FY027: Preparing for Success - Self Development Portfolio and CV

This assignment presents a student's self-development portfolio created for the FY027 module, 'Preparing for Success.' The portfolio includes a skill reflection section, detailing the development of key employability skills such as communication, time management, negotiation, and team working, alongside academic integrity and self-efficacy. It also incorporates a CV and explores the contributions of mini-project workshops to the enhancement of employability. The student reflects on various skills acquired during university coursework, emphasizing the practical application of these skills through assignments and projects. The report also discusses the importance of academic integrity, numeracy, and the Tuckman and Belbin team working theories. Furthermore, it summarizes the student's learning journey, highlighting how the module and workshops have contributed to their professional growth, ultimately preparing them for future career success. The portfolio demonstrates the student's ability to analyze experiences and articulate their learning journey, showing how they have developed essential skills for future employment.

Self Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SKILL REFLECTION.....................................................................................................................1
Employability Skills...............................................................................................................2
Reflection...............................................................................................................................3
Academic Reading..................................................................................................................4
Communication......................................................................................................................5
Presentation Skills..................................................................................................................6
Time and Task Management..................................................................................................7
Negotiation Skills...................................................................................................................8
Interpersonal Skills.................................................................................................................9
Self Efficacy.........................................................................................................................10
Academic Integrity...............................................................................................................11
Numeracy.............................................................................................................................12
Team Working Skills............................................................................................................13
SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................14
How and why has the mini project workshops contributed towards the development of your
employability?................................................................................................................................15
CV..................................................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Portfolio is defined as the integration of experience and learning driven by an individual
during a particular tenure or while execution of an activity (Ghanizadeh, 2017). It provides aid to
personnel in recalling what they have experienced so as to enable personal as well as
professional development. The below mentioned report includes skill reflection, summary upon
chosen skills for portfolio and CV. Also, it includes contribution of mini project workshops to
development of employability.
SKILL REFLECTION
While undergoing studies within the confines of University, I leveraged several skills out
of which some were developed during the tenure of coursework while others were already
present within me. A reflective account of such skills is presented beneath:-
1

Employability Skills
These can be defined as the transferable skills which are required by a person to make
them employable within their field of interest. Undergoing studies at university posed me to a
number of instances and activities whereby I got the opportunity to develop as well as enhance
employability skills such as problem solving, technical skills, collaborative working, leadership
skills, adaptability, creativity, marketing, critical thinking and many more. By incorporating
these skills within the tenure at college, an individual inflates the scope of getting employed in a
reputed multinational company.
2

Reflection
This can be defined as the practice of thinking in an analytical manner with the assistance
of which an individual carries out effective analysis of a situation to take judgements in relation
to what has been learnt and what has been experienced (Cottrell, 2017). While undergoing the
lectures, I was taught by my tutor that there are several models or frameworks which are used for
the purpose of reflection. These are acknowledged to be Kolb’s learning cycle, Gibbs’ reflective
model, Driscoll model, Schon reflection in action and reflection on action, John’s model for
structured reflection etc. During one of my assignments, I made use of Gibb’s model to perform
the reflective practice. In future, this skill will provide assistance to me in reflecting upon an
instance or activity to reach out a conclusion.
3

Academic Reading
This is defined as the capability held by an individual to read what is written and to
comprehend it in the same manner as the writer wanted to convey. This is one of the most
prominently used skills during the life of a student at university. After the lectures are over, I
read books and journals related to the subject matter to gain thorough understanding of the topic
in question. Academic reading can also be done via accessing online resources whereby there are
many articles, books, journals and scholarly papers which assist the students in developing their
understanding of a subject. Further, this skill will also provide aid to me in future course of time
in order to score high grades in exams and assignments.
4

Communication
This is defined as the capability held by an individual to deliver what one wants to
convey in front of other persons along with the ability to hear what others want to express
(Chamberlain, 2017). Communication skills include speaking, listening, observing non verbal
cues etc. This is regarded as one of the most crucial skills for an individual in academic as well
as professional context. Within the university, I was taught by my tutor that communication is
mainly of 3 types, namely, visual, written and oral communication. The different forms of
written communication include business letters, CV, cover letters, memos, emails while oral
communication consist of presentations. Additionally, visual communication is executed by
capitalising upon the non verbal cues such as body movement, eye contacts and many more.
5

Presentation Skills
This can be deciphered as the capacity of an individual to engage target audience for
delivery of their views and opinions over a concerned subject matter. Presentation skills are
considered to be extremely important for students during their academic tenure at university.
This is so because the college authorities hand over a number of presentation assignments to
students individually as well as in groups. During our lecture sessions, even our tutor made use
of presentation skills to present a topic in front of us in a manner such that it can be easily
comprehended by all the students. Non verbal cues like eye contact, body movements and hand
movements are considered to be immensely significant for the development of this skill within
an individual.
6

Time and Task Management
This can be defined as the ability of an individual to manage the time period in a manner
such that the allotted task can be completed within pre defined course of time (Edwards, 2017).
Time and task management skills are quite crucial for an individual in academic as well as
professional context. During the tenure at college, I was given a number of assignments and
projects which had to be completed in given period of time. In this relation, time and task
management skills provided assistance to me in ensuring that prioritisation of activities was done
in a manner which could allow timely completion of the given project or task.
7

Negotiation Skills
This can be defined as the quality with the help of which 2 or more than two parties tend
to reach at a compromising situation. This encompasses sub skills like persuading power,
communication skills, planning, strategising and cooperation. During the tenure at university,
this skill was developed by me while working in a group of 5 persons to prepare a project on a
topic. Each and every individual had contrasting views and opinions for doing this project. I
leveraged my negotiation skills to convince the team members about my way of carrying out the
project.
8

Interpersonal Skills
These can be defined as the skills which are used daily in order to set communication
with people individually as well as within groups (Tinto, 2017). This skill is quite important for
an individual to express their views and opinions in front of people and build their interest within
the subject matter raised. The journey at university exposed me to a number of situations
whereby I had to make use of my interpersonal skills in order to interact with my peers. This
skill will further provide assistance to me in developing healthy connections with people who I
come across in academic or professional context.
9

Self Efficacy
This is the belief held by an individual in their ability to attain success within certain
instances or tasks. It is quite crucial for an individual to ensure that they are able to accomplish a
task or activity within due course of time. In this regard, it has been acknowledged that this skill
provided assistance to me in university while completing my assignments and projects allotted
by the tutors. This skill will further provide assistance to me in personal as well as professional
context to deal with the most complex tasks in an easy manner.
10