Developing Business Practice 302LON Preparing for a Successful
Work Experience Unit: 9 Knowledgecast: 2
Slide 3
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
Slide 4
Module Overview Unit 1Developing as a learner 2Working
independently and with others 3Academic writing 4Critical thinking,
reading and taking notes 5Using data in your studies 6Business and
management research 7Career development strategies 8Effective self
marketing tools 9Successful work experience 10Personal Development
Planning
Slide 5
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
Slide 6
Based on: Cameron (2009) A 6 th Strategy for Career Success
Know your skills and strengths Contact potential employers Present
yourself professionally Present yourself successfully Demonstrating
your skills, knowledge and qualities in the workplace Positive
Thinking
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My Line Manager Checklist: 1.Who is my line manager? 2.What is
their management style? 3.Who are they line managed by? 4.What are
the expectations of your line manager about: How frequently you
will meet to discuss progress Who you should go to when you have
questions or need help with a problem How they prefer to get
progress updates from you What happens if something prevents you
from coming into work Management and Leadership Styles Source:
Mullins (2010)
Slide 8
Understanding the Informal Organisation requires excellent:
Observation skills Active listening skills Questioning skills Two
key questions: 1.What advice can you give me about fitting in with
the team? 2.I would like to share with you my objectives. What
advice can you give me to help me achieve these? The Formal and
Informal Organisation Source: Lysons (1997), Quoted in Mullins
(2010
Slide 9
Building Relationships With Colleagues Typical ways to get to
know your new colleagues
Slide 10
5 behaviours that will build good relationships with your
colleagues: 1.Taking the initiative spot things that need to be
done 2.Volunteering to help no matter how simple or dull 3.Making
suggestions helping with new ideas 4.Offering your point of view
provide an objective perspective 5.Asking for feedback get to know
what you are doing well and what you need to work on Building
Relationships With Colleagues
Slide 11
5 behaviours that wont build good relationships with your
colleagues: 1.Arriving late and leaving early 2.Making and
receiving personal calls and texts 3.Checking your personal email
and social networking sites 4.Looking like you have nothing to do
5.Having nothing to do Building Relationships With Colleagues
Slide 12
Keep a record of all your activities and achievements during
your work experience. You should be recording: Recording Your Work
Experience Your Experiences Your Evidence Your Learning Points
Slide 13
Review Objectives & Measures of Success Specific S
Measurable M Achievable A Relevant R Time Defined T
ObjectiveMeasure of Success 1. 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 Review
your SMART objectives to clarify what you achieved Use your
Measures of Success to clarify how you have achieved your
objectives
Slide 14
Build and maintain your Network by: Follow up your work
experience with thank you notes to key contacts Link with contacts
using professional and social networking sites Keep up to date with
news and changes Keep your contacts up to date with your relevant
news and achievements Building Your Network
Slide 15
A Checklist for Success Preparing for Work Experience 1Identify
and record your goals and objectives 2Review and revisit your
strengths and development needs 3Agree and review your work
experience SMART objectives with your line manager 4Use your
knowledge of how things work around here to help you fit in and get
on with the team 5Regularly record your experiences, evidence and
learning points 6Use your contacts to build and maintain your
Network
Slide 16
In our next Knowledgecast, we will look at: Analyse a range of
learning styles and the factors that influence successful study
Discuss the value of reflection and self-evaluation as a learner
Prepare a Personal Development Plan to address areas in need of
development throughout your programme of study What are we going to
cover next?
Slide 17
In this Knowledgecast, we have looked at: Demonstrate a
critical understanding of the importance of independence in
learning and the need for a growth mindset Taking responsibility
for your impact on the team and organisation Evaluate own skills,
competencies and attitudes required for a successful work
experience Manage the review of your work experience objectives
with your line manager Develop an effective employment and career
development strategy Focus on building lasting positive
relationships with contacts developed through your work experience
Knowledgecast Summary
Slide 18
Slide 19
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
Slide 20
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,
including: Core Skills Time Management Group Activity: Self
Awareness Audit