Preparing for a Successful Work Experience
description
Transcript of Preparing for a Successful Work Experience
Developing Business Practice – 302LON
Preparing for a Successful Work Experience
Unit: 9 Knowledgecast: 1
In this Knowledgecast, we will:
• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills
• Evaluate own skills, competencies and attitudes required for a successful work experience
• Develop an effective employment and career development strategy
Module Learning Outcomes
Module OverviewUnit1 Developing as a learner
2 Working independently and with others
3 Academic writing
4 Critical thinking, reading and taking notes
5 Using data in your studies
6 Business and management research
7 Career development strategies
8 Effective self marketing tools
9 Successful work experience10 Personal Development Planning
’Employers are likely to be looking for graduates who can demonstrate softer skills such as team working, cultural awareness, leadership
and communication skills, as well as academic achievement (Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the AGR)
• Increases your employability • Enhances your CV • Develops your skills and eases your transition into the business
world • Demonstrates you are interested in a certain type of work • Increases your networking opportunities
Source:CU Careers and Employability Service
Benefits of Work Experience
Based on: Cameron (2009)
A 6th Strategy for Career Success
Know your
skills and strengths
Contact potential employe
rs
Present yourself professionally
Present yourself success
fully
Demonstrating your skills,
knowledge and qualities
in the workplace
Positive Thinking
Work Experience Preparation
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said
the Cat. “I don't much care where,” said Alice.“Then it doesn't matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
Lewis Carroll – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Work Experience Preparation
Your Preparation
Work Experience Goals
Personal Objective
s
Learning Goals
Evidence Sought
Work Experience Preparation SWOT
STRENGTHS
• What are you most confident about?
• What are you looking forward to most?
WEAKNESS
• What don’t you feel confident about?
• What skills or knowledge do you need to develop before you begin?
OPPORTUNITIES
• What’s coming up where you can try new things out?
• How will your work experience help you develop your CV and profile?
THREATS
• What may prevent you from achieving your goals?
• What may affect your confidence and motivation?
Agree Objectives & Measures of Success•SpecificS•MeasurableM•AchievableA•RelevantR•Time DefinedT
Objective Measure of Success1. Develop my confidence in
building rapport with new colleagues over the duration of the work experience
• Positive feedback received from a sample of colleagues
• Observations from line manager about how I fit into the team
• Use your SMART objectives to clarify what you need to achieve
• Use your Measures of Success to clarify how you will know that you have achieved your objectives
Getting a Realistic Job Preview
Arrange an informational
interview
Use your network of
contacts and alumni
Shadow a colleague for a day
Come in to meet your colleagues
Connect with
colleagues
What will it be like?
Web research on the
company
Web research
on the role
Some of the details to find out before Day One:
1. Start and Finish times2. Dress code3. Breaks and meal options4. Transport links 5. Contact details for your office 6. Working relationships with your line manager
How Things Work Around Here…
In our next Knowledgecast, we will look at:
• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills
• Evaluate own skills, competencies and attitudes required for a successful work experience
• Develop an effective employment and career development strategy
What are we going to cover next?
In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at:
• Evaluate current academic, self-marketing and personal skills and present a plan for developing skills
– Review and revise your profile to formulate your preparation for your work experience
• Evaluate own skills, competencies and attitudes required for a successful work experience
– Identify the needs of the organisation and visualise the working environment to help you fit in and get on
• Develop an effective employment and career development strategy– Benefits of using well prepared work experience to gain career building
evidence for your professional profile and self marketing tools
Knowledgecast Summary
• Share reflections and feedback on Regular Assignment 2
• Details of the End of Module Assessment:
Reflect on what you have personally learned during this module. How will this affect the way you will study in the future?
Prepare your Personal Development Plan and account for the actions you have identified.
• Plenary and Q&A
Seminar: End of Module Assessment
‘Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our teachers, parents and managers we become
experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, whilst our strengths lie dormant and neglected.’
Buckingham (2005)
Revisit the range of self awareness tools used in this module and review how you have developed your strengths.• What has been most helpful? • Have you identified evidence of how you have developed skills?• What are the areas of strengths and areas to further develop?
Group Activity: Self Awareness Audit