BMSW 4001 Module: A Reflective Report on Employability Skills Growth

This report reflects on the development of employability skills through the completion of Task 1 and related activities, utilizing Gibbs' reflective model. It identifies four key skills—time management, written communication, information research, and critical thinking—and details their improvement. The reflection covers the experience of preparing a report on e-learning for the UWTSD Centre manager, addressing both positive and negative aspects. The report discusses feelings of nervousness and confusion during the initial stages, followed by increased confidence upon receiving positive feedback. It also evaluates the challenges faced, such as the lack of unique literature, and how these were overcome through hard work and effective time management. A personal development plan is included, outlining actions and resources for further skill enhancement. The report concludes that employability skills are crucial for career advancement and highlights the importance of continuous improvement.

BUSINESS AND
MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION
The present report is prepared for the purpose of accomplishing the task 2 which involves
selection of four employability skills which gets improved or developed with the performance of
task 1 and other activities included in it. Employability skills are those skills possessed by an
individual which can be transferrable and the one who possess the same become employable as
employability solely depends upon skills, attitudes and Knowledge and how these assets are used
and present in front of employers. It is also known as soft skills, work readiness skills and
foundational skills. It is necessary as it assists in improvement of individual performance,
minimization of errors and promotion of collaboration with colleagues. Accordingly, effective
carrying out of one’s role become easier and possible. Therefore, in the present report the
reflection will be thrown on what kind of employability skills has been developed or improved
by accomplishing the task 1 and activities therein with the application of Gibbs reflective model.
MAIN BODY
Employability skills learnt
The four employability skills learnt by completing this module are as follows:
 Time management skill
 Written communication skill
 Information research skill
 Critical thinking skill
Reflective model
In order to produce reflective review of the task 1 and activities performed under task 2 to
highlight the development of existing and learning of new skills, Gibbs reflective model will be
applied. This model is best while reflecting on the learning cycle of an individual and how the
same can be improved to secure better results in future for the similar experience. The model
consists of six stages to clearly reflect on one’s experience. The learning from the above task 1
and activities of task 2 will be reflected upon through this model in the following section.
First phase – Description: This stage highlights an individual’s experience due to some act
performed in the past. Here such experience is regarding the module where in the task one, the
report has been prepared to UWTSD Centre manager with respect to the effects of e-learning in
terms of stating both positive and negative effects of e-learning. Also, various recommendations
has been made in regards to how best environment of e-learning can be provided to students in
the current scenario of Covid-19 pandemic where there is an increased demand of e-learning. In
the activity so performed pertaining to time management, I have learnt a lot about how to better
manage with the limited time available by applying various strategies like the one that is 4D tool
of time management. Other skills that I have learnt and improvise upon is of written
communication skill, information research skill and critical thinking skill. Task 1 involves report
writing which is considered as the best way to improve written communication skill and the
same advantage has been taken by me. Information research skill has also gets improved where I

have learnt how to enhance the credibility of literature by applying CRAAP test during
information research. Through this tool, I have enhanced the quality of information gathered in
the report. The report is based on evaluation of e-learning in terms stating both positive and
negative aspect of this learning method, which is found to be very helpful for me in enhancing
my critical thinking skill. Many times I get stuck in gathering information of highest quality, but
with the regularity with which carried out the task and activity, it allows me to overcome my
limitations through developing and learning new skills.
Second Phase – Feelings: In this phase an individual’s experience and feelings throughout the
preparation of report has been expressed. To evaluate my feelings or experience while
accomplishing the task 1 and further activities of task 2 is that I was first stuck on how to
proceed with the writing of the report as I am not having good writing skill prior to this report, so
I don’t know what is the standard format of writing report. This creates nervousness and
confusion in myself in terms of how to proceed, but with the follow up of university guidelines
and mentors suggestions I am able to accomplish these tasks and activities successfully and this
leads to enhancement in my written communication skill. Also, I get much nervous when my
feedback on the task 1 was awaiting regarding how my performance would be evaluated and
what is the final outcome. But luckily, the result was appreciating one and this leads to boost in
my confidence.
Third phase – Evaluation: In this phase, the positive and negative sides of the learning
experience through which an individual has gone through is being stated. While accomplishing
module involving task 1 and activities of task 2, I came across many limitations prevailing in my
personality and also faced through many problems. Some of them act in a positive manner and
while some had affected my work badly. The lack of uniqueness in the literature available
pertaining to my topic of the report make me bored with the further report and I get stuck at one
point. This leads to the hampering of my time management as the information gathering become
difficult at this point. But due to my hard work helped me overcome all these obstacles and my
time management skills aids me in accomplishing my tasks and activities in a successful and
timely manner.
Reflective model
In order to produce reflective review of the task 1 and activities performed under task 2 to
highlight the development of existing and learning of new skills, Gibbs reflective model will be
applied. This model is best while reflecting on the learning cycle of an individual and how the
same can be improved to secure better results in future for the similar experience. The model
consists of six stages to clearly reflect on one’s experience. The learning from the above task 1
and activities of task 2 will be reflected upon through this model in the following section.
First phase – Description: This stage highlights an individual’s experience due to some act
performed in the past. Here such experience is regarding the module where in the task one, the
report has been prepared to UWTSD Centre manager with respect to the effects of e-learning in
terms of stating both positive and negative effects of e-learning. Also, various recommendations
has been made in regards to how best environment of e-learning can be provided to students in
the current scenario of Covid-19 pandemic where there is an increased demand of e-learning. In

the activity so performed pertaining to time management, I have learnt a lot about how to better
manage with the limited time available by applying various strategies like the one that is 4D tool
of time management. Other skills that I have learnt and improvise upon is of written
communication skill, information research skill and critical thinking skill. Task 1 involves report
writing which is considered as the best way to improve written communication skill and the
same advantage has been taken by me. Information research skill has also gets improved where I
have learnt how to enhance the credibility of literature by applying CRAAP test during
information research. Through this tool, I have enhanced the quality of information gathered in
the report. The report is based on evaluation of e-learning in terms stating both positive and
negative aspect of this learning method, which is found to be very helpful for me in enhancing
my critical thinking skill. Many times I get stuck in gathering information of highest quality, but
with the regularity with which carried out the task and activity, it allows me to overcome my
limitations through developing and learning new skills.
Second Phase – Feelings: In this phase an individual’s experience and feelings throughout the
preparation of report has been expressed. To evaluate my feelings or experience while
accomplishing the task 1 and further activities of task 2 is that I was first stuck on how to
proceed with the writing of the report as I am not having good writing skill prior to this report, so
I don’t know what is the standard format of writing report. This creates nervousness and
confusion in myself in terms of how to proceed, but with the follow up of university guidelines
and mentors suggestions I am able to accomplish these tasks and activities successfully and this
leads to enhancement in my written communication skill. Also, I get much nervous when my
feedback on the task 1 was awaiting regarding how my performance would be evaluated and
what is the final outcome. But luckily, the result was appreciating one and this leads to boost in
my confidence.
Third phase – Evaluation: In this phase, the positive and negative sides of the learning
experience through which an individual has gone through is being stated. While accomplishing
module involving task 1 and activities of task 2, I came across many limitations prevailing in my
personality and also faced through many problems. Some of them act in a positive manner and
while some had affected my work badly. The lack of uniqueness in the literature available
pertaining to my topic of the report make me bored with the further report and I get stuck at one
point. This leads to the hampering of my time management as the information gathering become
difficult at this point. But due to my hard work helped me overcome all these obstacles and my
time management skills aids me in accomplishing my tasks and activities in a successful and
timely manner.
Personal development Plan on the skills chosen
skills Actions Resources Time
Time management
skill
Various techniques
and strategy will be
used to build better
schedule in order to
enhance the
Articles, workshops
and online tutorials.
6 month time will be
needed in further
development of this
skill.

effectiveness of time
management.
Written
Communication skill
More written work
will be performed
which is meant for
developing this skill
in order to ensure
further development.
Work include
paraphrasing,
summarizing, essay
and report writing are
the best way to
improvise this skill.
Books, articles,
online courses, etc.
3 month time period
will be needed to get
perfection in skill.
Information research
skill
With the application
of CRAAP test tool,
this skill can be better
work upon, as this
tool ensures and
enhances the quality
of literature gathered.
Guidelines provided
by various
universities, articles,
and Books.
6 month time period
will be required to
further work upon
this skill.
Critical thinking skill By undertaking more
case study analysis
and reading
biographies this skill
has been improved
and accordingly,
more effective
decision making
abilities has been
developed.
Online courses and
tutorials, Biographies
and journals.
3 month time is
needed to undertake
advance level of
critical analysis.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that employability skills are one of the most
important aspect which facilitate for an individual to get employed quickly. These skills are in
fact necessary to get promoted at workplace as it helps in performing top targets and building
impression in the eye of employers. Performance improvement along with minimum errors is
what the basic aim of every employer and thus helps in building career of an individual. In this
report, various skills that is, written communication skills, information technology skills,
information research skills and time management skills has been evaluated in terms of their
meaning and necessity in an individual’s life and career. It has been explained that how these
skills has been improved and developed with the accomplishment of task 1 and various other
activities performed therein. The whole scenario of development of skills has been presented in
terms of reflection by applying Gibbs reflective model which is considered as one of the best
technique of reflecting on learning experience of an individual into six stages. In this model,

description is the first stage where the whole scenario of the performance of task 1 has been
stated, in the second stage feelings that was prevailing while accomplishing the task 1 has been
mentioned, in the third stage of evaluation it has been evaluated that what goes wrong and well
throughout the performance of the task 1, in the fourth stage of analysis, it has been analyzed
how the performance can be improved in future if the similar opportunity of learning would be
obtained, in the fifth stage the whole scenario of learning from task 1 has been concluded by
stating good, bad and appreciable attempts carried out by an individual and at last stage which
comprises of action plan, the personality development plan for four chosen skills has been
prepared to highlight how these skills will be improved and further developed in future.

REFERENCES
Scott, F. J. and Willison, D., 2021. Students' reflections on an employability skills
provision. Journal of Further and Higher Education.
Sarkar, M., and et.al., 2020. Academics’ perspectives of the teaching and development of generic
employability skills in science curricula. Higher Education Research &
Development, 39(2), pp.346-361.
Goodwin, J. T., and et.al., 2019. Can students be taught to articulate employability
skills?. Education+ Training.
Fearon, C., and et.al., 2020. Graduate employability, skills development and the UK’s
Universities Business Challenge competition: a self-determined learning
perspective. Studies in Higher Education, 45(6), pp.1280-1297.
Olivares, S. L., and et.al., 2019. Action learning: challenges that impact employability
skills. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning.
Husam, H. A. and Abraham, P., 2019. Employability skills development through assessment in
higher education: Students’ voices on reflective assessments. Glob Acad J Econ Buss, 1,
pp.36-42.
Ornellas, A., Falkner, K. and Stålbrandt, E. E., 2019. Enhancing graduates’ employability skills
through authentic learning approaches. Higher education, skills and work-based learning.
Hill, M. A., Overton, T. L. and Thompson, C. D., 2020. Evaluating the impact of reflecting on
curriculum-embedded skill development: the experience of science
undergraduates. Higher Education Research & Development, 39(4), pp.672-688.
Alharahsheh, H. H. and Pius, A., 2021. Exploration of Employability Skills in Business
Management Studies Within Higher Education Levels: Systematic Literature
Review. Research Anthology on Business and Technical Education in the Information
Era, pp.1147-1164.