Overview of My Professional Development - Coursework Example

Rеflесtiоn Journal Student’s Name Subject Professor University/Institution Location Date Introduction So far so good! I would actually say that my life has been a journey of experience as I have had opportunities that have given me the basis to thrive, remain effective and competitive in academic, job market and professional life. Generally, I have spent most my time schooling and part of it in different work places. In turn, I have been able to apply skills at workplace and also noted areas of weaknesses to deal with and opportunities to leverage. Great personal values core among them being responsible and commitment have been influencing factors for my current achievements. There are opportunities I have leveraged by participating in different organizations and taking various functions as evidenced in this journal. Eventually, I have gained knowledge to maneuver and become effective in specific management situations. In this overview of my professional development, I demonstrate personal improvement process by highlighting different phases and improved outcomes that I have had out of applying skills and taking part in various activities to equip myself with important skills. Core among these skills are interpersonal, leadership and technical skills as demonstrated. AcademicBackground My undergraduate and post-graduate studies have given me immense and specific skills that will to a greater extent define my current and future professional career. Generally, my choice for taking a course in Bachelor of Business Informatics & MBA in Strategic Procurement was promoted by my increased interests in advancing my skills in integrating informatics to transform my practice and engagement. I have noted the centrality of various technological modalities and their daily application in the workplace. I aspired to work towards improving my skills and hence gained Basic Computer Literacy, Information Management and Literacy to excel and succeed in the workplace. Other important skills I gained and that are highly applicable nowadays includes; Web Design and Production; Knowledge Management Systems, Systems Analysis and Modeling, Business Intelligence and Business Informatics Case Studies. Of particular interest and pertinent with my specific skills were the areas of Systems, Project and Quality Management; Systems Analysis and Modeling; and Database Design. My course in Procurement management requires triaging, gathering and organizing data and translating such data to managing and designing better outcomes for projects. My role also intersects with other professional roles like project management and thus these skills are important in how I will offer pertinent and relevant information and combine with other skills to deliver at the workplace. These skills have given me advanced skills in emerging technologies to ensure effective, efficient, client-centered and timely decisions and delivery of task. Throughout my course, I highly engaged with web-based and technological learning environment to develop knowledge, awareness and skills that would make me more effective. Other general skills that I have attained included; leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, communication skills, ability to utilize information, social responsibility and basic business knowledge. Work Experience Work experience has offered me situations to make decisions, confirm my communication skills, talents, personal strengths and professional interests. I have worked as a Webmaster Office of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) for 5 months. My roles revolved around IT Systems Maintenance: upgrading, organizing for the procurement and installation of new servers and computers. I successfully ordered and installed new software to upgrade the organization’s backup system and improve the performance of computers and printers. I also created and modified accounts, passwords, and monitored mail server usage alongside other activities including Website Redevelopment and Security and Policy Review. I have worked with Sydney Night Patrol Co (SNP), Mitchell, ACT from March 2012 until now carrying out major roles like offering Security and Patrolling Services for residents and visitors and in buildings as well as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) activities and Records Management. More importantly, it allowed me to continuously identify areas of my professional development. Work experience has also promoted me to drain fear and roles uncertainty, become flexible, and identifies limiting factors as well as balancing professional and personal life. I have developed greater acuity in IT problems and purchasing. I also ascertained my professional development as I could competently use skills to build trust and relationship with my peer workers and seniors. I confirmed my strengths in team-working particularly when I working as a security agent. I also took work situations as a place to promote effectiveness as I usually faced circumstances to participate in decision-making, carry out research and disseminate information to the right channels. Volunteer Work Experience I have participated in various volunteer works hence attaining new horizons and contributing to community well-being. There are major event that is actively participated including the ACT Canberra Marathon in Apr 2014. The event promoted my teamwork skills through association and collective responsibilities. I with significant others worked with Sponsors and discussed about event sites, plans and schedules. I took part in preparing seating layout and arrangements for sponsor’s and VIP. I also motivated members of the community and encouraged participants in marathon by wooing them. I was also involves in NSW (SYD) Ride 2 River stone the May 2014. The event was also a critical point for developing my teamwork skills and work with different association. I was responsible for coordinating with other staff members and dividing and assigning volunteers for the projects. I also put together volunteer’s job descriptions, orientation, shifts and lead volunteers on actual designated area for the event. I also demonstrated my security skills by making sure that I directed traffic and pedestrians towards alternative routes as well as giving directions. I specifically encouraged all participants from River Ride cycling bikers by wooing them. These opportunities may not have given me any professional skills but were opportunities to increase my possibilities of influencing others, source of motivation and promoting corporate activities. Volunteer opportunities were congruent with my personal values and promote compassionate and selfless style in life and practice. As I advance, these values are important and I will apply the in different situations, train and promote others to assume these values or advocate them in different community settings. My aspirations to work in various projects and particularly those impacting on environment and society will help me to advocate for community involvement, ultimate well-being and safety. Personal values support professional development in many ways as it is the backbone by which choices to ensure the welfare of others and representing those whose rights might be denied in commercial decisions. I have taken volunteer opportunities as avenues to break the monotony and interact with others to note their skills and take the best out of their working culture. They also give someone an opportunity to use abilities to optimum level s by arranging work for a very short period. It required skills to control and organize actions from start to the end, review progressively, adopt flexible decisions, communicate effectively and agree with other stakeholders on quality. The last three years in education and work experience have been beneficial not only to me but also to different organization that I have worked for. Majorly, my personal skills have immeasurably increased and doing a current audit, I am so far better than I was some three years ago. I have proved my hard work as I have been able to plan, work and prioritize tasks both in school and at work to achieve the required goals. My roles are straining and particularly due to combining school and work issues as well as issue of personal life. I have hence demonstrated perseverance by setting long-term goals and in turn splitting them accordingly in order to overcome challenges and barriers at different levels. There are a number of influencing factors that I attribute to use of such skills. Key among them is self discipline and working at specific activity each time. I also receive moral support from my friends and when talking with my relatives who make me see the importance of my current roles and responsibilities. To make sure that I do not miss any important details, I have used the course outline to prioritize on time and assign task and resources before I commence working. I have used my previous and current skills for efficient reading and note taking. I record important insights and use key journals, books and Internet sources as well as different reading strategies like skimming, in-depth reading and scanning to meet task deadlines. I made sure that I controllably used resources and proved my ability to manage risks in an effective way. At work place, I have ensured the use of available resources to maximum points. Through these years, I have proven best practice and mostly in project management. I have been able to understand and take a common language like a professional in projects. I have worked with different team in different areas and activities and was effective in encouraging formal recognition and delivery of responsibilities within each work by focusing on what each project should deliver the reason, time and by whom. One of the most distracting factors in life can be lack of the right balance between personal life, education and professional life. I have hence ensured that I am disciplined by prioritizing on major and important tasks that concern my private time. I also adhere to task by having a defined schedule and defining the scope and time of work. I consider important goals in education, learning and working to achieve my utmost potential, adhere to my financial capabilities and having a day-to-day plan of work. To ensure that I am not carried out by event and close friends, I have selected the right group of people who see priority of what I treasure most and understand the details of my life in order to avoid failure in one area of life. I have confirmed my teamwork skills as I have been able to work confidently with groups, contribute to ideas in an effective manner, share in teamwork responsibilities, being assertive, accepting and learning from constructive criticism from my seniors and peers and also offer constructive feedback. Eventually, I can solve problems well and finish projects in a teams. I have hence developed problem solving skills, evaluation of ideas and negotiation as well as working with other members by listening, engaging and appreciating views from peers. I am well organized and that has really impacted on my timely delivery. I always come up with a specific strategy for planning and managing time. I capably prioritize tasks, activities and roles to meet deadlines and meet quality. Throughout the three years, I learnt what made learning effective by interacting with senior students and lecturers. I find it critical to be neat to avoid confusion when working. These skills I attained through security reporting and record management and through the use of different catalogues and varieties of software to plan, store, retrieve and discard information. Stress management has been a critical skill to me where I have adopted self-management skills by planning, motivating myself and sharing with others. I have noted the issues that cause stress and by identifying the pattern I was able to develop ways to deal with stress. I am always aware of stress symptoms and so I have developed strategies to help me cope with stressing situations as they arise. Conclusion Professional development involves various aspects of life including personal interests, vision, personal values. It is a process that involves identification of strengths; personal talents, strength and professional interests; weaknesses; personal characteristics and areas in professional development; opportunities to leverage and threats to control. On my part, I have gone through the process by having a core vision that have led me to refine my course in Masters degree, identify success strategies and specific actions to improve my skills, education and practice. I have geared major initiatives in learning and developing technological skills and gained competencies that have promoted my professional skills I have aspired for long. I have developed substantial knowledge, skills and technological expertise that are key to deliver in different working situations. I will also work towards taking opportunities and using current skills in day-to-day activities to achieve goals and offer reliable expertise at all level of performance. Read More