ACADEMIC, PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT (100%)

(Submission deadline 12 December 2024)

STUDENT NAME: OSCAR ATKINSON

STUDENT ID NO: 24820444
The Academic, Personal & Professional Development module aims to offer every student the opportunity to reflect
upon their employability. The Career Toolkit is a resource that you can use to prepare you for job hunting and if used
effectively can be used to help your career path after graduation. There are four key elements that you need to
complete for this assessment.

Your ‘Career Toolkit’ should include:

Please note: some of the following will be completed/partially completed in the timetabled sessions but some you
will need to do in your own time outside of the classroom

Element 1 (20%) – Self-Assessment

 Career Pulse - Take the Career Pulse self-assessment quiz
https://mmu.careercentre.me/resources/custompage/CustomPageResponsive.aspx?Cust omPageId=14497
 Strengths-based Assessment - Take the Cappfinity strengths-based assessment (please wait for instructions
from the Unit Leader on how to create a profile – link to follow).
 Academic Integrity Quiz - You are required to watch the videos to identify and understand the different types
of academic integrity and complete the short course to complete. Use the link Academic Integrity Toolkit

Element 2 (20%) – Career Planning

 Navigating the Road Ahead - You are required to identify your future career vision. It is important to know or
have a good idea which path you will take in life and how you will get there. Having a vision of where you
would like to be once you graduate, will help you choose the right path and understand what goals need to
be achieved a long that pathway. To help you think about: Where do you want to be after graduation? What
industry do you want to be a part of? What role do you want to be in? What is your short-term vision for
your career path?
 LinkedIn Profile - You are required to create a LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/. If you already
have one, you will need to revise your current profile and improve it. You should consider consistency, depth,
and appropriateness of your profile. Ensure to connect with your Programme Leader and the unit teaching
team.
 Curriculum Vitae (CV) - You are required to include a copy of your current CV.

Element 3 (40%) – Professional Development

 Complete the following to earn 250 Rise points.
- Attending two Study Skills sessions (earn 5 Rise points for every Study Skills workshop attended)
- Completing the following courses through RISE (these are all mandatory)
o Step Up to Study 1 (earn 40 Rise points on completion)
o Step Up to Study 2 (earn 40 Rise points on completion)
o AI Literacy (earn Rise points on completion)
o Get Certified: Professional Soft Skills (earn 72 Rise points on completion)
- Attending any of the Get Career Ready sessions that are taking place in Week 6 – remember to share your
experience/s through LinkedIn posts.
- iDEA Bronze Award - Complete the necessary iDEA badges to earn the Bronze award Rise x Future Me at
Manchester Met (mmu.ac.uk), collect 40 Rise points for completing.

Element 4 (20%) – Self-reflection and Personal Development Plan

 You need to include a short reflection on the process of achieving these professional skills. You should use the
Gibbs Reflective Cycle within your reflective statement, and where necessary make use of referenced sources
using Cite Them Right Harvard format.
 Based on the professional assessments you have taken in the previous elements, reflect on your current skills
and strengths (and weaknesses) and fill out the personal development plan template, which can be found on
Moodle. You should carefully consider your aims and goals. There should be a clear cohesion between the
professional assessments and your goal setting plan.
Where and how do I start?

 Download the template, which can be found on Moodle. Read carefully through this portfolio template to
make sure you understand all the key elements that need completing.
 Register for a LinkedIn account https://www.linkedin.com/
 Register for a RISE account Rise x Future Me at Manchester Met (mmu.ac.uk) and LinkedIn Learning account
Linkedin Learning | Manchester Metropolitan University (mmu.ac.uk)
 Register for an iDEA account Rise x Future Me at Manchester Met (mmu.ac.uk)
Element 1: Self-Assessment (20%)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Career Pulse

Take the Career Pulse Self-Assessment Quiz

https://mmu.careercentre.me/resources/custompage/CustomPageResponsive.aspx?CustomPageId=14497

ACTION: Add screenshots of proof of your Career Pulse completion.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses

By undertaking the Cappfinity strengths questionnaire and completing the action plan on yourself you will be able to boost your
awareness of your strengths and areas for development so you can improve your chances of achieving your ideal job and promote
yourself more effectively.

Confidence in your skills and abilities is an important part of presenting a positive image. If you value your skills, then employers
will too. Knowing your skills and weaknesses is also important. Complete the following exercise.

ACTION: Add a screenshot of your strengths profile quadrant below:

________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Academic Integrity Quiz
In its simplest form, academic integrity is about being honest. It is about recognising and giving credit to the work of others. This
honesty includes, but is not limited to, the ideas expressed below.

 Fairness: you do not carry out actions that give you an unfair advantage over others, such as passing off the work of
others as your own, or employing essay mills.
 Responsible: you take an active role in your own learning, which includes seeking help when you require if there are
things you are unsure about.
 Respectful: you demonstrate respect for the work of fellow students, tutors and academics.
 Adhere to standards of conduct: you are a citizen of Manchester Metropolitan University, you must adhere to the
standards of conduct laid out to you.

Ultimately, good academic integrity allows you to confidently express your voice, your ideas and your thoughts alongside other
experts in your specialist field.

You are required to watch the videos to identify and understand the different types of academic integrity and complete the short
course to complete. Use the link Academic Integrity Toolkit

ACTION: Add a screenshot of completion of the short course on Academic Integrity.

Element 2: Career Planning (20%)

________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Navigating the Road Ahead

It is important to know or have a good idea which path you will take in life and how you will get there. Having a vision of where
you would like to be once you graduate, will help you choose the right path and understand what goals need to be achieved a
long that pathway.

Write down your future career vision; ideally short-term (6 months after graduation) but you could look more at a long-term
vision (5 years).

ACTION: Think about the following and complete the table below.

 What industry/sector would you like to go into? Banking, fashion, sports, tourism, retail, finance, manufacturing, etc?
 What would be your ideal role? International Business Developer, International Business Consultant, etc?

Industry/Sector (can identify more than one) Data Analytics, Business Management, Accountancy,
Law and Order, Finance

Role (can identify more than one) Data analyst, Business owner, Accountant etc
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Creating a Professional LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a social networking site designed specifically for the business community, a great way to start connecting with people
in industry and supporting in building a professional network. Also, a great resource for professionals to find jobs, research
companies and keep up to date with industry news and trends.

A LinkedIn member's profile page, which emphasises skills, employment history and education, has professional network news
feeds and a limited number of customisable modules that enable you to showcase skills, qualifications and job history, as well as
references from colleagues and previous employers.

You are required to create a LinkedIn profile. If you already have one, you will need to revise your current profile and improve it.
You should consider consistency, depth, and appropriateness of your profile. Ensure to connect with your Programme Leader and
the unit teaching team. https://www.linkedin.com/

To enable to use this profile effectively you will need to keep this updated and actively connect with people who could be useful
to you in a professional manner in the future.

ACTION: Create a LinkedIn profile and provide screenshots below of each of the sections of your profile (minimum must be your profile,
number of connections so far, ‘about’ summary and education. If you have included work experience or other sections please do provide
screenshots of these.
________________________________________________________________________________________

6. CV
You are required to include a copy of your current CV. CV360

ACTION: Include a copy of your newly created/updated CV below.

CV

Oscar Atkinson
Lede House, Hollins wood close
Derbyshire, DE4 5AD
07903981832 oscaracko889@outlook.com LinkedIn: @Oscar Atkinson

Personal Statement

A motivated and ambitious International Business Management undergraduate at Manchester Metropolitan

University. Passionate about understanding global markets and developing strategies that drive growth and
innovation. Equipped with strong analytical, teamwork, and communication skills, I am eager to apply my knowledge
and gain practical experience in a dynamic business environment.

Education

Manchester Metropolitan University – Manchester, UK

BA (Hons) International Business Management
(Sept 2024-June 2028)

 Relevant Modules: Global Business Environmen, International Marketing, Finance for Managers, Multinational
Corporations etc.

Highfields School – Matlock, Derbyshire

Qualifications- A level Engineering Grade D, BTEC Level 3 Business Grade A, BTEC Sport Level 4 Grade C
September 2022-June2024

 Subjects: [e.g., Business Studies (A), Economics (B), Mathematics (A)]

 Achievements: [e.g., Head of Business Society, Award for Academic Excellence]

Work Experience

Holtams Kitchen & Bedroom

Duration- 1 week work experience

 During my time at Holtams I was given work experience in multiple sections that help the business to run,
these are some of the things that I did during my time at Holtams: Invoicing, Interior Design on CAD and
measuring out a kitchen, packing orders in the warehouse, brand marketing and advertising and finally
kitchen delivery. During my time here I picked up many skills and managed to gain a small amount of
experience in multiple sectors that are required to run a successful business.

McDonalds, Matlock, Derbyshire

Part-time October 2022-present

Key Skills

During my time at McDonalds I have developed many skills like the ability to work with other and eventually teach
others. When I first started this job at first I was trained to learn multiple roles as there are so many aspects that make
McDonalds as successful as it is. It took me a while to eventually be able to do all the different roles then I began to
teach others using my leadership skills. I also worked with many people from different parts of the world and different
ethnicities.
Element 3: Professional Development (40%)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. RISE points

Complete the following to earn 250 Rise points Rise x Future Me at Manchester Met (mmu.ac.uk).

Attending two Study Skills sessions (earn 5 Rise points for every Study Skills
workshop attended)

Completing the following courses through RISE

o Step Up to Study 1 (earn 40 Rise points on completion)
o Step Up to Study 2 (earn 40 Rise points on completion)

Completing the AI Literacy course (earn Rise points on completion)

Completing Get Certified: Professional Soft Skills (earn 72 Rise points on

completion)

Attending any of the Get Career Ready sessions that are taking place in Week 6 –
remember to share your experience/s through LinkedIn posts.
 iDEA Bronze Award - Complete the necessary iDEA badges to earn the Bronze award Rise x Future Me at
Manchester Met (mmu.ac.uk), collect 40 Rise points for completing.

Rise x future me tasks have been completed but can’t get screenshot proof.

ACTION: Add screenshots of completion of each of the above below:

Element 4: Self-reflection and professional development plan (action plan) 20%

________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Self-reflection

You need to include a short (500 words max.) reflection on the process of achieving these professional skills. You should use the
Gibbs Reflective Cycle for your work. Use academic literature to support your claims. More information and support will be given
during teaching time, but the questions below may help you.

How to Approach This Task:

1. Description: Start by outlining what your current skills are. Think about what you're good at, what you've achieved, and
what areas you might struggle with.
 2. Analysis: Dive deeper into your skills. Why do you think you excel in some areas and not in others? What experiences,
beliefs, or values have influenced your current skill levels? How do your skills compare to what's expected in this degree
program or in the professional field you're aiming for?
3. Interpretation: Reflect on the significance of your skills in the broader context of your educational journey and future
career. How will these skills impact your performance in the degree? How might they benefit or hinder you in the
professional world?
4. Future Planning: Think about how you envision these skills developing during the course of the degree. What steps will
you take to improve in areas where you're lacking? How will the degree program help you refine or expand your skills?
5. Conclusion: Sum up your reflections. What key insights have you gained about yourself and your journey ahead? What
are your main takeaways from this exercise?

Remember, critical reflection isn't about right or wrong answers. It's about demonstrating depth of thought, self-awareness, and a
willingness to engage with your own learning and development.

ACTION: Complete the reflective writing (Gibb’s model) and remember to support your claims with evidence.

During my employment at McDonald’s, I served as a crew member tasked with multiple responsibilities, such as taking customer
orders, preparing food, upholding cleanliness,
and guaranteeing customer satisfaction. One notably difficult experience involved overseeing a rush-hour shift while we
were understaffed. In spite of the increased demand, I was required to collaborate with coworkers to ensure operations continued
to function effectively while addressing customer complaints and preserving efficiency. Positive aspects: The experience taught
me the importance of communication and teamwork in a fast-paced environment. I appreciated how my colleagues and I
supported each other to meet the challenges. Negative aspects: I realized I struggled with prioritizing tasks effectively and could
have handled some customer complaints more tactfully This experience underscored the vital importance of organizational and
interpersonal skills in the workplace. Being understaffed necessitated that I
adapt rapidly and manage multiple tasks effectively. Clear communication with my colleagues allowed us
to distribute tasks flexibly. Nonetheless, I observed that my stress levels influenced my capacity to think clearly
during busy periods. For instance, when a customer expressed dissatisfaction about a delayed order, I concentrated more
on addressing the complaint than on making sure other responsibilities were progressing, which hindered overall service.
The scenario also highlighted the significance of emotional intelligence. Customers were frequently impatient, but
responding in a calm and empathetic manner enhanced their perception of the service. Training in conflict
resolution and stress management would have been advantageous. From this experience, I understood the importance
of being organized and keeping a composed attitude in stressful situations. I identified aspects for enhancement, such
as coping with stress, setting task priorities, and formulating improved methods for addressing customer grievances. Furthermore,
I valued the significance of collaboration and came to the conclusion that seeking assistance when necessary is
not a deficiency but rather a move toward efficient problem-solving.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Professional Development Plan (Action Plan)

Based on the professional assessments you have taken above, reflect on your current skills and strengths (and weaknesses) and
fill out the professional development action plan for the next three years using the template below. You should carefully consider
your aims and goals. There should be a clear cohesion between the professional assessments and your goal setting plan.

ACTION: Complete the template below.

Part 1 – Personal Analysis

What are my strengths and areas for further development? What opportunities are available to you?

Use bullet points.

Strengths Areas for further development

 1. Time Management:
 Teamwork: While your commitment is commendable, it
Your ability to work effectively within a team may sometimes lead to overcommitting or
demonstrates strong collaboration and struggling to balance competing priorities.
communication skills. You likely excel at building Improving time management skills, such as
positive relationships, resolving conflicts setting clear boundaries, prioritizing tasks,
constructively, and contributing meaningfully and utilizing planning tools, can help you
toward shared goals. These qualities make you a work more efficiently and reduce stress. By
valuable team player and a catalyst for fostering a managing your time effectively, you’ll have
supportive, high-performing environment. more capacity to focus on what truly matters.
 Resilience: 2. Emotional Intelligence:
Resilience is a key strength that allows you to Developing emotional intelligence involves
remain steadfast in the face of challenges and enhancing self-awareness, empathy, and the
adapt to changing circumstances. Whether ability to navigate social dynamics. While you
dealing with setbacks or pressure, your capacity may already be a strong team player, honing
to stay focused and maintain a positive outlook these skills can improve your ability to
helps you overcome obstacles and inspire others. connect with others on a deeper level,
This quality ensures that you can persevere even manage emotions in challenging situations,
in demanding situations. and handle conflicts with greater tact.
 Commitment: Strengthening this area will complement your
Your dedication to achieving goals and following teamwork and leadership potential.
through on responsibilities reflects a strong sense
of purpose and reliability. This commitment not
only drives your personal and professional
achievements but also builds trust and respect
among your peers and colleagues. You are
someone who can be counted on to see tasks
through to completion.

Opportunities


I have opportunities available to me specifically at

uni I can join societies and clubs or volunteer at
local events to help improve my social skills and
meet new people etc. I also have opportunities at
work at McDonalds as they are often running
charity events and things to get involved in.
Part 2 – Setting Goals

Include one of each of the following: academic skills, digital skills, employability skills.

You can also add general personal development (e.g., learn to cook)

Type of Skill What do I want to What support and How will I measure Target date for
learn? resources will I success? review?
need? Timeframe
Academic To improve my Help from my By tracking my End of second
essay writing skills teachers/tutors and marks in practice year before I go
and learn Harvard taking valid notes in essays and into my final
referencing lectures and assessments and year
seminars making sure I,
progressing each
time
Digital To be fully confident Making sure I am By completing End of the
in using excel understanding assessments and academic year
functions to analyse lectures and weekly homework
data effectively seminars and using to my tutors
the skills I have standard
learnt effectively
Employabilit How to express my Help from tutors on Based on the Post-graduate
y employability skills writing an effective feedback I get from
to impress an CV etc. employers about
employer future applications
Personal
(optional)

Part 3 – Personal Objectives: please refer to academic and employability skills development and present at least one
goal for each timeframe.

Short Term Goals (next 12 months or first year of your degree plus summer months)
 I would like to learn new skills like how to use excel functions to analyse data and how to write an
effective essay using the Harvard referencing style to be successful in this academic year.

Medium Term Goals (next 2-3 years or time leading up to and just after graduation)
 I aim to complete every year successfully and graduate my course with a 2:1 level degree and
come out with many new skills that I didn’t have before university.

Longer Term Goals (beyond 3 years or time after graduation)

 My long term goals after graduation are, first to take a year out after graduation work for
approximately 6 months to save up then travel for the remaining months weather that be a ski
season or something like south-east asia I don’t know yet. After this I will start applying for jobs
when I find my passion in the business industry after 3 years of education.