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Introduction

A strategic road map designed to improve a person's abilities, experiences, and qualities in order to make them more marketable to employers is known as an employability plan (Quinlan and Renninger, 2022). It's a dynamic tool that helps the individuals identify strengths, areas for improvement, and necessary steps to achieve career objectives (Divan and McBurney, 2016). By matching objectives and talents with market demands, an employability strategy can be created as a proactive way to negotiate the competitive labor market of today (Quinlan and Renninger, 2022). Success in the workplace requires flexibility and ongoing development in today's fast-paced world. I am developing this plan to bridge the gap between my current abilities and the requirements of my desired career.

How do I plan this?

To initiate this plan, I will begin with a comprehensive self-assessment. This introspection will involve identifying my core strengths, weaknesses, values, and interests (Helens-Hart, 2019). Developing an in-depth knowledge of these aspects will help me identify my areas of strength and improvement (Divan and McBurney, 2016). Simultaneously, I will conduct extensive research on the current industry landscape, job market trends, and the specific skills demanded by employers in my desired field (Helens-Hart, 2019). By taking this move, I will be able to match my objectives with the changing demands of the sector.

Once I have a clear understanding of my strengths and the market demands, I'll delineate a roadmap with achievable milestones and a well-defined timeline. This will involve setting short-term goals for immediate skill development alongside long-term objectives aimed at career advancement (Comings, 2023). With an aim to supplement theoretical knowledge, I plan to engage in practical experiences (Helens-Hart, 2019). This includes pursuing relevant courses, certifications, and workshops that complement my career aspirations. Additionally, seeking internships, volunteering opportunities, or part-time roles within the industry will provide invaluable hands-on experience.

Networking will also play a pivotal role. I aim to connect with professionals in my field through platforms like LinkedIn, attending industry events, and seeking mentorship. Learning from experienced individuals will provide insights and guidance crucial for navigating the professional landscape effectively (Batistic and Tymon, 2017).

Which core study skills do I need to plan to develop?

Core Skill 1: Presentation Skills

Reflection: The absence of robust presentation skills can pose significant challenges in my employability plan. In various professional settings, the ability to effectively communicate ideas through presentations is crucial (Ahmadzia Wafa et al., 2020). Without this proficiency, conveying information convincingly to potential employers or colleagues becomes arduous, potentially limiting one’s ability to demonstrate expertise and hindering career growth (Ahmadzia Wafa et al., 2020). So, as to rectify this, I have structured a weekly plan targeting presentation skills enhancement. I have decided to get enrolled in a public speaking course, where I can dedicate two hours each week to practice delivery techniques and refine content structuring. In addition, I will actively engage in group discussions and embrace presentation opportunities to apply acquired techniques in practical settings (Sugeng and Suryani, 2018).
In terms of improvement, I can say that enrolling in the public speaking course has definitely boosted my confidence and refined my presentation style. Moreover, actively engaging in group discussions has helped me by honing my ability to articulate ideas succinctly. Also, it helped me respond effectively to diverse viewpoints, and refine my capacity to structure compelling narratives clearly (Sugeng and Suryani, 2018). This progress validates the importance of these initiatives in refining presentation skills, which are essential for my career goals.

Core skill 2: Teamwork

Reflection: My employability may be hampered by my lack of teamwork abilities as most of the professional workplaces require collaboration. Lack of cooperation can result in conflicts, decreased productivity, and hinder the attainment of collective objectives (Ahmadzia Wafa et al., 2020). I have acknowledged a fact that employers highly prioritize the candidate’s adept at cohesive teamwork, making this skill pivotal for career advancement (Ahmadzia Wafa et al., 2020). So, in order to bolster this skill, I have decided to be involved in participating in team-based activities, leading discussions, and actively listening to diverse perspectives. I also need to dedicate time to observe team dynamics, lead small projects, and practice delegating tasks efficiently (Sugeng and Suryani, 2018).

While reviewing my progress, I can say that active involvement in team endeavors has refined my teamwork ability. Participating in team-based activities has improved my delegating and conflict-resolution skills. Moreover, the active listening initiative has also helped me to collaborate with others and increase the team’s productivity (Jonsdottir and Fridriksdottir, 2020). Therefore, this progress underscores the importance of consistent engagement in teamwork-focused activities to fortify this indispensable skill for my professional growth.

Core skill 3: Communication Skills

Insufficient communication skills impose a significant threat to my employability. I understood that clear and effective communication stands as a cornerstone for conveying ideas, nurturing relationships, as well as resolving conflicts in professional settings (Bharathi, 2016). Lack of proficient communication might hinder my ability to express thoughts clearly, impacting collaboration and potential career advancements (Ahmadzia Wafa et al., 2020). So, in order to fortify my communication abilities, I have decided to commit to regular reading of diverse materials along with participate in communication workshops. Engaging in discussions and actively seeking feedback to refine my communication style are also integral activities of my weekly plan (Nikolić et al., 2020).

While assessing my progress, I can say that active involvement in discussions and workshops has distinctly refined my communication approach. Moreover, in my opinion, seeking feedback actively and implementing suggestions has also improved my articulation and active listening skills (Nikolić et al., 2020). Encouragingly, I've observed heightened clarity and confidence in my interactions, signalling tangible progress in enhancing communication skills.

Challenges Faced While Developing Skills

Time constraints: Time constraints between work commitments and skill enhancement activities posed a challenge, often making it difficult to dedicate ample time to each skill improvement initiative (Adams and Blair, 2019).

Nervousness: Overcoming initial discomfort or nervousness when applying newly acquired skills in practical settings, especially during presentations or team leadership roles, proved to be a significant hurdle in implementing learned techniques effectively.

Diverse culture: Adapting to diverse cultural nuances and communication styles within the workplace was a significant adjustment (Chen, 2019). This required open-mindedness and a willingness to understand and respect varied perspectives and approaches to work.

Conclusion

Throughout the study, I have discussed about developing and improving certain skills which I lacked in my employability. The essentiality of honing presentation, teamwork, and communication skills for professional growth has been discussed in this report. Implementing dedicated plans and initiatives revealed tangible progress in each area. Challenges like time management, initial nervousness and adjusting to to diverse workplace cultures underscored the need for adaptability and perseverance in skill development for successful career advancement.

References

Adams, R.V. and Blair, E., 2019. Impact of time management behaviors on undergraduate engineering students’ performance. Sage Open, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018824506
Ahmadzia Wafa, J.S.K.S. and Singh, D.K.S., 2020. Challenges Faced and Employability Skills That Employers Seek in Fresh Graduates in a Third World Country. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350483412_CHALLENGES_FACED_AND_EMPLOYABILITY_SKILLS_THAT_EMPLOYERS_SEEK_IN_FRESH_GRADUATES_IN_A_THIRD_WORLD_COUNTRY
Batistic, S. and Tymon, A., 2017. Networking behaviour, graduate employability: a social capital perspective. Education+ Training, 59(4), pp.374-388. 10.1108/ET-06-2016-0100
Bharathi, A.V., 2016. Communication skills–core of employability skills: Issues & concerns. Higher Learning Research Communications, 6(4), p.5. 10.18870/hlrc.v6i4.359
Chen, M., 2019. The impact of expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment on work stress and job involvement in the high-tech industry. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, p.2228. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02228
Comings, J.P., 2023. Persistence: Helping adult education students reach their goals. In Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 7 (pp. 23-46). Routledge. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=3deaa54542a324d031ad598e145334296e75af11
Divan, A. and McBurney, S., 2016. Understanding how students manage their employability. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 11(1), p.n1. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1231920.pdf
Helens-Hart, R., 2019. The employability self-assessment: Identifying and appraising career identity, personal adaptability, and social and human capital. Management Teaching Review, 4(1), pp.6-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/2379298118775937
Jonsdottir, I.J. and Fridriksdottir, K., 2020. Active listening: Is it the forgotten dimension in managerial communication?. International Journal of Listening, 34(3), pp.178-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2019.1613156
Nikolić, T.M., Perić, N. and Bovan, A., 2020. The role of feedback as a management tool in performance management program. Calitatea, 21(177), pp.3-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343152520_The_Role_of_Feedback_as_a_Management_Tool_in_Performance_Management_Program
Quinlan, K.M. and Renninger, K.A., 2022. Rethinking employability: how students build on interest in a subject to plan a career. Higher Education, 84(4), pp.863-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-021-00804-6
Sugeng, B. and Suryani, A.W., 2018. Presentation-Based Learning and Peer Evaluation to Enhance Active Learning and Self-Confidence in Financial Management Classroom. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 15(1), pp.173-201.

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