Skills Audit and Personal Development Planning Report - UGB160, 2020/1

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of essential study and employment skills, focusing on a skills audit and personal development planning. The introduction highlights the significance of study and employment, emphasizing the development of habits, skills, and self-discipline. The report includes an audit and evaluation of key skills, identifying strengths and weaknesses through reflective logs, and discusses the importance of communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It then delves into personal development research and planning, emphasizing the lifelong process of assessing and maximizing potential. The Gibbs reflective cycle is applied to communication skills, providing a detailed analysis of the learning experience. The report concludes with a personal development plan and identifies areas for further skill enhancement, emphasizing the importance of planning, time management, and self-motivation for academic and professional success. The document is contributed by a student to be published on the website Desklib. Desklib is a platform which provides all the necessary AI based study tools for students.

Essential study and
employment skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
AUDIT AND EVALUATION OF KEY SKILLS..........................................................................1
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND PLANNING.................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Study plays significant role for a learner as it develops complete education along with
provides opportunities for developing habits, skills, competence and self discipline. Learning is
termed as an active procedure to make own knowledge, skills along with abilities for enhancing
personal and collective control competence in order to shape reality within pertaining situational
context (Santandreu Calonge and Aman Shah, 2016). Similarly, employment is all about a
contract among employee and that of employer wherein employee will be given certain number
of services against the work done. For achieving higher skills and knowledge, it is essential for a
learner or student to handle the ways to plan along with manage time effectively.
The project comprises reflection on experience about skills that are developed in
learning. It includes audit and evaluation of key skills that are developed with remote learning.
Further, it includes identification of skills for development purposes and explains development
opportunities.
AUDIT AND EVALUATION OF KEY SKILLS
Skills are considered as the effective process of evaluating and recording suitable skills
which are being accomplished by the person. It is the effective exercise that is useful for learners
to identify their prominent strengths and weaknesses regarding the future development of several
skills that are prominently required by the employers (Redman, and Maples, 2017). For this,
colleges and university plays an important role in the life of student that helps in offering training
and developing effective skills in terms of being prepared for being in the better world that
impact the life of other individuals.
In regard of this, my colleagues get the opportunity to develop various range of skills by
participating in any sort of event or any other activity. It is also known as the ability of learners
for non-stop new skills by the formal and informal development of professionals in their future
career (Rashid, Hodgetts and Nicholas, 2017). By undertaking the given points, I had
represented suitable development by undertaking the appropriate amount of skills. In regard of
this, it undertake various skills like soft and hard skills as these skills are developed by
performing suitable activities and also focus on overall development of skills my conducting
self-assessment. In relation with this, some of the skills are discussed below through reflective
log:
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AREAS AWARENESS
Content (What?) What have I learnt?
By considering the performance of week 1 to 10 it is identified that
I have developed several skills in me and effectively conduct self
assessment including several skills like planning, decision making,
problem solving, time management, organisation, communication,
self discipline and so on.
Process (How?) How did I learn it?
I have developed all of these skills with the help of my supervisors,
mentors, by attending seminars, workshops and many more.
Reasons (Why?) Why did I learn it?
The reason behind the development of these skills is to enhance my
overall learning, career growth and personality for the betterment
and growth in overall performance.
Academic and
professional development
(What for?)
How does this learning experience contribute to my academic and
professional development?
The learning experience is useful for me regarding my personality
development and growth of company by undertaking the career
planning and overall development. In regard of this, it is beneficial
for my academics while applying the theoretical knowledge and
learning and in professional development as well for the
productivity and performance growth.
Personal development
(What for?)
What does this learning experience mean to me?
The overall learning experience mean a lot to me in terms of having
my career growth and success. In relation with this, all of these
skills are useful for in order to have proper growth and success for
the my own career growth.
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By considering the above discussed skills, some of them are useful regarding the
individual development and enhancement of skills by focusing on suitable three skills at the time
of learning (Raffiee and Coff, 2016). For this, some of them are discussed below: Communication: Communication skill plays an important role regarding the growth and
success of company by undertaking the effective ability of an individual in their future
growth and success. It is beneficial for solving several problems, better understanding,
self confidence and effective development at the job and university. At the time of
effective planning and fund raising activity, communication is effective and plays an
important role regarding the growth and success in career. These skills are important for
the overall development and success of an individual in order to maintaining transparency
within an organisation (Quendler and Lamb, 2016). Effective communication is
important in order to know the facts and listen respectively as it develop the overall
ability of developing trust, preventing and resolving issues, offering clarification for
better relationships, increase productivity and so on of an individual. Team working: A team is a group of member who are working together to achieve
business goals. An individual can be benefited by team working as there is sharing of
information and cross training by the team member. An individual can discover new
concepts from colleagues with different experiences. Mistakes often made by the people,
an individual can learn from the mistake of other member so that they can sidestep those
error in their future. There is always a blind spot about the strength and behaviour that an
individual may be unaware, team member can help an individual to know their hidden
potential (Patterson and et.al 2018). Hence, team working helps an individual to know
about self. While working in a team, an individual can develop listening and
communication skills which will help a person in an effective interaction. Dividing the
work in a team let an individual to shine in their respective role.
 Problem solving: It is an effective skill which is useful for the overall growth and
development of an individual by defining the significant problem and determining the
cause of the issue, it also leads to prioritise and select significant alternatives regarding
effective solution by executing it in best manner. This skill is important for an individual
or learner in order have overall growth and development of their personality as it
effectively leads to manage and run successful company. For this, leadership need to
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offer effective guidance to their workforce by developing suitable problem solving
techniques. As this skill is useful in order to easily resolving suitable issues and conflicts
that occur among employees at the time of implementing change.
Gibbs reflective cycle
Gibbs reflection is a self reflection tool that helps in analysing individual strength and
weakness in particular situation or module (Lombardi and Coley, 2017). It reflects own
experience in few stages that are description, feeling, evaluation, conclusion and action plan.
This model is represented below on communication skills. Description: By involving in a particular module I have mainly emphasised on
developing my communication skill and for this I have divided to take part in several
activities such as presentation, brainstorming, debate activities, group discussions etc. In
this my colleagues and classmates supports me to take participate in several activities so
that communication skill is to be improved. In this I had to participate in presentation
skills where my teacher made a team to present a particular article in front of audience at
this time I am unable to present my self in number of audience and in this I need support
to stand in front of audience and communicate what I have to prepared. In this my seniors
supports me to do so and due to this I can do my best. I also take participate in debate
activities where my colleagues supports and encourage me to stand at the stage to
communicate positively and freely. My self motivation also contributes in enhancing
communication skills. I am there to improve my communication skill so that my
professional career is facing success and growth. Feeling: By involving in communication module I was quite happy and excited by taking
participate in several communication related activities. In this my seniors and faculties
also supports me due to this I worked hard. It helps in developing communication skill
within set time period. But involving in these activities I also got quite depressed and
frustrated because of getting negative comments by my classmates and colleagues side. It
had demotivated me to present my myself with confidence and communicate effectively.
By ended up feel quite guilty that helped to work harder and communicate effectively in
front of many people that helps in improving my communication skill. And at last I feel
satisfied that I can enjoyed my activities during communication module due to this my
overall communication skill is to be improved.
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 Evaluation: The things which are best and worked properly is the fact that my seniors
and faculty highly supports me in different communication related activities so that my
overall communication skill is to be improved within set period of time (Lam and
Marsden, 2017). Moreover, the fact related to my classmates who frustrated me to not to
involve in presentation and debate activities encouraged me to work harder to enhance
my communication skills. It reflects the strength of mine not to demotivate with the other
person negative thoughts. Involving within communication module helps me to timely
manage the things and how to influence and convince other person by using
communication. Conclusion: From above analysis it is concluded that by involving in particular module I
had to focused on developing my communication skill by using presentations, debates
etc. during this I learned to plan activities which is useful in professional career. During
this communication module, my motivation power is also strong that helps me to gaining
communication power.
 Action plan: In future if I will involved in any module this helps in more to complete the
activities effectively. To manage the time properly I focus on firstly planning the
activities as per priority so that targets related to modules are achieved on time. This
reflection helps in improving my confidence and communication skills that helps in
dealing with complex problem. In future I involved in any seminars communication helps
me a lot to get successful results.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND PLANNING
The concept of personal development can be termed to a lifelong process that assist an
individual for assessing skills along with qualities for realising as well as maximising potentials.
To a student, personal development enables in having personal vision for future that provides a
clear picture about what, when and where to be in upcoming couple of years (Kerrin, Mamabolo
and Kele, 2017). Moreover, it is an activity that develops, shapes addition to improve skills and
abilities of a person or learner. It guides in identifying objectives and goals in certain time
duration that comprises of short, medium along with long term. It assist students to learn more
concerned with their area of interest and practice based working to attain life goals. In personal
development process, students gets to build confidence and spirit of performing complex
activities easily.
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In context to a learner, personal development plan or process represents an essential
element fro succeed. All this is possible as it assist a student to evaluate themselves and analyse
their strengths and weaknesses that they have to develop better understanding about required
skills in existing as well as future developments. There are multiple number of activities that
assist a student to make advancement in their personal development plan. Furthermore, it is
significant to understand that students or learners are responsible for their self learning, quality
of gained knowledge along with opportunities to develop further (Graupp and Wrona, 2017).
Certain number of skills that are identified for the purpose of further development are as follows:
Communication skill: It is said to the ability to convey along with share information,
ideas, feelings and emotions with others. Due to ineffective in exchanging emotions, information
and messages, it have been identified that communication skill of a student is essential for
development as it permit others along with self to understand information in more accurate and
fast aspects. To develop the communication skill, activities that will help are making
communication a priority, engaging with listeners, taking part in discussions, using important
presentations and becoming socialite. For a student, developing communication skill is essential
for academic success.
Teamwork skill: It involves interrelated skills which let a person carry out activities
effectively within an organised group. Teamwork teaches a student about the ways to respect
together with confidently express ideas or opinions in effective manner with a group setting
(Gilson, Carter and Biggs, 2017). At same time, it is provital for a learner to recognise that
working in a team only improves their network, strengthens confidence and so on. For the
purpose of developing teamwork skill, activities that could help a student are engaging within
team building events through games, emphasising on fairness, devising rules of conduct and
practising mutual understanding. To develop teamwork skill, a student requires certain number
of resources that are reading more books, participating in online courses and so on.
Problem solving skill: It is that skill which assist in solving issues quickly and
efficiently. In all types of working, problems solving skill helps in making happier, confident and
more independent decisions. The skill provides a mechanism to determine things, figuring out
the ways they are broken along with determining course of action for fixtures. To develop
problem solving skill, a student is required to undertake working of certain activities that are
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focusing on solutions, overcoming short term crises, devising strategies and taking cost
preventive measures (Day and Penney, 2017).
Through looking towards resolutions of skills that a student develops within learning
stages, it is analysed that there are certain number of opportunities that helps in pursuing skills.
In context to a student, mentioned below are some of opportunities that can be adopted for
developing skills that are required for accomplishing education related objectives:
Internships: It is defined to a period of work experience that is offered by a business
concern for restricted time period. For a student, internship is an opportunity to develop skills as
it assist in developing professional aptitude along with strengthen personal character. As present
job market is more comprehensive place that is popular as tough learning curve for school pass
outs or graduates (Cottrell, 2019). For a student, internship acts as a mechanisms which provides
work experience that guides learners to put their education in practice, developing skills as well
as participating in competition for future permanent position. The opportunity supports learners
in acquiring new level of learning with new knowledge about practices that are essential for
completion of operations. At graduate level, student take internship from various organisation as
per their interested domains. In this, they learn about behaviour of employees, leadership styles
and management coordination in completion of certain project. In this, learner acquire multiple
types of skills that are perceived to as most substantial technique to grab new and immense skill
sets along with knowledge. In my internship, I have developed various skills that are critical
thinking, time management, problem solving, network building and communication skills that
will guide me in my future to achieve academic and personal objectives.
Volunteering: It is an occasion that helps students to gain potential as well as prospective
skills. At same time, volunteering helps a student to contribute in the society. Students that
volunteer generally gains huge number of advantages as they learn to manage their time in
multiple activities, attain satisfaction by helping others, meet with new people along with
improve mental welfare (Coates, 2017). In my case, I have generated interest in volunteering
when my friend suggested me to take part in a non profit organisation in which I gave back of
the society and make certain differences among perceptions of population that around me. As a
student, volunteering is a great opportunity to enhance certain number of skills together with
building current experiences. Within the opportunity of volunteering, I have improved certain
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number of skills such as Organisational skill, IT skill, Creativity skill, Confidence skill and
Marketing skill.
CONCLUSION
From the information, it have been concluded that learning assist people to acquire
essential competence and skills to achieve set number of goals. It improves existing knowledge
addition to gain skills that have wider chances of reaching particular objectives. Employability
skills are transferable skill that are required among people for becoming employable. Personal
audit aids learner to understand own strengths and weaknesses along with strategies to develop
them promptly. Three essential skills that are developed in learning are communication, team
working and problem solving skills. Various opportunities that are available for a student to
pursue development of skill are internships and volunteering. Personal development plan aids
people in improving their careers and reaching career goals.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Coates, T. K. 2017. Hearing the voices of Generation Y employees: a hermeneutic
phenomenological study. Human Resource Development International. 20(1). pp.37-67.
Cottrell, S. 2019. The study skills handbook. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Day, A. and Penney, S. A. 2017. Essential elements of organizational initiatives to improve
workplace wellbeing. Routledge Companion to Workplace Well-being. pp.314-331.
Gilson, C. B., Carter, E. W. and Biggs, E. E. 2017. Systematic review of instructional methods to
teach employment skills to secondary students with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. 42(2). pp.89-
107.
Graupp, P. and Wrona, R. J. 2017. The TWI workbook: essential skills for supervisors. CRC
Press.
Kerrin, M., Mamabolo, M. A. and Kele, T. 2017. Entrepreneurship management skills
requirements in an emerging economy: A South African outlook. The Southern African
Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. 9(1). pp.1-10.
Lam, A. and Marsden, D. 2017. Employment systems, skills and knowledge. The Oxford
handbook of skills and training. p.466.
Lombardi, C. M. and Coley, R. L. 2017. Early maternal employment and children's academic
and behavioral skills in Australia and the United Kingdom. Child development. 88(1).
pp.263-281.
Patterson, J., and et.al 2018. Essential skills in family therapy: From the first interview to
termination. Guilford Publications.
Quendler, E. and Lamb, M. 2016. Learning as a lifelong process-meeting the challenges of the
changing employability landscape: competences, skills and knowledge for sustainable
development. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life
Long Learning. 26(3). pp.273-293.
Raffiee, J. and Coff, R. 2016. Micro-foundations of firm-specific human capital: When do
employees perceive their skills to be firm-specific?. Academy of Management Journal.
59(3). pp.766-790.
Rashid, M., Hodgetts, S. and Nicholas, D. 2017. Building employer capacity to support
meaningful employment for persons with developmental disabilities: A grounded theory
study of employment support perspectives. Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders. 47(11). pp.3510-3519.
Redman, P. and Maples, W. 2017. Good essay writing: a social sciences guide. Sage.
Santandreu Calonge, D. and Aman Shah, M. 2016. MOOCs, graduate skills gaps, and
employability: A qualitative systematic review of the literature. International Review of
Research in Open and Distributed Learning: IRRODL. 17(5). pp.67-90.
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APPENDICES
Personal Development Plan
Months 0-6:
Learning &
Development
Needs
Developmental
Activity /
Action
Required
Resources
Required
Including
people
Start Date End /
Review
Date
Further
Comment
Skills for time
management
Strategic
thinking, create
schedule,
deadlines set up,
start early,
Learn to say no.
Notepads and
mark on
calenders.
18/02/20 18/05/20 Regulation
Organisational
skills
Time planning,
list of tasks,
avoid frictions
and delegate
smartly.
Dairy of to do
list, Monitoring
class
04/03/20 08/06/20 Prioritising work.
Skills for team
work
Don't complain,
clarify roles and
enthusiasm
sharing.
Participate in
functions and
project making.
19/03/20 18/07/20 Motivation
Months 7-12:
Learning &
Development
Needs
Developmental
Activity /
Action
Required
Resources
Required
Including
people
Start Date End /
Review
Date
Further
Comment
Communication Control Reading good 08/02/20 08/09/20 Meet new people
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