Reflection on field research Worksheet
Name of person you interviewed/listened to:
Shannon Grundon
Position:
Events services executive
Organisation:
Gold Coast Tourism
Workplace Reflection
Gaining insight and learning about attributes that are valued and advantageous before entering
the workforce when seeking long term employment upon completion of a university degree can
be highly beneficial. By combining skills learnt throughout university, school, previous/current
employment, as well as being open to learning new skills to enhance employability, this will
help in a career plan. From listening to Shannon Grundon, it can be concluded that by
volunteering, doing internships, having a component level of people skills and continuing
additional study will assist with seeking employment (Grundon, 2011).
Internships are an experience that individuals can partake in when wanting to further
employment skills, or become a part of the chosen workplace. It has been determined that by
partaking in an internship, or taking part in volunteer work, have manifold recompenses for
undergraduates (Jack Gault, 2000 ). Within the duration of a university degree, professionals
from within the course team will speak about or email information about open internships, due
to them knowing the importance. The encouragement of internships is crucial, as it assists
students in the transition from academia to the workforce (Rehling, 2006 ).
Within a workplace, greater accomplishments can be attained in many circumstances, if having
an appropriate level of people skills, is something prominent in what one can bid (Cowie, 2003
). Grundon mentions in the interview conducted that within the workplace, and having to deal
with others, there is a large variety of people. In some circumstances, not all people dealt with
will be from the business industry, therefore; having people skills suitable to relate to others will
make those situations easier, as stated by Grundon (Grundon, 2011). By partaking in university
run incentives such as study tours and networking events are ideal skill enhancers.
Furthering employability should not only be worked on during the duration of a degree, but also
after finishing university, and within the workforce. Grundon addresses within her interview
that by doing further study such as online courses, and certificates whilst employed this
increases skill within the workplace. By taking part in online courses, it teaches individuals how
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to work independently, communication techniques and focusing skills, which serve as beneficial
in workplaces (Dixson, 2010 ). By combining the additional skills and knowledge learned from
doing an online course, with internship experience and people skills, seeking employment and
having a constant career plan should be considerably simple.
Doing further study upon completion of university, learning valuable people skills and gaining
internships are all ways to further employability skills. Whilst at university to make a better
future career plan, taking time to participate in internships, better communication/people skills
as well as taking pride and being determined will assist in the future. Today employers are very
clear and specific with what attributes they wish employees to possess, and if not attained, there
are numerous organisation who can assist in this process (Raybould, 2005 ). Creating and
having a career plan, whilst setting goals for the future have great benefits and result in always
having stable employment (Rogers, 2008).
References
Cowie, G. (2003 ). The importance of people skills for project managers . industrial and
commercial training , 256-258.
Dixson, M. (2010 ). creating effective student engagement in online courses: what do students
find engaging? . Journal of the scholar of teaching and learning , 1-13.
Grundon, S. (2011). Events services executive - gold coast tourism . (unknown, Interviewer)
Jack Gault, J. R. (2000 ). Undergraduate business internships and career success: are they
related? . Journal of Marketing education , 45-53 .
Raybould, J. (2005 ). are graduates equipped with the right skills in the employability stakes? .
industrial and commercial training , 259-263.
Rehling, L. (2006 ). doing good while doing well: service learning internships . business and
professional communication quartely , 77-89 .
Rogers, M. (2008). the role of personality in adolescents career planning and exploration: a
social cognitive perspective . Journal of vocational behaviour , 132-142.
