Assessment 02: Reflection on the world of work and self

Posted: July 7th, 2022

Assessment 02: Reflection on the world of work and self

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Ongoing Career Journey Informed Reflection:
Reflection on the world of work and self

Submission method: Online via Canvas
Completion dates: Section 1 should be completed before Week 05 of Semester 1
Section 2 and Section 3 should be completed before Week 10 of Semester.
Submission date: 12 May 2023
Word count: 1,200 words (excluding references and citations).
This assignment will enable you reflect ongoingly on the course content of Global Careers in relation to your own career journey and developing aspirations. It is i) an informed assessment of the world of work and careers that you will be entering into, and it is ii) a reflective self-assessment of where you are presently in terms of your preparedness, and finally it is iii) a discussion of how you can effectively strategise to connect yourself with your goals.

This assignment made up of three sections, each of 400 words. Although you complete each section ongoingly throughout the semester, the final document is submitted on Monday 09 May 2022.

This assignment is loosely conceived around a common form of situational analysis called the SWOT analysis: Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities / Threats. However, we are adding a further practical layer, SN: Strategies and Networks.
This assessment is intended to have the following learning outcomes for you:
• Investigate and evaluate the current and predicted employment environment and its impact on career and enterprise opportunities
• Gain insight into career progression, opportunities, challenges, risks and evolving worlds of work with professionals from industry
• Create a career plan informed by professional insights and personal experience

The following describes what you are expected to do in each of the three sections:
Personal statement

Before the three sections below, please provide a personal statement of between 50 and 80 words in length. This statement should describe your work and career aspirations. We ask that you provide this so that we can consider the relevance of your reflections in the following sections to your specific goals for yourself.
This assignment does not assume that you necessarily have a clear vision of your career goals. This assignment accommodates students who have a clear view of their career goals, and equally also accommodates students who are still in an exploratory phase, who are being deliberately open about what they might want to do. If this is the case, a career objective may be exploration and discovery of both yourself and the world of work and careers, although this exploration may well have orientations towards development, governance, business etc.
This personal statement does not require citations. It is not included in your word count. It is not marked, but it will impact the way your reader will consider the relevance to you of your insights in the sections.
Section 1 – Opportunities and Threats

In Section 1, you will consider the world of work and careers as it is now and as it is evolving. This section draws on the contents of weeks 01 à 04 of Global Careers. In this section you should reflect on what you see are for youthe Opportunities that exist or are predicted to come soon. You should also reflect on the Threats that exist or are predicted to come soon. You should spend an equal amount of words reflecting on opportunities and threats. This section explores the world of work externally, but what you see as a Threat or Opportunity will depend entirely on you and your aspirations. You should make clear in this section why something is a Threat or an Opportunity for you. In this section, you need to provide citations and references for the developments you reference. For example: If you think AI is a Threat to someone with your aspirations, you need to provide some evidence/citation to support your view.
Section 2 – Strengths and Weaknesses

In Section 2, you will reflect on your own current preparedness for the world of work and careers you aspire to. This section draws especially on the contents of Weeks 05à08, but also Week 01. In this section you should reflect on your Strengths (what you have going for you), and Weaknesses (what you need to work on). You should spend an equal amount of words reflecting on each. This section explores you – it is an ‘internal’ exploration (as per the lecture in Week 01). You should make clear in this section why something is a Threat or an Opportunity for you, given your aspirations. In this section, you also need to provide evidence/citations to support your discussion.
Section 3 – Strategies and Networks

In Section 3, you will reflect on what you believe you need to start doing now in order to be in the best position possible after graduation. This section draws especially on the contents of Weeks 04, 06, 07 and 09. What Strategies do you need to put in place? What networks do you need to develop? In this section, you also need to provide evidence/citations to support your discussion.

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In your document, please clearly label each section with a subheading. I.e. Personal Statement; Section 1; Section 2; Section 3.
You should write in ‘the first person’. I.e. Use the words ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’.

It is intended that you complete this assignment progressively through the semester, until the submission date of 09 May, according to the timeline at the start of this document. You only submit your assignment on or shortly before 09 May.

As with any assignment, we recommend that you back up your work as you complete it. One easy way to do this is to copy or attach your text into an email and send it to yourself.
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Further instructions

1. i) The first page of the assignment should be blank except for the following information:
a Your tutor’s name
b Your tutorial time
c Your name
d Your student number
e Word length (excluding references)

1. There is a restriction on the volume of quotes that can be used in this essay. As a rule of thumb, your essay should not be made up of more than 15% quotations. Over this amount, it is excessive quoting and may appear as if you are padding out your essay to make up the word count.
• It is expected that each section contains at least three references from amongst the Required and Further Materials in the modules of Global Careers. You may include more references from outside of the course materials.
1. For the purposes of this assignment, please cite and reference in the manner provided in Appendix A, below.

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Personal Statement:

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Business Administration with a keen interest in entrepreneurship. My career aspiration is to become a successful entrepreneur who creates innovative products and services that can positively impact society. I am excited about the dynamic and ever-changing world of business and I am eager to explore different opportunities that will allow me to develop my skills and knowledge.

Section 1 – Opportunities and Threats:

The world of work is evolving rapidly, with advancements in technology, changing consumer behaviors, and the impact of globalization. These changes have created many opportunities and threats in various industries. One opportunity that I see is the rise of e-commerce. According to Statista, global e-commerce sales are expected to reach 4.9 trillion US dollars in 2021, representing a huge opportunity for businesses to reach more customers and expand their market share. Another opportunity is the growth of the sharing economy, which provides new business models and opportunities for entrepreneurs to create innovative products and services.

However, there are also many threats that I see, including the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the job market. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, the adoption of automation technologies is expected to displace 85 million jobs globally, while also creating 97 million new ones. This poses a threat to those who may not have the skills required for the new jobs that will be created. Additionally, the increasing importance of sustainability and corporate social responsibility means that businesses that fail to adapt to these changing consumer demands may struggle to compete in the market.

Section 2 – Strengths and Weaknesses:

In terms of my own preparedness for the world of work, I believe that my strengths lie in my creativity, critical thinking, and willingness to take risks. I have always been interested in exploring new ideas and approaches, and I believe that this will serve me well as an entrepreneur. Additionally, I have developed strong analytical skills through my coursework, which will be invaluable in identifying market opportunities and analyzing business trends.

However, I recognize that I also have weaknesses that I need to address. One of these is my lack of experience in the business world. While I have completed internships and coursework that have provided me with some exposure to the business world, I believe that I need more practical experience in order to fully develop my skills. Additionally, I need to work on my networking skills and build a stronger professional network, which I believe is essential for success in the business world.

Section 3 – Strategies and Networks:

To address my weaknesses and position myself for success after graduation, I plan to implement several strategies. First, I plan to seek out internships and volunteer opportunities that will provide me with practical experience in the business world. Additionally, I plan to join professional organizations and attend networking events to build my professional network and gain exposure to different industries and business models. Finally, I plan to continue to develop my skills and knowledge through coursework, workshops, and self-study.

In terms of networking, I plan to leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in my field of interest and attend industry conferences and events. Additionally, I plan to participate in mentoring programs to gain insights and guidance from experienced professionals. By implementing these strategies, I believe that I will be well-positioned to achieve my career aspirations and contribute to the world of business.