Course: WRK100: Preparing for the Future of Work Assignment 2: Reflecting on Your Skills, Goals, and Accomplishments Due: Week 4 Points: 100 What to submit/deliverables: Word document that contains Pa

Assignment 2 Template: Reflecting on Your Skills, Goals, and Accomplishments

PART 1: ABOUT ME

Answer the following questions to capture how you see yourself, in terms of values, aspirations, key qualities, goals, strengths, and areas of growth:

1) Find a quote or saying that captures your values, motivations, and aspirations and share it here.

2) Describe some of your main personal, academic, and professional goals.

3) What are some of your strength areas? Think about the top 2–3 skills you would advertise about yourself, or consider what others come to you for advice about.

4) What are some areas you would like to grow and improve in?

PART 2: ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

Accomplishments don’t have to be as large as climbing the top of Mount Everest or starting your own company. We accomplish many things in our lives every day that have meaning. For example, perhaps you organized volunteers for your school’s food drive, or made an extremely profitable sale. Or, if you’re more advanced in your career, perhaps you’ve received a promotion or special recognition.

In this part of the assignment, you’ll identify two accomplishments from work, school, volunteering, or other activities. You’ll then practice communicating these in ways appropriate for a CV or résumé.

To begin, brainstorm accomplishments from your work, school, volunteering, or other activities. Click Accomplishment Categories for a list. After you’ve identified two accomplishments, write their story using the information below:

1) Think about each of your accomplishments in these terms:

Challenge	Situation, problem, or requirement.
Action	Specific actions you took to resolve or meet the challenge.
Result	The benefit created in specific and measurable terms. Be sure to tie results to the organization’s goals when possible.
Details	Clarifying details, such as numbers or percentages, to provide context (consider answering how many, how much, how long, or how often).

Consider the example below of someone with experience as a retail manager:

Challenge	An increase in customer complaints about the helpfulness of staff.
Action	Developed a new training program for staff, got approval from district manager, and once approved implemented it with a regular review process.
Result	After 3 months, customer complaints decreased.
Details	Previously, customer complaints averaged 4 per week. After 3 months, complaints averaged 1 or less per week.

2) Write two stories to practice using this format:

Challenge	Situation, problem, or requirement.
Action	Specific actions you took to resolve or meet the challenge.
Result	The benefit created in specific and measurable terms. Be sure to tie results to the organization’s goals when possible.
Details	Clarifying details, such as numbers or percentages, to provide context (consider answering how many, how much, how long, or how often).

Challenge	Situation, problem, or requirement.
Action	Specific actions you took to resolve or meet the challenge.
Result	The benefit created in specific and measurable terms. Be sure to tie results to the organization’s goals when possible.
Details	Clarifying details, such as numbers or percentages, to provide context (consider answering how many, how much, how long, or how often).

3) Now, try writing your two accomplishment stories concisely for a résumé or CV:

Formula 1: Result + action + brief description including clarifying details.

Example: Decreased customer complaints from 3 per week to 1 or less per week by training staff and implementing a regular review process.

Formula 2: Action + brief description with clarifying details + results.

Example: Trained retail staff in customer-service techniques and implemented a regular review process, decreasing customer complaints from 3 per week to 1 or less per week.

Accomplishment 1 Story

Accomplishment 2 Story

Note: Delete this Accomplishment Categories section before handing in your completed template.

Accomplishment Categories

Saving Time:

shortening a procedure
optimizing a process
establishing a new procedure
investing in new technology
retraining staff
identifying inefficiencies
changing a schedule
recommending new systems

Saving Money:

using supplies more effectively
eliminating unneeded reports
contracting with a new vendor
reducing underperforming programs
properly scheduling staff
recruiting volunteers
creating something from scratch
finding cost-effective solutions

Making Money:

increasing sales/profits/market share
enlarging a market
finding a new market
expanding class offerings
developing new services
inventing something
winning a grant
enrolling new participants
retaining clients/customers/students
developing partnerships
upselling customers
extending contracts

Reducing Risk:

meeting government requirements
improving testing
fixing a problem
ensuring safety standards are met
decreasing negative behaviors
increasing positive behaviors
protecting against a hazard
developing policies

Improving Quality:

upgrading a system or software
updating a course
facilitating employee training
instating best practices
implementing new procedures

Recognition:

winning an award
securing a promotion
achieving a certification/degree
boosting customer satisfaction
improving employee engagement
increasing teamwork
reducing errors
receiving positive feedback
earning a bonus
accepting a board position

Creating Positive Outcomes:

implementing successful intervention
teaching life skills
observing behavioral change
fostering therapeutic relationships

PART 3: REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCES

1) How has reflecting on your goals, strengths, areas of growth, and accomplishments been valuable for you?

2) What are ways you can build in a regular practice of reflection?

3) In your current understanding of the 10 Skills, identify 1–2 skills that you believe have helped you reach the accomplishments listed in Part 2. Briefly explain how.

4) After practicing writing your accomplishments in a CV or résumé-appropriate style, do you feel more confident in expressing your accomplishments to an employer? Briefly explain.