Example Of Justify Chosen Carrier Essay

Introduction

Learning is essential to improve one’s quality of life and a critical component that determines one’s professional status. Individuals are provided with a wide array of learning opportunities during their life that promote their development, even though to different degrees. According to Cross (2007), people receive both informal and formal learning, with informal being the unstructured way (e.g. family environment, media, etc.) that most individuals are provided with information as per how to do their jobs. Formal learning, on the other hand, is a structured and scheduled way of learning with various training programmes (e.g. workshops). The majority of organisations require a combination of both types of learning, based on what meets their training program’s objectives. Belliveau (2010) mentioned that “presenting the learner with informal and formal learning opportunities, side-by-side and via the same interface, can help increase adoption of both types of learning” (p.50). However, there are strong arguments that different learning types cannot benefit all people equally the same; in fact, they benefit different people. For example, beginner learners and graduates are in need of more formal learning, given that they have no experience to build upon (Walters, 2009). That said; informal and formal learning are concepts that raise controversy.
In this section of the paper, a number of psychometric tests were taken, to help identify the most suited learning style for each one of us, as a means to get ready and benefit from our skills for future professional development and success. Cameron (2009) said “Learning is a purposeful activity aimed at acquisition of skills; knowledge and ways of thinking that improve effectiveness in future situations” (p.51).
Learning is a critical component of one’s life. Some people have the same learning styles with others while others do not; thus knowing the learning style that best fits a person will help them succeed in their life, both academic and professional. With that in mind, I found it necessary to know my learning style, so I could have academic achievement and get higher marks, as well as becoming more efficient and successful in my future working life, as well. If I was aware of the type of study group or work environment was best for me r, I could make sound decisions that would have a direct impact on my future.

Implication for Career Choices

I considered it important to answer the teamwork, personality type, and learning style exams, in order to acquire a clear perspective of the career that would best suit me. As per the results of the report, I see myself having a future as a financial manager, considering that this particular type of career requires enhanced critical analysis skills and the ability to not only describe the information, but also be able to communicate with stakeholders and engage in various groups of people. In addition, a financial manager’s role also includes the implementation of negotiation skills, in order to secure the best deal for their customers. Based on the results from the aforementioned exams, I do believe I possess sufficient skills to have a successful career as a financial manager.
The skills and knowledge levels required by the majority of employers, such as to be able to work well in groups, sociable, accept different concepts, and be open-minded, which are consistent with the National Career Services (2012), are also applicable to me. What is more, I enjoy taking up challenging tasks, look for the best alternatives and possible hidden opportunities in any given situation, have faith that change can bring positive outcomes, I am outspoken and alert, and like being with people that challenge my brain.
Although I have sufficient management skills that will help me move up the ladder and hold high positions in the future, the results from the psychometric tests point towards me opting for a career in financial management. As a financial manager, I will have to tick two boxes, that of the finance and that of the management. The finance part is my string point as my university courses have familiarized me with financial concepts and related matters. The management aspect though comprises a challenge to me; however, like I said before, I like taking up challenges. For that reason, I decided to dive into deep waters and master management, which is closely associated with leadership. Maybe, I am particularly fond of the leadership role played by managers, or perhaps, it is because I am the kind of person that would not settle for a low hierarchical position that I decided to put myself to the test. I also know I like being in charge and holding responsibility, when assigned to lead others towards meeting objectives. However, there are differences between management and leadership. According to Adair (1988), management is all about doing things right while leadership is doing the right things. Pardely (2007), on the other hand, mentioned that “Managers are often thought of bureaucrats, administrators, budget-holders, performance monitors and leaders as heroic, slightly larger than life, charismatic, inspirational, far-sighted figures” (p.7).
That noted; I have decided to focus more on leadership as I firmly believe that leadership can answer to management issues and provide solutions; in fact, leadership is the solution. In some sense, leadership and management are related, and an organization needs both of them (though in different percentages) (Al-Swaidan and Basharaheel, 2004). Truth is, in the lower hierarchy positions, there is an increase in managerial practice while leadership roles are mostly increased as one moves up in hierarchy. If a manager wants to be effective, they will have to lead, and is a leader wishes to be effective, they have to be able to manage (Adair, 1988). From my personal analysis, it became obvious that I possess leadership skills. However, thy need to grow and find the required support to flourish. For example, I could attend a training program and interact with ethical leaders of the world.
What I believe is crucial, is to be aware of my ethical responsibilities and duty, meaning know what is included in a financial manager’s role and what the theory that goes along with it is. This part is extremely critical to me because I believe that one’s moral values are defined by their behaviors, both right and wrong, which are formed by their personal pursuits and aspirations. The focus of this project is to find common leadership values that every manager should adopt, in order to allow the organization to succeed. My principle concern is to discuss and then evaluate this ethical behavior and investigate how it is different among cultures.

Transferable skills

Transferable skills are the skills that are perceived to be fundamental to every organization’s core competence, such as information technology, self-reliance, and communication (Burke, 2006). These skills are acquired throughout one’s life, starting with their childhood and end when they die. During this course (school, university, workplace, etc.), people interact through informal and formal learning and gain transferable skills that are very appreciated in any working environment, due to their flexibility and adaptability. In other words, transferable skills can be of significant use to an organization upon various circumstances. In the technological and industrial age we live, every industry needs (and requires) to have employees with transferable skills. Besides the real-life skills, transferable skills also come from one’s academic environment, and include report writing, communication skills, leadership skills, task management, time management, and social skills, among others.
Nevertheless, the theoretical knowledge studied at university is not sufficient. We, as future professionals, should find a way to know what skills are needed for the careers we have chosen and, not only find out how we can develop them, but also how we could transfer those skills to the real world. Planning ahead is crucial and the best way to do that is put ourselves into employment contexts.
According to Gameron (2009), our university years and the knowledge we receive there will not worth anything if we do not know how we will transfer all the gained knowledge. For all the reasons discussed already, transferable skills play a leading role in one’s future professional success. Ethical leadership is about being honest, trustworthy, and self-aware, besides being able to use the transferable skills mentioned before, to be effective in the workplace.
The best places to enhance my leadership skills and improve my teamwork skills, which the BELBIN team role report has evaluated as weak, are workshops and seminars (university-oriented).

Lifelong learning

In our modern days, learning is available to all people, thanks to the technological boost we have been experiencing the last decades. Learning is not only a well-educated, rich people’s privilege, but also for individuals that may not be wealthy but have the opportunity to learn if they so desire, from a broad spectrum of resources (e.g. television, internet, radio, etc.). The education system is believed to provide a lifelong learning lesson, starting from primary school and up to higher education, and enrich a person with skills and learning knowledge that will help them find the jobs that will, eventually, meet their objectives and also pay well (Añonuevo, 2002).
Lifelong learning is truly the ticket to a bright future, not only as professionals but most importantly as human beings. It is a process that is definitely worth the effort as it allows us to value what we do, and allows us to evolve. Rogers (2010) claimed that lifelong learning does not need any instructors and educators, because there are numerous opportunities for lifelong learning in people’s everyday life. In other words, Rogers argued that lifelong learning is just learning what people do now and then and what happens as a result from their doings. Learning is not all what one can learn only in a classroom.
Apparently, in a fast changing world, I also need to change my learning style, every now and then. My graduation will signal a new learning period as I will be learning through my practical life. In order to fulfil my job’s requirements, I will have to keep developing new skills. More importantly, I need to continue learning to be able to point a finger at the things I need to learn and decide on the best learning styles that will give me the wanted skills acquisition.
Based on my reflective personality report, my strengths and weaknesses are identified and recorded and I have linked them to a development plan portfolio. Every quarter year, I will revise them and record my improvement. BELBIN teamwork role is my core weakness. I will rely on the British learning system to overcome my weakness as it is based on independent learning and encourages students to gain knowledge and become their own instructors most of the time. Needless to say, it is not easy to be an ethical leader and it is apparent that working on my weakness is more than necessary, if I want to meet my professional targets.

Section B

Part 1:
Introduction
This section is structured to provide an explanation as per the selection of the particular topic of this project, which is associated to my future career, and is, in turns, in line with the already acquired transferable skills. Section B will give a clearer understanding of some organizational issues related to my future career.

Background Reason for studying this Topic

The results from the numerous psychometric tests suggested I pursue a career as a financial manager. This career includes two parts: (1) Finance, and (2) Management. The first part is something well-known to me, from my university years. The other part of the suggested future career comprised a challenge to me, and decided to go as deep as I could with the ethical leadership subject as I think that is a crucial component of those holding managerial positions and important to an organisation’s success.
However, every company’s principle strategic objective is to “maximize shareholders wealth” (Loderer, Roth, Waelchil, and Joerg, 2010), which is something that not all world leaders are able to achieve, mainly because they do not have ethical leadership skills. Lacking those, one is led to corruption. Some of the most representative examples, from the many, that have particular influences on people’s views in regards ethical leadership will be presented. Such examples include Ben Laden and Adolph Hitler, as well as the famous cyclist Lance Armstrong and the management line in Enron. Analysing the reasons these people have failed it will become obvious that they lacked ethical leadership.
Nelson Mandela is a shiny example of ethical leadership. In prison for more than two decades, and yet, became the president of the South Africa. According to Dixon (2005), Mandela was so successful because he made decisions based on his values. He was speaking wisdom and could feel people; their needs. He was a man that would never decide to harm others and demonstrated fairness and humility. Not only was he trustworthy, but also just.
What stops a badly-behaved person are some regulations and rules. However, these rules and regulations are not enough to cover every situation a manager might get into and struggle to make a decision, in their daily professional lives. It has been evidenced that every person in a business without an ethical control whatsoever cannot hold the wheels of the organisation and succeed. Unethical behaviours is what make people nurture distrust towards politicians and businessmen. Studies have shown that ethical leaders with high ethical standards, make good leaders. However, in a world where the good and bad are distorted concepts, we have to admit that we have ethical issues. Ethical leadership is a subject of paramount value and importance, because it has a significant influence over misconduct in the corporation. Those that do not force ethics but govern with courage and a vision for a better world and want to do the right thing are always rewarded. History is full of such examples. It is through this research that I wish to explore more and understand as much as I possibly can about ethical leadership.

Purpose and objective of this study

The objective of Section B is to review ethical leadership-related theories, as a means to:
Gain a deeper understanding of the principle leadership theories applicable in the corporate world.
Discuss examples of individuals and organisations that have practiced unethical leadership.
Provide solutions for managers’ unethical behaviours.
Structure of section B: