Introduction

In contemporary workplaces, employers look for candidates who possess necessary business skills and an ability to see the bigger picture. The employees are supposed to understand organisational behaviour and ways to use the existing resources for meeting organisational needs. Potential employees possess the ability to combine both hard skills and soft skills in order to flourish in their chosen field. The purpose of the report is to outline the academic and business skills necessary for success. A self-reflective account shall be given as well after having a work experience as a sales associate. The personal capabilities, knowledge and abilities shall be outlined. Moreover, considering a common business context, a creative solution shall be presented.

Skills required for functioning in an academic and business environment

Communication skills (both verbal and written) – In the 21^st-century workplace, soft skills is one of the essential components of succeeding in the business sector (Mitchell, Skinner & White, 2010). Communication is one of the key soft skills or attributes that an individual must possess in order to succeed in the workplace. As a student, I have focussed on developing my communication skills by attending seminars and listening to keynote speakers. In order to prepare me as a potential employee, I have attended online certificate programs on media and communication courses for six months. Although I possess good written communication capabilities, it is essential to focus on verbal communication because employers seek candidates who can communicate flawlessly with customers and co-workers.
Team-working skills- It is a notable employability skill in the contemporary world. When undergraduates are taught team-skills, the students can enhance their capability in the workplace (Senior et al., 2010). I have realised while conducting group projects that effective teamwork skills are a valuable asset. It teaches an individual to compromise and collaborate so that specific business needs can be fulfilled. I have learned to prioritise the needs and purpose of the team instead of prioritising my own needs. As a student, I have developed team-working skills by brainstorming ideas and taking team initiatives. I have also learned the significance of collaboration instead of individualism. I have always enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with classmates and colleagues. This is because every classmate and every colleague has a unique talent and valuable perspectives. For example, as a sales associate, my colleagues and I were asked to increase the sales of a new product. We did not focus on competing for commissions or leads. Instead, we used a group perspective and contacted our individual contacts. Finally, it was possible to increase the sales of the product by 10%.
Interpersonal skills- In modern business environments, the work-related aspects has dramatically changed, however, interpersonal skills or the capability of effective communication and effective collaboration with others remain the same (Bedwell, Salas & Fiore, 2011). MNCs encourage employees to improve their interpersonal skills while working on international assignments. Across the globe, interpersonal skills have become critical for succeeding in the business environment. Interpersonal skills also fall under the category of soft skills. During my academic years, I was able to form a positive and long-lasting relationship with batch-mates. However, it was challenging to form an immediate connection. The same occurred in my workplace. The immediate positive connection was hard to build. Nevertheless, I made efforts to interact regularly with clients in order to build rapport with them. In the workplace, I was supposed to listen actively and give solutions to the issues faced by customers. I realised that interpersonal skills can be developed by developing emotional intelligence and empathy towards others. Moreover, sales professionals are supposed to be confident while suggesting a service or product. Hence, I need to enhance my confidence and emotional intelligence to succeed in this profession.
Numeracy skills- Nowadays, employers expect strong numeracy skills from graduates (Durrani & Tariq, 2012). While recruiting graduates, numeracy tests are conducted. Poor performance in the test reduces the chance of being employed. Degrees do not matter during the recruitment process. Hence, in order to increase graduate employability, numeracy skills have become a necessity. As a student, I possessed fair computing skills and it has helped me to acquire good grades in exams. However, in the workplace, I have realised that it is not enough to possess good skills. It is also necessary to possess the ability to calculate faster. By enhancing good numeracy skills, it would be possible to get better-paid jobs. The chances of leading a less stressful life also increase.
Information and Communications (ICT) skills- The dependence on technology across the business environment has increased and managers are seeking staffs that are more productive. The staffs should understand the significance of communication technology. ICT skill mainly refers to the ability through which people can converse with other people using various technological means. The usage of internet, smartphones and tablets for communication has become regular and employers seek candidates possessing the ability of handling the new-age technologies for communication purposes. During the academic days, I was well equipped with handling these technologies. Therefore, as a sales associate, it was easy to tackle the requirements of the employers. The employers mainly expected me to have knowledge about email management. It was a critical aspect of my job. Hence, I started to enhance my written communication skills by using various platforms such as G-suite, Gmail, Zoho Mail and MS Outlook. I need to increase my online research capabilities by enhancing information management skills.
Problem-Solving skills- One of the vital leadership skills is the ability to solve complex problems. As per the 2016 OECD Survey, critical problem solving is necessary for highly skilled and fast-growing managerial occupations (Insights, 2020). I lack good problem-solving skills, however, I have also realised that problems must be seen as opportunities. In academia as well as in the workplace, problems are likely to occur; however, it ensures continuous learning and enhances confidence levels. While working as a sales associate, I learned to visualize a problem and identified the list of possible solutions. At my workplace, I faced an issue when a customer complained regarding the shortage of a specific product. The customer was upset because he travelled a long way to purchase the product from the store but the product was already sold. I decided to keep a calm demeanour and told the customer that he will get the product at a discounted price and I would call her immediately once the product is restocked.
Time management skills- One of the key skills necessary for personal development is time management skills. Businesses undergoing improper resource allocation or inefficient processes can lead to the poor performance of employees because they tend to waste their time (Council, 2020). However, from an early age, I have realised the importance of managing time. Time is the most important resource and effective time management abilities can improve the overall productivity and efficiency of businesses. I have used my time management skills by completing various tasks within a limited time frame. Hence, I have strengthened time management skills by stocking shelves on time and helping customers on time.

A creative solution for a business context using specific techniques and information sources

One of the common issues that our business witnessed is its inability to create a strong brand identity. Our business has been conducting operations for five years; however, it failed to define its position in the market. It is necessary to create a brand identity so that sales and marketing success can be ensured. The identity of a company depends on its core values. Studies show that the beliefs and values of the founder set the competency for developing a strong brand identity (Spence & Essoussi, 2010). Brands can receive support if companies use innovative marketing campaigns and origin images. Hence, it is necessary to grab the attention of customers by making an emotional connection with the brand. Therefore, the following creative solutions can be taken to build a strong brand-

Building a story around the brand- An origin story can act as a catalyst to build the business and ideal customers shall be able to relate to it (Council, 2020). They will feel loyal to the brand after connecting with a story.
Delivering brand promise- Customer experience should reflect the promise made by the brand. Therefore, a brand promise based on trust should be reflected at every customer touchpoint. The steps taken to deliver the promise made to the customers are essential. A deep connection between the brand and every step of the customer journey should be present.

Conclusion

The report consists of a demonstration of personal skills essential to succeed in an academic setting as well as in a business setting. Initially, different types of skills needed to operate and succeed have been outlined. It is a personal reflection and therefore based on self-awareness, the abilities have been demonstrated. Following that, a common issue in a business context has been explored and creative and practical solutions have been provided using specific techniques.

References

Bedwell, W. L., Salas, E., & Fiore, S. M. (2011). Developing the 21st century (and beyond) workforce: A review of interpersonal skills and measurement strategies. In NRC Workshop on Assessing 21st Century Skills. Available: http://www7. national academies. org/bota/21st_Century_Workshop_Salas_Fiore_Paper. pdf [October 2011].

Council, F. (2020). Council Post: 13 Effective Methods To Help You Build A Strong Brand Identity. Retrieved 16 July 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/04/25/13-effective-methods-to-help-you-build-a-strong-brand-identity/#74f5aba23a1d

Council, Y. (2020). Council Post: Time Management Tips For Your Personal And Professional Development. Retrieved 16 July 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/12/28/time-management-tips-for-your-personal-and-professional-development/#7e7d2dd8170c

Durrani, N., & Tariq, V. N. (2012). The role of numeracy skills in graduate employability. Education+ Training.

Insights, H. (2020). The Most Important Leadership Skill You Probably Never Learned. Retrieved 16 July 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/hecparis/2018/05/17/the-most-important-leadership-skill-you-probably-never-learned/#6a92f547fc48

Mitchell, G. W., Skinner, L. B., & White, B. J. (2010). Essential Soft Skills for Success in the Twenty-First Century Workforce as Perceived by Business Educators. Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, 52(1).

Senior, C., Cubbidge, R., Riebe, L., Roepen, D., Santarelli, B., & Marchioro, G. (2010). Teamwork: effectively teaching an employability skill. Education+ Training.

Spence, M., & Essoussi, L. H. (2010). SME brand building and management: an exploratory study. European Journal of Marketing.

Business Practice Explored BSS005-1

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