Developing Business Practice – 302LON Preparing for a Successful Work Experience Unit: 9 Knowledgecast: 2

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

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

’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

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

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)

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

Building Relationships With Colleagues Typical ways to get to know your new colleagues

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

5 behaviours that won’t build good relationships with your colleagues: 1.Arriving late and leaving early 2.Making and receiving personal calls and texts 3.Checking your personal and social networking sites 4.Looking like you have nothing to do 5.Having nothing to do Building Relationships With Colleagues

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

‘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