19th November 2010 – Interview Skills and Techniques

In this session, we were meant to complete the last two tasks, task sheet 15 and 16. These task sheets were mainly related to answering interview questions and how to prepare before the interview. We were also told to complete an application form, which after completing we had to send in the three email addresses which were specified. We had to also download a pdf file for creating CV for which we had to visit www.reed.co.uk.  By creating a professional CV, I found it to be really useful as I can use the same CV when applying for job applications.

However, task sheet 15 is about thinking how we will answer specific questions relating to our career goals and future job. This helped in evaluating what are my strengths and weaknesses. Also it recognizes my future career goals.

In task sheet 16, I found it to be really useful as we need to write entire process of preparing ourselves before the interview in order to make a good impression and to have more confidence in ourselves. This can be used as a check-list when I prepare myself for an interview in the future.

12th November 2010 Marketing Yourself (task sheet)

After the lecture of Mr Andy Gillman, we were told to complete task sheet 12-14 which were about the same topic as to what the lecturer were talking during the session i.e. preparing for an interview.

Task sheet 12 is about making a list about the skills and attribute that may be asked by the interviewer. It required us to make 10 important skills and within those skills to give examples of real situation where you have demonstrated those skills. I found this to be really useful as it prepared us about the 10 skills in which the interviewer may ask in the interview.

Task sheet 13 showed me what all information will be helpful for a referee apart from our grades. This task sheet was really interesting and good practise as I always tell someone to be my referee either a teacher or manager. When it comes to teacher, they don’t really know you that well as they have a lot of student as well. Therefore by doing this task sheet it can help a person itself by asking themselves what their strength and progress is over the years. This benefits yourself and your teacher for giving you a good reference rather than knowing only your grades and attendance which going to get you that job.

In task sheet 14, we had to write a covering letter to an employer. We had to do this covering letter in such a way that it will interest employers and offer us for an interview.  This was very new to me as I have never came across doing a covering letter for myself when applying for a job. It was a great challenge and a fun for me as I had to think a lot what to mention in this letter. But I remembered what Mr Andy Gillman said about selling yourself that’s why after considering this I wrote my covering letter in a good and professional way as to how business people will write.

At last, I can conclude this by saying that I believe doing these three task sheet gave me a better understanding about what I should do before the interview such as: covering letter, reference and 10 skills in which an employer may need to offer them a job. This has also helped me develop some skills about giving a good interview as I always used to feel nervous when going to any interview. This made me more confident and strong and also showed me that having an interview with business people is not as scary as you think…..

12th November 2010 – Targeting Yourself (Interview tips)

On Friday, we have had a lecture about how to market our self to any employer and in this case a business employer. A representative from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Mr Andy Gillman, had personally come to lecture our class. He gave us some useful information about interview tips, he also told us the relevant question in which they might ask us in an interview. I found this lecture really useful and interesting as we were getting direct information from a professional interviewer who explained us about what employer look at in a interview, how to market yourself as in how to look professional and smart in an interview, what type of questions do employers ask in an interview in order to chose the right employee and how to give a professional and mature answer to them.

He also illustrated that when we apply for a job along with many other applicants, how an employer short-lists the applications, what information do they find useful, what is their first impressions when looking at an application form and what exactly are they looking for in an applicant.

We also were demonstrated with two scenarios wherein two members of the class had to volunteer to do the scene. The scenario illustrated as to how to get a job easy and then how we might fail in an interview and what not to do in an interview. It made the lesson even livelier having our class team and myself being a part of the scenario.

I found these interview tips to be very useful as he explained to us what should be done by candidate during the interview. A candidate’s first impression should always be impressive and also style of walking in to an interview, seating patterns and answer the questions in a decent and professional manner. This made me realise about my past interview when I used to go for an interview and not get selected for the job. It was not that I didn’t know the answers; it was the style of answering and professional mannerism. This session gave me a good knowledge about what the interviewer is actually looking for in an employee.

This I found it to be really useful as it will help me in my future career. It will also help me in getting the best job even in the toughest market conditions.

Website referred

http://www.easy-interview-tips.com/job-interview-questions.html

http://www.directionsmag.com/columns/top-15-interview-questions/129571

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

MPD Class- 5th November 2010: Planning Future Goals

Task sheet 11 was basically about planning our target and deciding what steps we will be taking in order to achieve our Career, Academic and Personal goals.  We were also told to set target dates along each goal to keep ourselves stimulated.  It was quite hard in selecting the exact dates on when the target will be completed because you never know where life takes you, for e.g. things may or may not go as they are expected to. So when completing the task sheet I had researched on the goals and these were shown below:

Career Goal                  

I have planned a time schedule as to how I will begin my professional career and progress in the same. It has helped me in planning well in advance as to how should I enact and attain these goals so as to achieve my desired reputation and career growth.

Academic Goal       

In this task sheet I have planned as to how I will progress in my academics and how I will achieve my degree and gradually a professional qualification in my desired field. I have decided and planned as to how I will move on gradually and accomplish them in the mentioned time scale.

Personal Goal                  

In Personal Goals, I could imagine and plan a schedule as to how I will allocate my time apart from my academics for my personal interests. I have planned and will try to get the desired results in the scheduled period.

Task sheet 11 has helped me in deciding the steps which I have to take in order to achieve my goals. This showed the activities in which I have to complete in the planned dates, in other words, it helped me in deciding in which goals is more important for a better future and how to achieve them timely. I would certainly keep this as a calendar for my future reference in order to remind myself of my schedule and also to help me know if I am working as per the schedule or not, and then try to achieve it.

Websites referred:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_c.htm

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_a.htm

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_p.htm

MPD Class- 22nd October 2010: Skill Audit and SMART Targets

In this session we were asked to interview our colleague and present a report on the same. I worked in a group of three which were myself, Necla and Thanusha. I had interviewed Thanusha while she interviewed Necla and Necla interviewed me. In this session we were asked to inquire about our colleague’s career and personal targets and how are they willing to achieve those targets on the basis of following three categories:  Academic goals, personal life goals and career goals. After interviewing, we had to present a report of our colleague and upload it onto our portfolio.

This interview session actually formed the base of our task sheets which were required to be completed along with this coursework.

In task sheet 8, we had to mention about our personal skills and interest. While doing this task sheet I realised a few of my weakness which now I have to work on so that they do not obstruct my future career. I also came across my strengths as well which I need to keep improving over time. This has helped me in drawing down my career goals and being more specific to it.

In task sheet 9, we were asked to project and supplement information for 5 years from now. I had imagined myself having a very settled career as an Accounts Manager in a Company and having high responsibilities and how I can put an extra effort to progress in the Company. It has made me realise the fact of how important team work is when working in an organisation. Also, it has pointed out my management skills which I will tend to improve and build over time.

In task sheet 10, we were asked to derive our motivation towards our current academic and what future qualifications we want to achieve. I have also realised the importance of few subjects of my current academic which will be of prime importance in my future career.

After doing these three task sheet, I have started making plans of how to organise my career and what steps I need to take to achieve my career goals.  This assignment has made me realise as to what exactly I need to focus on and how to build a successful and good future.

MPD Class- 15th October 2010: My Learning Style

In this session, we were introduced to various forms of learning and how can we identify which learning style best matches to us. We were asked to perform a task sheet in order to identify which learning style suits us and which we can implement and develop so that we become more effective and our level of understanding can be improved.

On completing this questionnaire, I was informed that I am an Aural Learner. An Aural learner is the one who absorbs information by way of listening to lectures or talks. However, the concept of these different learning styles was unclear to me, for which I had to research on them and had to understand the concept of these various learning styles. I had referred the below mentioned websites to clear my concepts regarding the same.

Websites referred:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_learning
• http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/
• http://www.ehow.com/about_5472528_aural-learning-style.html
• http://www.classroom-management-success.org/auditory-learning.html

After understanding the styles, I realised that I am not only an Aural Learner but also a Visual Learner. There have been instances when just by looking at a diagram/graph and a brief explanation of the same has made me understand the entire logic/concept of the topic in discussion. It is my regular habit to be an active listener during lectures and take notes which I can later refer and remember the discussion made on those notes. After identifying my learning style, I have planned to work on organising and maintaining specific approach to learning to improve my understanding and grasp information at a faster rate.

MPD Class – 08 October 2010: Knowing what you have to offer and what you have now

In this session, I learned about what business employers actually look at. For instance, our qualification, work experience, other interest and also what strength and weakness we possess?

In this session, we were asked to complete task sheet 2 till task sheet 6 which were based on analysing the above points by our self, in short, self assessment. By doing this, I learned many things about myself. This has pointed many of my strengths which I need to keep intact and use them from time to time as and when required. Also, I was able to identify my weakness and now I can plan and work on overcoming them. I have to put an extra effort in improving my professional skills and become more presentable and professional.

 I need to start implementing my work experience to my study and vice versa which will help me understand the basics and my academic level and also improve my working skills and help me progress in my current and future work environment. This will also help me in getting good references into my CV.

 This session has highlighted my weaknesses and skills which I need to develop at an early stage on which I will put an extra effort so that I am well prepared from the early stages of this course.

MPD class: 1st October-Introduction

On Friday 1st October was my first session in Managing Professional Development. I personally had a brief idea about the module but was very eagerly to learn about this module. So I attended this session where we were asked to create a blog, something that I didn’t know about it. So each of us created a blog, which is said to be online diary. After doing that we had to create an online portfolio to store our work and to share relevant link with our tutor where we can keep our work up to date in the selected folders.

At the end of the session we were told to complete a personal skill audit task sheet. In this we had the sub heading of communication skills, IT skills, personal effectiveness skills and numeracy skills. In these we had to select five weaknesses in which we feel we are weakest in those. I noticed my weakest skill is written English under communication skills. I thought this was a really good task sheet to do as we came to know our weakness and also how to overcome our weakness through out the module.

After this task, I have starting working on my weaknesses and trying to put an extra effort to overcome them and improve my skills to a professional level.

Session 1

Welcome to my blog.