B.

A (HONS) IN FINANCE 3+0 IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF

HERTFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM

MGT3232 E-Portfolio and Employer Relations

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

Name : Seow Young Thye

Student ID : J12010245

Section : F2

Lecturer : MS Kannaki A/P

Words : 1996

I declare that this assignment is my own work entirely and suitable acknowledgment has
been made for any sources of information used in preparing it.

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................ 3
SMART Goals........................................................................................................... 3
Goal Setting............................................................................................................. 4
a) SHORT TERM GOALS...................................................................................... 4
b) MID TERM GOALS........................................................................................... 4
c) LONG TERM GOALS........................................................................................ 5
Learning Style............................................................................................................. 5
Kolbs Experiential Learning Theory........................................................................6
My Learning Style.................................................................................................... 6
Strengths & Weaknesses............................................................................................ 7
Strengths................................................................................................................. 7
Weaknesses............................................................................................................. 8
Skill Set Analysis......................................................................................................... 8
Personal Development Plan (PDP Table)...................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................ 11
Reference................................................................................................................. 12
Appendix
.13

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1.0 Introduction

First, let me introduce myself, my name is Seow Young Thye, I am born in 21 February 1994 and

I live in Klang, Selangor. My hometown is at Pahang. I am currently a finance student pursing

my Finance Degree in Inti College Subang Jaya. I am going to graduate soon in two months later

so it is very important to me to set out the future goals and career plan at this stage of life. Based

on my interest, I aim to become a financial planner. I wanted to become a part of the financial

company and reach my careers goals. In addition, I also wanted to serve the community through

participation in the volunteer. While talking about my hobbies, I like to spend my free time

playing basketball, reading financial news, travelling and swimming.

1.1 SMART Goals

SMART goals are the acronym of the specific, measureable, agreed upon, realistic and time-

based. Setting the goals in the form of SMART gives the opportunity to the individual to be

succesfull in both business and personal life(Haughey, 2016). Many people fail in life is not

because they lack of ability or brains, but simply because they never set a goal or target. They

work so hard but in the end they dont know what to achieve it. Further, reviewing the history of

the goals setting, a research suggests that the concept started back in 1954 by Peter Drucker in

his book named The Practice of Management. According to the Hornyak(2012), the SMART

acronym is believe to be originated organically than specifically developed.

Goal Setting

Smart goal setting brings structure and controllability into your objectives and goals. Without

setting goal or objectives, life will become more though and you cant control of it. Smart goal

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setting also creates a clear milestones and an estimation of the goals attainability. The whole

process of goal setting is further divided into short-term, medium and long-term goals.

a) SHORT TERM GOALS

The short term goals are the goals that are supposed to be achieve in the short period of time

within six months from the time you set the short term goals. Considering my current situation

and abilty, the short term goals includes getting the good grades in the current year. I set a target

of achieving average 65 and above in my short semester in January 2017. In order to achieve my

short term goals, I intend to study hard and focus on lecturer class when lecturer trying to deliver

knowledge to us.

b) MID TERM GOALS

The medium term goals are intended to achieve in the time period of at least one year to two

year. My mid-term goal is to obtain a high grade on my overall degree career. I am aiming a

second upper honor student in my entire degree life. Another mid-term goal of me is hope to

learn new skills to enhance myself.

c) LONG TERM GOALS

The long term goals are considered the goals that can change your future career or your life.

These are usually the most important goals that includes where you plan to stand after spending

years on career development and growth. The long term goals are usually have to achieve in the

time of period at least 2 years and more. My long term goals is become a good financial planner

in my future and able to earn a lot money. Besides that, I hope I own a car after 2 years later

with my self-ability.

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2.0 Learning Theory

Learning theories are a concept structure in which knowledge is process, absorb during the

learning. Besides that, there are some influences like emotional, cognitive and environmental

influence as well as prior experience. Below is one of the learning theories I had learn in this

subject.

Kolbs Experiential Learning Theory

David Kolb is an educational theorist and he published his learning style model in 1984.
According to his theory, four separate learning style and four stage of learning in two levels.
Four stage of learning cycle is experience, reflection, conceptualise and test. Kolb views
learning as an integrated process with each stage being mutually supportive of and feeding into
the next. There is a opportunity to move in the cycle in any stage and follow the right sequence.
David Kolbs theory also stated that through learning it will involves the acquisition of the
abstract concept and it can be used in various situation. Thus, the understanding of the theory of
skills researched is priority and then the experience and action will be taken accordingly then a
reflection will be done to reflect on the research skills.

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2.1 My Learning Style

Every people will have their own specific learning style, thus, we must understand to define what

learning style we have and how to develop it. Considering on my skill and learning style, I am a

fast learner. I tend to learn a thing and master it in a short period of time. Besides that, I am a

visual learner too; I can think outside the box and use my different viewpoints and ability to

solve the problem at any situation. I chose the finance field as my career in my future because

finance field need talent employee with good earning style. In addition, I like working in groups,

I can cooperate with my team member well as I am willing listen to others with open mind and

appreciate the comment and feedback from my member. All these inspired me and help me a lot

in leaning new skills or enhance my current skill that required performing well in my future job.

3.0 Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths are the advantages of the personality that can make the things go smoothly. It is

important to have strength so you look so different with other people. Weaknesses are the weak

points in the personality that you need to work hard in order to overcome the weakness. Define

your weaknesses and set an action plan is the only one way to overcome them.

3.1 Strengths

In order to identify my strengths, I took an online personality test in order to understand about

the type of personality I developed. Yet, the results came out and I am satisfied and excited to

knowing that my personality traits do full field the career path and ambition that I choose.

Below is the appendix for the personality type I exhibit which is an entrepreneur.

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Creative and critical thinking, willing to take rislk, self-confident, socialization, self-management

skill, teamwork skill and self-judgment skill are some of the key strengths of my personality. All

these strength can help me to pursing my career goals.

3.2 Weaknesses

Now looking into the flip side of my personality, I have communication skill problem as I cant

speak so well, I am being too optimistic on every decision I made, and I dont have any business

judgment skill in my personality. This will causes a threat on my future life.

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4.0 Skill Set Analysis
Different people has different skills, But for me, I still a lot of skills need to be improve so that
when I graduate, I am in ready condition to work. My ambition is to become a financial planner,
hence, I need to enhance my current skill before I can qualify this job. Below table is my skill
set analysis:
SKA Required for finance
planner position
Knowledge:
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
Theory & methods of Finance
Knowledge of the structure
and content of the English
Language.
Knowledge of mathematics
Skills:
Communication skills
Teamwork Skills
Finance judgment skills
Negotiation Skills
My current SKA
I have basic accounting and
Economics knowledge
I am alert of the finance
tactics & strategies. I
understand how the finance
company runs their business.
I can speak English very well
Knowledge of statistics and
geometry only.
Able to deliver information
efficiency. Prevent miss
understanding and conflicts.
I able to accept feedbacks and
commend from my team
members.
Identify the problems based
on the information received.
Provide solutions to solve the
problems.
Understand how to deal with
the customer when negotiation
SKA gap
Lark of experience and
practice in the financial
markets and the analysis of
economics is hard to predict
I am lack of training skill in
the finance company
regarding the actual
implementation of the theory
and strategies
Lack of writing skills,
spellings wrong words and
bad grammar.
Lack of knowledge of
arithmetic, algebra and
calculus.
Never involve on formal
communications channels in
real word organizations.
Need initiative to cooperate
with my team members in
future.
Need to gain more experience
from the career not only run
basic analysis in college.
Never involve in a real
negotiation with customer.
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Attitudes:
Leadership I will rate myself 8 on my Need to lead a team to achieve
leadership skill the target.
Integrity Honesty and ethical & socially Trust build each other.
accepted behavior
Teamwork & Stress Tolerance I rate on 8.5/10 on this attitude Never face a stress in
workplace.
Creative and Critical Thinking 9 on this ability Needs to think outside the
box.

5.0 Personal Development Plan (PDP Table)

After go through my skill sets analysis in above, I have recognize on what skills I have to
improve and enhance it. Thus, I come out with a plan in order to know myself and my personal
reflection. Four year time period will be considering in this plan. I will set a goal on what I am
going to. Learning progression and the support will also be stated down below to help me easily
know where I can begin from it and to achieve it. At the end of the four year time frame, I will
measure my success on improvement these skills.

What do I What will I do to What resources What will be the Target date for
want/need to achieve this? or support will I success criteria? review/accompl
learn? need? ishment
Technology -Learn how to find -seeking for more -Obtain a By the Middle
Appreciation the right evidence and certificates of of 2017
Skill (new information. related information computer skill to
software, -Learn how to put to prove that is the prove that I know
surfing the the financial data to right information. how to operation
right website the new software - Yahoo the new software.
to get right accounting. accounting course
information. on financial
website
Business -Participate the -Practice and do -Getting at least By the end of
Judgment workshop or talk in more research three certificates 2018

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Skill college that talks more on historical of participate the
(Able to judge about business market trend. talks or
the latest judgment skills. workshop.
financial -Comments from
market trend. the Speakers.
Problem -prepare and do -Math courses in Representative By end of the
Solving Skills harder exercises like college inti college to semester 2017
And calculus and algebra. -Read more participate the
Numeracy -to think outside the newspaper related finance
Skill. box to number and competition and
(Master the financial ranked at least
data and have economics. top 3
creative
thinking)
Negotiation -Negotiate with -read more Win at least 7 out By the Year end
Skill ( Learn more customer. business of 10 negotiation of 2019
to nego with -Participate some psychological boos deals in future.
customer and negotiation skill - study business
get the best class. mind
profits.

6.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, I have a new mindset in my learning style after writing this reflective assignment.

It makes me realize the skills must be acquired in order to get my favorite job. Besides that, I

realize the gab of my current skills so I have plenty of time to enhance in before I get into the

real world workplace. The Kolbs theory experiential learning is very useful to me as it help me

to understand the process of learning through the stages and how to overcome them to achieve it.

This is a very challenging for me as I want to be a successful financial planner in my future

career.

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Refrences
"6 Ways To Enhance Your Problem Solving Skills". Lifehack.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 30 January.
2017.

McLeod, Saul. "Kolb's Learning Styles And Experiential Learning Cycle | Simply Psychology".
Simplypsychology.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

2011-2016, (c). "Problem Solving Skills | Skillsyouneed". Skillsyouneed.com. N.p., 2016. Web.
30 January. 2017.

"Power To The People: Why Self-Management Is Important". N.p., 2016. Web18 Feb. 2017.

"SMART Goals". Project Smart. N.p., 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

"What Is Strength? Definition And Meaning". BusinessDictionary.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 18 Feb.
2017.

"Analytic Quality Glossary". Qualityresearchinternational.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

"S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting | SMART | Coaching Tools | Yourcoach Gent". Yourcoach.be. N.p.,
2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

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APPENDIX

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