Personal Devlopment

Assessment 2: Essay

Due date: Week 8

Group/individual: Individual

Word count/Time provided: 2500

Weighting: 40%

Unit Learning Outcomes: ULO2, ULO3, and ULO 4

Assessment 2 Detail

The purpose of the essay is to develop a clear understanding of what you want to achieve in your career. This assessment allows students to consider that they will have the right knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of their chosen career in an organised manner. In this essay, the students need to succinctly review the literature focusing on the subjects and skills required for the career of their choice. In addition, the students will evaluate how choosing the right subjects and developing the right skills would make a significant difference in their chosen career. Furthermore, the student will critically analyse the subjects and skills chosen for their future career.

In particular, the students are required to consider the following key issues in their essay.

(A) Introduction: In the introductory paragraph, describe about yourself, your educational background, your qualification, and experiences. In addition, the student should describe what motivated you to pursue the career of your choice.

(B) Skill identification and critical analysis: In the next few paragraphs, identify and discuss about the key skills required for your chosen career. You are required to discuss at least 4 required skills for career of your choice. Some of the skills may include but not limited to the following:

a. Interpersonal skills (including verbal communication skills) b. Oral skills (including group or public speaking) c. Professional writing skills d. Team working skills e. Leadership and negotiation skills f. Analysis and presentation of research information

Critically analyse why you believe your selected skills are important in the career of your choice. Support your discussion referring to the literatures to highlight importance of skills in career development. You are required to refer to a recent job advertisement of a professional position of your choice. Please attach this job advertisement in the appendix of this essay as evidence.

(C) Skill gap analysis: Finally, the students are required to conduct a skill gap analysis. In the skill gap analysis, the students should identify and discuss the skills that they possess, and they are good at (their strength in skills) and the skills that require improvement (weaknesses in skills). In addition, the students should critically analyse the ways of overcoming those gaps. To support your analysis, you may refer to wider credible sources to link skills to the

advertised position. Reflect on the topics that were covered in this unit and how they will help in your future career.

(D) In the subsequent paragraph, discuss about the goals (your own career goals as well as the goals of your employer or clients). Describe how do you see yourself in the industry/profession of your interest and the sort of expectations placed on you. Again, refer back to the position description of the job advertisement that you have included. Discuss the goals in terms of long-term and short-term goals.

(E) In Concluding paragraph, you should summarise and reflect how these knowledge and skills would be useful in your future career.

Students are expected to critique the literature and adhere to the word limit. Essay should also contain reference list written in Harvard style. Students are required to submit the draft of their essay 1 week prior (on week 7) and final submission on week 8. This is a part of an educative approach for student to check their academic skills including using Turnitin for their advantage.

Assessments 2 Marking Criteria and Rubric

The assessment will be marked out of 100 and will be weighted 40% of the total unit mark. The

marking criteria and rubric are shown on the following page.

Assessment 2 Marking Criteria and Rubric

Marking Criteria Not Satisfactory (0-49% of the criterion

mark)

Satisfactory (50-64% of the criterion

mark)

Good (65-74% of the criterion

mark)

Very Good (75-84% of the criterion

mark)

Excellent (85-100% of the criterion

mark) Self-awareness and

motivation (20 marks)

Demonstrate understanding

on level of self- awareness

and motivation, and how

your thinking affects your

decision as you progress in

your studies to achieve the

career of your choice.

Inadequate understanding

of self-

awareness and how your self-awareness affect your decision as you progress in your studies to achieve the career of your choice

Basic knowledge only of self- awareness and how your self-awareness affects your decision as you progress in your studies to achieve the career of your choice

Good understanding of self-

awareness and how your self-awareness affects your decision as you progress in your studies to achieve the career of your choice

Very good understanding of self-awareness and how your self- awareness affects your decision as you progress in your studies to achieve the career of your choice

Outstanding understanding

of the concepts of self-

awareness and how your self-awareness affects your decision as you progress in your studies to achieve the career of your choice

Skill identification and analysis (30 marks) Skill identification and critical analysis of required skills including skill gap analysis and ways of overcoming gaps.

Lack of evidence of critical

analysis in identifying and

discussing the required skills

for chosen career.

no evidence of using

relevant job advertisement

and position description.

no evidence of critical

analysis of gaps in skills. Two

skills identified only.

Evidence of basic analysis in identifying and discussing the required skills for chosen career. limited evidence of using relevant job advertisement and position description. limited evidence critical of analysis of gaps in skills. At least two skills identified and analysed

Evidence of good critical

analysis in identifying and

discussing the required skills

for chosen career

evidence of using relevant

job advertisement and

position description

good evidence of critical

analysis of gaps in skills. At

least three skills identified

and analysed.

Evidence of very good

critical analysis in

identifying and discussing

the required skills for

chosen career.

good evidence of using

relevant job advertisement

and position description

with strong reference

very good evidence of

critical analysis of gaps in

skills and ways of

overcoming those gaps. At

least four skills identified

and analysed.

Evidence of excellent critical

analysis in identifying and

discussing the required skills

for chosen career with

excellent evidence of using

relevant job advertisement

and position description

supported by excellent

critical analysis of gaps in

skills and ways of

overcoming those gaps. At

least four skills identified

and analysed.

Career goals identification and discussion. Use of SMART strategies for setting goals (20 marks)

No identification and

discussion of career goals is

presented and lack of

Basic identification and description of professional goals is presented and basic

Evidence of good use of

SMART strategies to identify

and discuss professional

Evidence of very good use

of SMART strategies to

identify and discuss

Evidence of excellent use of

SMART strategies to identify

and discuss professional

goals and industry

understanding of SMART

strategies

understanding of SMART strategies.

goals and industry

expectation with coherent

and logical arguments.

professional goals and

industry expectation and

very good preparation of

professional development

program with coherent

and logical arguments.

expectation and excellent

preparation of professional

development program with

coherent and logical

arguments.

Literature review (15 marks)

Critical review focusing on importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position

Lack of evidence of enough use of literature and limited interpretation of importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position

Use of some supporting literature with limited interpretation of importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position

Evidence of good reference to supporting literature in reviewing the importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position

Evidence of strong reference to supporting literature in reviewing the importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position with significant synthesis of argument.

Evidence of excellent reference to supporting literature in reviewing the importance of required knowledge and skills for your chosen career/ desired professional position with significant synthesis of argument.

Written expression and presentation (10 + 5 marks for draft submission)

Writes clearly and succinctly in an appropriate academic style. Demonstrates appropriate use of language, grammar, spelling and punctuation with correct referencing (Harvard Author Date system

The paper lacks transition and therefore difficult to read and understand. Inadequate use of language, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Significant work is required to make citation and list of references consistent with Harvard Author Date system

The paper lacks consistent transition. Some paragraphs appear unrelated to the preceding ones or to the topic. There are few grammatical error and unintentional errors in acknowledging sources. In-text citation and list of

references show some compliant with Harvard Author Date system

The report is written with some transition. The report exhibits appropriate use of language, grammar, spelling, punctuation References are credited well and used appropriately.

In-text citation and list of references mostly compliant with Harvard Author Date system

The report is written with a good transition, which is evident from a structure that includes introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and concluding paragraph. The report exhibits accurate use of language, grammar, spelling, punctuation. References are credited well and used appropriately.

In-text citation and list of references mostly compliant with Harvard Author Date system

This report is written with a good transition, in a persuasive, which is evident from a structure that includes introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and concluding paragraph. The report exhibits exceptional ability in use of correct language. grammar, spelling and punctuation. References are credited well and used appropriately. In- text citation and list of references compliant with Harvard Author Date system.