Reflective Journal 1: Reflecting on Employability and Study Skills

This reflective journal explores the critical skills required for employability, including communication, time management, problem-solving, research, and teamwork. The student uses Gibbs' reflective model to analyze their strengths and weaknesses in these areas, providing self-assessments of their abilities in verbal and written communication, ICT usage, and time management. The journal evaluates these skills, highlighting areas for improvement such as verbal communication and time management under pressure, while acknowledging strengths in research and problem-solving. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of these skills for career success, emphasizing the need for continuous development and self-awareness to enhance employability.

Reflective Journal
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Reflection on employ ability and study skills which includes several skills...............................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
2

INTRODUCTION
Employability can be defined as a skill which makes an individual able to maintain
employment effectively (Taylor, 2016). This study is going to show importance of having
communication, time management, problem solving and other important and common skill for
becoming the best employee.
Reflection on employability and study skills which includes several skills
Employability refers skills or ability which makes an individual able as well as suitable
for paid work. It includes several skills by which a person maintain as well as gain employment.
In the context of study skills and employability it can be said that there are requirements of some
common and effective skills. With the help of Gibb's model of reflection I can share my feelings
and experience of all those skills in which I am good as well as those areas which I need to
improve for making myself an effective employee and getting employment. As per the Gibb's
model:
Step 1: Description
As per this step, I can say that communication and team working skills plays a vital role
which increase ability of an individual and make them an effective as well as potential employee.
There are mainly 4 types of communication such as verbal, non-verbal, written and visual which
all plays an important role and useful in different types of situations. For improving study skills
and employability skills, I need to mainly focus on verbal communication. Verbal
communication refers oral communication in which we convey messages and exchange
informations through spoken words and using appropriate languages (Waltz, 2019). On the other
hand, in written communication, people exchange informations through E-mails, written words,
letters, memos, reports etc.
Research skills: In addition and rather, communication, research skills also makes an individual
able to make an effective employees and also help them out in performing their functions. This
skill refers an ability of an individual to find answers of questions or solutions of occurred
problems in an organization. Gathering a lot of relevant informations related to the topic and
problem help an individual or employee to solve problems and complete function in an efficient
manner (Argaw and et.al., 2016).
3

Team working skills: Team working is one of the common and important skill which required
in an effective employee and increasing employability skill. For working in any type of
organization as an employee, they should have skill of working in a team or with their
colleagues. Team working or collaborating with others makes an individual able to improve
relationship with others, solving problems, taking effective decision and improving quality of
services.
Use of ICTs: This world is known as technological world as almost activities of an organization
are being completed by using technology. Using information communication technology refers
an ability to use older as well as new communication technologies such as: television, radios and
others relevant to the function. This ability helps an employee in completing his work in an
efficient manner and improving quality.
Time and self management: Time management is one of the main important skill which an
employee should posses in order to perform activities in a timely manner and deliver value for
money. It can be said that competition is increasing day by day in all sectors which in increasing
pressure on employees. This work load makes them irritated and frustrated so, it is important to
have time management skill or ability to accomplish goals on time in order to keep themselves
fresh (Moore and et.al., 2018).
Problem solving skills: Problem solving skill refers an ability to find out the best solution of a
problem which occur while working. An ability to find out the best solution of a problem in a
timely manner without getting disturbed and frustrated makes an individual able to prove
themselves in an organization as the best employee. For this skill, an employee needs to have an
active listening skill, creativity, research, patience skills.
STEP 2: Feelings
In this stage I want to share my feelings in the context of importance of all skills
discussed in the first stage.
Communication: I agree that communication including all 4 types, team working, time
management, problem solving, using of ICT makes an individual able to make an effective
employees and complete all functions in an efficient manner. In the context of communication, I
can say that I lack in verbal communication skill as have fear of speaking in front of people but I
have good written communication skills. Both skills can help me out in my future in proving
myself as the best employee (Sainz, Ferrero and Ugidos, 2019).
4

Problem solving: In addition, and in the context of problem solving skill, I felt that I am good in
this skill. I found that my research skill is inked with this skill. Gathering informations and
identifying the best one appropriate for the current problem plays an important role and will
definitely help me out in the future and career as well.
Use of ICT's: Using information communication technology also plays an important role. I
believe that in this world, whoever has this ability to use appropriate communication technology
can complete their functions more effectively than others who do not have this skill. I felt that I
lack in this skill a little and need to improve it for helping myself and company in accomplishing
goals.
Time management: In the context of time management which discussed in first stage, I can say
that it is the key of the success in this era. Nowadays work load is increasing and for completing
all functions and given tasks, it is important for an employee to posses this skill. This time
management skill can help me out in making myself feel refreshed all the time and keep myself
from negativity. I am somehow good in this skill (Cornthwaite and Siassakos, 2016).
Team working: Team working is discussed above and I personally feel that this skill not only
help an individual in increasing productivity by improving quality but also it helps them out in
improving relationship with colleagues. When an employee work in a team with their colleagues
than it helps them out in taking the best decision and completing task in a quality manner.
Research skills: Research skill or collecting several informations relevant to the topic helps an
individual in making their presentation as well as completing the given task effectively. For
completing any type of task, there is a requirement of having effective research skill and relevant
informations. So, I can say that this skill also increase employability overall skills, and I am good
in this skill (Berg-Beckhoff, Nielsen and Ladekjær Larsen, 2017).
Step 3: Evaluation
In this stage, we need to evaluate and find out that in which skills we are good and in
which skill we lack.
Team working: In this context, I can say that I am good in this skill. While working in previous
organization, I evaluate my skills and found out that I have an ability to work in a team better
than working individually. While working in a team I also felt that it increased my skills and
made myself able to complete all functions effectively and qualitative.
5

Research skills: With the help of SWOT analysis, I evaluate all those areas in which I am good
and in which I need to focus more for improving. In that analysis model, I evaluated that my
research skills are good and I have an ability to gather informations relevant to the topic (Allison
and et.al., 2016).
Time management: In skill audit analysis, I found out that I am lack in this skill a little and
need to focus more. I found that I can complete specific given work but at the time of work load
I become frustrated which delay in completing my work in a timely manner. So, I need to
improve this skill.
Problem solving: I evaluated by taking feedbacks from my peers and colleagues that I am good
in this skill but at the time of so many problems I become hesitated and somehow I dependent on
others, I have an ability to solve problem but I do not have confidence that I can solve it lonely
or individually so, I need to focus more.
Use of ICT's: Using the best and appropriate communication technology like older and new as
per the situation also play an important role. I am good in this skill but sometimes I become
confused in selecting the best one so, I need to focus on evaluation skill and comparing skill.
Communication: Communication is the key of the success. I evaluated that my written as well
as non-verbal communication skills are effective. I am good in this skill which can help me out
in the future as well. But on the other hand, I also evaluated that I am not good in verbal
communication skill as I have fear of public speaking which I need to improve (Jackson and
Oliver, 2018).
Step 4: Conclusion
It can be concluded from the above discussed stages that communication, problem
solving and time management are vital for performing activities effectively by employees. As a
potential employee, it is important to have all skills discussed above as it can make them the best
employee. It can also help them out in completing tasks in a timely manner, proving themselves,
getting promotion and taking all external as well as internal opportunities.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that employability skills is a combination
of communication, problem solving, team working, time management and other skills. This
reflective study has shown importance of having all these skills in order to become an effective
employee (Sekarwinahyu and et.al., 2019).
6

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Allison, B. and et.al., 2016. Research skills for students. Routledge.
Argaw, A.S. and et.al., 2016. The effect of problem based learning (PBL) instruction on
students’ motivation and problem solving skills of physics. Eurasia Journal of
Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. 13(3). pp.857-871.
Berg-Beckhoff, G., Nielsen, G. and Ladekjær Larsen, E., 2017. Use of information
communication technology and stress, burnout, and mental health in older, middle-aged,
and younger workers–results from a systematic review. International journal of
occupational and environmental health. 23(2). pp.160-171.
Cornthwaite, K. and Siassakos, D.M., 2016. TeamWorking, Skills and Drills on. Best Practice in
Labour and Delivery, p.360.
Jackson, T.P. and Oliver, S., 2018. Adaptive Learning Program for Developing Employability
Skills. Journal of Pedagogic Development. 8(1).
Moore, P.M. and et.al., 2018. Communication skills training for healthcare professionals
working with people who have cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (7).
Sainz, M.A., Ferrero, A.M. and Ugidos, A., 2019. Time management: skills to learn and put into
practice. Education+ Training.
Sekarwinahyu, M. and et.al., 2019, February. Development of problem based learning for online
tutorial program in plant development using Gibbs’ reflective cycle and e-portfolio to
enhance reflective thinking skills. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1157,
No. 2, p. 022099). IOP Publishing.
Taylor, L., 2016. What is employability and what does it mean for you?. How to Develop Your
Healthcare Career: A Guide to Employability and Professional Development, p.1.
Waltz, C., 2019. Impact of Reflective Practice within a Residency Program on New Graduate
Nurse Satisfaction, Stress, Support, and Retention Rates.
7