MG410 Career Development Assignment: Self-Reflection, CV, LinkedIn

Bibliography

Brown, P., Hesketh, A., & Williams, S. (2020). The Mismanagement of Talent: Employability and Jobs in the Knowledge Economy. Oxford University Press.
Clarke, M. (2021). Rethinking Graduate Employability: The Role of Career Self-Management and Reflection. Higher Education Research & Development, 40(5), 933–946. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1839026
Jackson, D., & Tomlinson, M. (2022). Career Readiness and Employability: A Critical Review and Future Directions. Studies in Higher Education, 47(3), 489–506. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1828328
Nilsson, S. (2019). Employability, Employment, and the Establishment of the Graduate Career Identity. Education + Training, 61(1), 16–30. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-02-2018-0044
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MG410 Career Development Assignment: Self-Reflection, CV, LinkedIn & SMART Plan for Future Employment

Career Development Assignment

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes. It aims to encourage self-awareness and help you understand how your personal and professional identity connects to your career goals.

LO1: Develop a useful and effective CV, and a LinkedIn profile.
LO4: Analyse your own strengths and development needs in relation to progress into employment and be able to construct a Development Plan (Career Action Plan) using SMART objectives.

Assignment Task

Assignment Overview

This assignment is designed to help you develop a comprehensive understanding of what strengths, skills, knowledge, and experience are needed to achieve the desired employment. It also inspires you to explore your future direction through meaningful self-assessment and reflection.

To accomplish this task, you will create a Report where you will use Self-reflection to identify and discuss your own strengths, and what areas of development you need to improve, in relation to progress into the career you wish to follow. It is essential to think deeply about your journey so far and how it aligns with your aspirations.
Using the data gathered, you will be required to create a useful, effective, and updated CV, a LinkedIn profile, and a detailed Development Plan (named also, Action Career Plan) in which you will elaborate SMART Objectives. This will serve as a practical roadmap toward achieving your professional goals.

Objectives:

To gather and analyse relevant information regarding your desired career, and the industry or sector where you wish to enter (including potential job roles, job characteristics, key employers, and industry trends). It will help you better position yourself in a competitive job market.
To use Self-Reflection in analysing your present personal, academic, and professional strengths, skills, qualifications (knowledge), and experiences. Such reflection supports your ability to grow with awareness and intention.
To identify areas of improvement in your above-mentioned strengths, skills, qualifications (knowledge), and experiences needed for you to progress into desired employment. You should approach this part honestly, as self-awareness is key to development.
To be able to create a Development Plan (named also Career Plan) outlining the steps to achieve your career objectives, an effective CV, a LinkedIn profile using the elements described above. It should reflect a structured, realistic, and motivated plan of action.

The Report Content (1500 Words):

Introduction (150 Words):

Introduce the purpose of developing a Report using a personal SWOT and a GAP Analysis, an effective updated CV, a LinkedIn Profile, and a Development Plan (Career Action Plan). You may start by reflecting on your personal motivation and career vision.
Outline the importance of each of these elements for your future career. It’s important to emphasize how they interconnect to form your professional identity.

Personal Self-Reflective Analysis (400 Words):

Identify and discuss briefly the importance of the most essential of present skills, qualifications, and experiences (knowledge) from personal (life), academic, and professional fields required for your desired career path. (4 examples of each) Try to be specific and give examples that illustrate your unique capabilities.
Assess your mentioned skill set, qualifications, and experiences using the personal SWOT and Gap Analysis, highlighting any gaps that need to be addressed. Include insights on how overcoming these gaps can strengthen your employability and confidence.

Development Plan (Career Action Plan) (300 Words):

Create a detailed Development Plan (Career Action Plan) outlining the steps you need to take to achieve your career goals, using three to five SMART Objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to enhance your employability. Reflect on how these objectives connect to your long-term goals.
The timeline you refer to in the Career Action Plan will start with the moment you create the assignment and can be discussed until a future presumptive moment you will achieve your goal, the desired job. Visualizing your progress will make your plan more realistic.
Outline the actions needed to achieve these objectives. Include strategies and potential challenges to demonstrate practical awareness.
Discuss how you will measure your progress and success. Adding performance indicators or milestones will make your plan more effective.

Curriculum Vitae (CV 250 Words):

Develop a professional, effective, and updated CV that highlights your education, experience, and skills relevant to your chosen career. Consider the layout and clarity of information to make your CV visually appealing.
Use the already identified skills, qualifications, and experiences (knowledge) from your personal (life), academic, and professional fields. Ensure your CV aligns perfectly with the career goals discussed earlier.

LinkedIn Profile (250 Words):

Create or update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your CV and career aspirations. A polished and active online presence increases your employability.
Ensure your CV includes a professional photo or screenshot as evidence of creating or improving your LinkedIn profile. The headline, summary, and detailed sections on experience, education, and skills should also be included. Focus on authenticity and clarity in your presentation.

Conclusion (150 Words):

Summarize the key points discussed in your Report. A brief reflection on your personal journey makes your conclusion more impactful.
Reflect on the learning outcomes of this assignment and how it has prepared you for future career opportunities. End with a positive note about your readiness to progress into your desired career field.

References:

Include all sources cited throughout the report using the Harvard Referencing Guide. Demonstrate academic integrity and thorough research.

Appendices:

E-Portfolio as required. You may include additional supporting evidence such as certificates, work samples, or screenshots.

Confidentiality

You should maintain and respect Confidentiality concerning the protection of personal, technical, and/or commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work. Upholding confidentiality demonstrates professionalism and ethical responsibility.
For further information and guidance, please see your Module Handbook