Exercise One – Job Application
The first exercise for the year was to prepare a job application. It reminded me of two years ago, when I had to fill the job application for a part time job. I know that employers love to see that you know staff about their company. I studied the company`s background and I pointed out the specific job requirements, in order to get the attention of the employer. I was considering how each activity that I participated can be helpful and what skills I gained from them, in order to link them with the job. Being honest when completing my job application was crucial for me, as I wanted to show that I am honest person. My goal was to persuade the employer that I meet the job requirements and get the job. It was really difficult for me to show that I am the best person for that job, as I do not have any relevant work experience. Now, I know that I should try very hard to find a summer job, relevant with my studies.
After completing my job application I was feeling disappointed. Although I filled the part of my employment record, my work experience did not meet the criteria for a job relevant with my studies. Being a waiter in a restaurant for the past two summers does not give me the relevant work experience to get a job in an accountancy department.
The day that I had to share my job application with my peers, I was feeling like an outsider. I was nervous and I was thinking that everyone will show up with strong job applications, full of work experience – relevant with the job requirements. However nothing of them happened. When we shared our job applications though the group, I found that many of my peers had nothing to write in the “employment record”. As I evaluating them, I pointed out that many of the applications had grammar errors. This made me feel that many of my peers had not given the appropriate effort to create a strong job application. I was asking myself why they had not tried their best, as these task is very useful for our career. My peers pointed out the strong points of my application and this helped me to understand that the activities I participate are very useful for my career. I count others opinion, as many times different point of view can show me a way of thinking that I have not thought about before. Their feedback helped me to realise the key points on my application and how I can linked them with any other job application.
I provided my suggestions and my comments to the applications I read. I compared the job applications of my peers with mine. By doing this, I realized that my application is not that bad. I realized that, if i gain relevant work experience, I can classify my job application as strong and competitive as others. I put myself into employer`s shoes, thinking which job applications I keep and which applications I throw into the bin. I noticed that many applications given only one referee, which is their personal tutor. I am glad that I have the manager of the restaurant that I worked as a second referee.
Another helpful tip that I gained from that experience was that I have to sell myself through the job application form, as the CV may be asked after the job application process. As I will need to fill job applications in my career, I tried my best to create a solid job application as I wanted to receive feedback on my real effort. After the task, I felt more confident for myself and i understood what an employer is searching for when viewing the application forms.
Exercise Two – Job Interview
After you drew the attention of the employer with your job application, job interview usually takes place. The second task required in our own time to listen to six questions and answer them, considering that it was a job interview. The tutor recommended to listen to the questions and record our answers. Before listening to her questions, she suggested to visit a website and answer some interview questions. I found it really helpful, as I would never have done such as exercise to get prepare for an interview. I spend a lot of time to complete this exercise, as I realized that it is a very good practise for upcoming interviews. I had to sell myself thorough my answers. I spend time listening to different interviewers of the website in order to understand the kind of questions I might be asked in an interview. Recording my answers makes it more realistic rather than thinking about my answer and write it down. In a real life interview I will be asked the question and then I have to answer it orally. Although I made the practise the tutor suggested, listening to my tutor`s job interview, I have to admit that I was feeling nervous while I was completing the actual job interview. When I tried to write my answers exactly as I answered them orally, I found myself to repeat phrases or saying the exact thing with different words. I realized that I should answer the questions without repeating my opinion when I do not have anything else to say. However, I feel more confident about any forthcoming interviews, as I know that I made my practise before. Also, I bookmarked the website my tutor gave us, in order to make more practise to feel more comfortable with straight forward answers.
Next stage of the exercise was to print out our answers and attend the tutorial. There, I and my peers shared our answers. I found out that my answers were completed, but, not in much depth. I was afraid of going into depth, as I did not want to say something irrelevant with the question. Some of my peers had answers that were great. I was thinking If that was their answer or somebody`s else answer. Of course, there were students with very short answers. If I was the interviewer I would never employee somebody with that little to say in my questions. Possible, those students have not given the appropriate time and attention that the exercise required. I appreciate the feedback from my peers as they gave me some tips on how I can answer the question in a more professional way. From my part, I gave my feedback to my peers and we shared our ideas about how our answers could be more professional.
If I had to make these exercise from the beginning I might try to answer the question using more words. The interviewer expects that you have understand the question and you can answer it straight away. I believe that was really helpful exercise in order to get experience on answering oral questions.
Exercise Three – Placement event
The Placement event took place on February. Placement students have already been on placement for six months and they participated in the placement event. They shared their experiences about their placement and how they achieved to get one. I have to admit that I was thinking about taking a placement during the first year of my studies. Last summer, I stopped considering about a placement, as friends of mine convinced me that it is waste of time and I should finish my studies, as soon as possible.
During the event I was listening to placement students with attention. I was sure that those students were the only people who can tell me the truth about taking a placement. They changed my mind. Their stories about how they achieved to get on a placement forced me to consider of getting one. They feel proud for themselves as they are on placement. I believe, after entering into university, taking a placement is the second big step into our career. The way that the placement students talked to us, showed how proud they feel for themselves. I was considering that I would like to feel the same way next year. I was listening very carefully, as they were giving us information about the modules that I am doing this year, can be helpful in my career. I was impressed from the amount of skills I can develop into a placement. I can use them in my career to get a better job. People who developed more skills in their life, they tend to get the job they love. They also gave us some tips, regarding job applications. They pointed out that we have to make sure that we are aware about the background of the business. I immediately linked that tip with my last job and how the manager love to see people knowing about the chain. That knowledge helped me to get the job.
Their speeches make me feel more passion for my course modules, as I understood how important they are in my career. I realized that I can bring real life example of my course exercises during an interview. I can demonstrate my skills, providing examples from those activities. Employers like to see that you can demonstrate your skills with their company, providing examples from your daily life.
After the presentation, we had the chance to meet with those students and discuss anything we are concerned about. Andrew was there. I grabbed the opportunity and discussed my thoughts about taking a placement in my own country. He encouraged me to ask for a placement in the finance department of the hotel I used to work as a waiter. It is easier for me to find a placement there, as they already know who I am. Also, I have started to search for more placement positions in my own country in case of the hotel does not accept my application. If there were more events like that I would definitely attend them as my passion for my course grows after the event.
Exercise Four – Role Play
The final exercise was required from us to be active members of a company. We had been given a predetermined scenario of a company. We had to choose our job role within the board meeting. I would not mind what my position would be, as I would read about my role anyway. I definitely knew that there is no way for me to choose the Chief Executive or the Finance Director as I thought those positions need to talk more than other. I am not fluent in English language and I was afraid of these roles. The views of the Finance Director were given on the scenario and we supposed to find solutions to his proposals. I have never attended a board meeting and I did not know how to have a vital role in a free flowing conversation. I chose to be the Credit Controller as no one wanted to be. It seemed interested position to me as I like a role which had to link maths.
We had to explain our role before the board meeting. We supposed to have only one minute to explain our role. As most of the students, I chosen to read my job role from my notes. It made me feel more comfortable, as I was thinking that if I do not read it out, I might forget or stuck on something. I did not write much to be in my time limit. Thankfully, only one member of the board memorised his job description and did not use any notes. I was thinking about how professional he was looking without using any notes. In the future I will try to memorise my role, as I want to look professional.
During the meeting I had into my mind that I had to talk at least three times, in order to get full marks for my participation. I had prepared some notes in order to make sure that I will talk at least three times. I am glad that the Chief Executive gave me the opportunity to discuss my solutions regarding a problem within the company. After I talked for my first time within the meeting, I was feeling more comfortable to enter the conversation and discuss my solutions to the problems. I was thinking that in real life board meetings, Chief Executive does not expect your opinion only in issues regarding your job position. It is healthier to show my awareness for the business and the staff, which I did.
After the meeting was over I was relieved. I was feeling proud for myself as I talked three times during the meeting. I realized that we could spend five more minutes discussing in more depth the problems of the business. I realized that everyone came with their notes. We had to use our listening skills in order to build on any new ideas and keep the discussion going.
If I had to participate in a board meeting again, I would definitely keep notes for the issues I would like to discuss about, but, I would try to make more effort to expand any new ideas born during the discus