as my
basic degree which has made me acquire the knowledge in monitoring the
requirements of people in my service area. Further, I have majored in advanced
Business form Zenith Business Academy which further improved my knowledge
regarding the business skills and enhanced my proficiency in hospitality
management from the perspective of a business. I am currently majoring in

4REFLECTION ON CAREER ASPIRATIONS
Business Information Systems which would further enhance my knowledge in
handling the BIS systems.
 Transferable skills: I have achieved the transferable skills through my
professional career in the past 3 years that has made me effectively interact with
my international colleagues and customers. In addition, I have always volunteered
ahead in every group work and have excelled when it comes to any teamwork
related tasks. I have also effectively participated in leadership oriented tasks
where I have proved my proficiency. During these experiences, I have developed
the idea of brainstorming where delivery is needed in a constricted amount of
time.
 Extracurricular activities: I have explored many zones regarding extracurricular
activities and this has made me a versatile person who can take up any challenges.
In this regard, my most important achievement so far has been participating in a
Beauty Pageant in 2013 and being selected in the top 5 out of 21 contestants, also
winning the title of Best Beautiful hair. I have also played a DJ in concerts and
functions in order to raise money for the 2015 earthquake victims. I have even
appeared in local music videos and fashion shows faulting my designing skills. I
believe that these extracurricular activities have made me a versatile person who
will be ready for any kind of challenge in the professional field.
 Work experience: Currently I have been working as a Cruise Supervisor working
at the harbour for about 3 years now. I have been experienced in organizing,
managing, and controlling all the hospitality aspects of cruise operations ensuring

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a safe and clean environment. I have also been in charge in managing the vessel
standards as mentioned by the organization I am currently working under.
 Language proficiency: I am fluent in all the business languages, including my
native language Nepali as well as Hindi. My language proficiency in effectively
writing and speaking English, Hindi and Nepali has given me a window to
interact freely with every customer and colleagues that I have worked with so far.
Reflection and action plan for a skill gap
I believe that in any profession, skill gap is defined by the gap in identifying the skills
required for a job and the actual skills that a candidate possesses. For any job I apply in later, it
may have some difference or the other with the skills I possess currently. However, I happen to
possess all the necessary information I have about my skills and I know my abilities to the core.
Based on that I can assure that, being a versatile person and a quick learner, I would be able to
bridge the gap between the required skills and the skills I possess in no time. I see myself as an
employee who would always be ready to take up any challenge that I come across in my career.
In addition to that, I would be highly enthusiastic to fulfil any challenge with dignity and proper
achievements.
The educational qualifications and work experiences that I possess make me eligible to
understand any hospitality needs lined along with the business resources. I understand both the
requirements of my employer, my colleagues and my customers. Thus, I would be a worthy
candidate for any job in my scope of proficiency as well as other jobs where I would easily
bridge the skill gap. My strategy for doing so is only focused on learning and more thorough
learning of my profession and enhancing the urge in me to explore beyond the zone of my own
educational and professional career.

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Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to put forward that given my achievements so far in my
academic and my professional career, I have been a standout candidate in my specialization. I
did not only stay confined within my academic scope but have also surpassed every challenge
that has come in the way of my career. I am also enthusiastic in expanding my zone of
knowledge, for which I have also taken up challenging tasks like handling the driving of a boat
with the help of captains till keeping accounts working my days as a cashier, handling money
within work. For the past 3 years I have proved myself in every challenge that has occurred in
my career path and thus I hope I would be able to keep my focus and be as determined as ever.
Task 3
Elevator Pitch as words
I would like to put forward that given my achievements so far in my academic and my
professional career, I have been a standout candidate in my specialization. I have majored in
Hospitality Management as my basic degree which has made me acquire the knowledge in
monitoring the requirements of people in my service area. Further, I have majored in advanced
Business form Zenith Business Academy which further improved my knowledge regarding the
business skills and enhanced my proficiency in hospitality management from the perspective of a
business. I have achieved the transferable skills through my professional career in the past 3
years that has made me effectively interact with my international colleagues and customers. In
addition, I have always volunteered ahead in every group work and have excelled when it comes
to any teamwork related tasks. I possess effective leadership skills that have the ability to make
an entire team work towards a specific goal and reach it in no time. In case of extracurricular

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activities as well I have explored many that have made me a versatile person who can take up
any challenges. In this regard, my most important achievement so far has been participating in a
Beauty Pageant in 2013 and being selected in the top 5 out of 21 contestants, also winning the
title of Best Beautiful hair. I have also played a DJ in concerts and functions in order to raise
money for the 2015 earthquake victims. I have even appeared in local music videos and fashion
shows faulting my designing skills. I believe that these extracurricular activities have made me a
versatile person who will be ready for any kind of challenge in the professional field. I am fluent
in all the business languages and I happen to possess all the necessary information I have about
my skills and I know my abilities to the core. Being a versatile person and a quick learner, I
would be able to bridge the gap between the required skills and the skills I possess in no time. I
see myself as an employee who would always be ready to take up any challenge that I come
across in my career.
Personal Career SWOT analysis
Strength I am a versatile and able person who would take up
any challenges in professional life.
Weakness I believe that my weakness is to be discovered by
my employer whom I will be working with.
Opportunities
I believe I have huge opportunities when it comes
to my professional world given my knowledge of
hospitality and understanding of the needs of
clients and customers.
Threats
My only threat in my career would be my
ambitious nature which would push me to perform
the best in every situation.

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