Attributes and Attitudes that Employers look for

An attribute can be defined as the quality of a feature or charateristic of someone.

Rainbow look for employees who are able to help clients who have problems with their sight and need help in using ICT. Employees who can help to create ‘talking books’ which are saved on CD then loaned to clients. Employees who can visit the clients and show them how to load and listen to the CDs. Employees who can work alongside the manager of Rainbow Light. Which includes managing a team of volunteers, recruiting new volunteers, keeping staff up to date with IT and ensuring that staff are able to communicate with clients using IT, maintaining a database of clients and a schedule of volunteers.

Specific Attribute – ICT Skills

Potential volunteers will need to have good ICT skills for the job. Volunteers need to communicate with clients that have sight problems by using ICT.

Volunteers will create talking books by recording themselves reading a book through a microphone on a computer and then burn it to a CD. They will then need to visit the clients and show them how to setup and use the talking books.

Volunteers are also required to work alongside the manager. The manager needs to keep staff up to date with ICT and also ensure the staff know how to communicate with the clients using ICT. Volunteers could research different types of ICT hardware and software needed to communicate with the clients. They could then create a presentation demonstrating these types of communication tools to the staff. Volunteers could also email staff with updates and information about different types of software and hardware used to communicate with clients.

Volunteers will need to be able to run and manage a database of the different clients. This will include entering contact information such as name, address, telephone numbers and emergency telephone numbers. Volunteers will need to manage a schedule for staff working times which will also so be in database form, this would include details such as name, staff id number and the starting and finishing times of each working rota.

Volunteers will be required to create a blog to keep all charity members up to date with the important areas in Communicating and Employability in the area of IT. Volunteers should have good knowledge of how to create blogs such as changing the layout, colour, adding images and changing fonts on a blog.

General Attribute – Communication

Potential volunteers will need to have good communication skills for the job. This includes above the average skills in verbal, written and non-verbal communication. Volunteers need to communicate with a variety of people to do their job successfully.

Volunteers need to communicate with clients when they teach them how to use the “talking books” created by volunteers. This could include carrying out a demonstration, sending them a written tutorial by email or simply talking the client through the process in steps.

Volunteers are also required to work alongside the manager. They are expected to help manage a team of volunteers and also recruit new volunteers, this involves communicating with other volunteers in a team and helping out by teaching them how to communicate effectively with the clients. When recruiting new volunteers, they may be required to ask the potential volunteer questions during the interview process. 

Volunteers are also expected to keep staff up to date with IT and teach them how to effectively communicate with clients by using IT. To keep staff up to date, volunteers would give staff a presentation on new forms of IT or send them an email containing new forms of IT available for communicating with clients.

Attitudes

Confidence

Potential volunteers will need to have a good level confidence for the job. Volunteers need confidence to communicate with a variety of people to do their job successfully.

Volunteers need confidence to communicate with clients when they teach them how to use the “talking books” created by volunteers. This could include carrying out a demonstration which would require them to have good confidence in order to carry out the demonstration. They could also talk the client through the process in steps which would require good confidence.

Volunteers also need confidence to work alongside the manager. They will need confidence to help them manage a team of volunteers and also recruit new volunteers, this involves communicating with other volunteers in a team and helping out by teaching them how to communicate effectively with the clients. Volunteers will also need confidence when recruiting new volunteers, they may be required to ask the potential volunteer questions during the interview process. 

Volunteers are also expected to keep staff up to date with IT and teach them how to effectively communicate with clients by using IT. To keep staff up to date, volunteers would give staff a presentation on new forms of IT which would also involve confidence.

Team-Working

Team work is work done by several members who each do their part and work together to get a task completed.

Potential volunteers will need to be able to work well in a team envioroment for the job.

It is important for the employee to be able to work in a team because they are required to work with volunteers in a team and help clients.

Volunteers need good team working skills to work alongside the clients when they teach them how to use the “talking books” created by volunteers. This could include talking to the client through the process in steps.

Volunteers also need good team working skills to work alongside the manager. Volunteers need good team working skills to help them manage a team of volunteers which would include helping out other volunteers by teaching them how to communicate effectively with the clients. This could involve talking to the volunteers or presenting a presentation to the volunteers.

Volunteers are also expected to keep staff up to date with IT and teach them how to effectively communicate with clients by using IT. This would require good team working skills. To keep staff up to date, volunteers would give staff a presentation on new forms of IT which would also involve them talking to each member of staff and working in a team.

Learning Styles

Learning Styles

Learning styles are different ways or approaches of learning. There are various learning styles which I will explain below.

                                                         

Visual/Spatial - This learning style means the person prefers using pictures, images and a spatial understanding to learn. Visualization comes easily to a visual learner. Using colour, layout and spatial organization in associations and using many 'visual words' in assertions is common for a visual learner.

Aural (auditory-musical) - This learning style means the person prefers using sound and music to learn. Aural learners use sound, rhyme, and music in your learning. Aural learners focus on using aural content in their association and visualization.

Verbal (linguistic) - This learning style means the person prefers using words, both in speech and writing to learn. Learning techniques for an aural learner would include: If you are a verbal learner techniques such as speaking and writing help. Find ways to incorporate more speaking and writing in techniques. For example, talk yourself through procedures in the simulator, or use recordings of your content for repetition.

Physical (kinaesthetic) - This learning style means the person prefers using their body, hands and sense of touch to learn. Learning techniques for an aural learner would include: If you use a physical style, use touch, action, movement and hands-on work in your learning activities. For visualization, focus on the sensations you would expect in each scenario.

Logical (mathematical) - This learning style means the person prefers using logic, reasoning and systems to learn. Learning techniques for an aural learner would include: If you are a logical learner, aim to understand the reasons behind your content and skills. Understanding more detail behind your compulsory content helps you memorize and learn the material that you need to know. Explore the links between various systems, and note them down.

Social (interpersonal) - This learning style means the person prefers to learn in groups or with other people. Learning techniques for an aural learner would include: If you are a social learner, aim to work with others as much as possible. Try to study with a class. If this is not available then consider forming your own study group with others at a similar level. They don't have to be from the same school or class.

Solitary (intrapersonal) - This learning style means the person prefers to work alone and use self-study. Learning techniques for an aural learner would include: You prefer to learn alone using self-study. When you spend time with an instructor or a teacher, you often only clarify information you haven't be able to clarify yourself. You may dislike learning in groups.

http://learning-styles-online.com/inventory/questions.php

My preferred learning style would be aural as I find listening to the teacher and listening to sound is the best way of learning for me.

  

As I am an aural learner the teacher will now be able to accommodate her lessons with learning techniques targeted at an aural learner. Techniques for aural learners would include:

- Using word association to remember facts and lines.
- Recording lectures and lessons to play back and listen to them again to help learning.
- Watching videos on the subject that I am studying as this will effectively target my aural learning skills and help learning.
- Repeating facts with eyes closed to help recall of what I am studying.
- Participating in group discussions as this will help me learn better because it is targetting my aural skills.
- Using audiotapes for language practice as this will help me learn effectively.
- Writing down class notes, then saying them out loud, recording them and finally listening to them. This will help me recall notes effectively and help my learning.

Personal Development Plan and Progress Diary

Strengths	Action	Review Date	Progress Diary
1. ICT Skills I feel I have a good knowledge of using Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Power Point. I am confident using word for writing up college assignments and I am also well experienced in creating Power Point presentations.	I plan to improve my ICT skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my Microsoft Excel skills, specifically in areas such as: performing calculations and using functions and formulas. Action Points: 1. I will speak with a spreadsheet modelling teacher and ask them for advice on performing calculations in Excel and ask them to give me a short demonstration on this topic. 2. I will research online to find out the various functions and formulas that are available in Excel and I will also find an online tutorial on how to use and apply these functions and formulas, such as this tutorial: http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/excelformulas/ss/formula_begin.htm. 3. I will also ask one of my classmates who has experience using Microsoft Excel to show me how to perform calculations and how to use functions and formulas in Microsoft Excel.	6  Months	22/01/2013 – I have completed action point 1 by attending a spreadsheet modelling class. In the class I taught how to carry out different calculations in Microsoft Excel including: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 22/01/2013 – I have completed action point 2 by visiting a tutorial website online which I have learned how to carry out formulas such as addition in Microsoft Excel. The website I visited was http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/excelformulas/ss/formula_begin.htm. This is a screenshot of the tutorial on addition: 22/01/2013 – I have completed action point 3. I spoke to one of my classmates who demonstrated how to carry out multiplications and division in Microsoft Excel.
2. Presentations Skills I am a confident public speaker and am skilled at presenting Power Point presentations to an audience.	I plan to improve my Presentation skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my presentation skills, in areas such as improving my body language while presenting and also engaging the audience more. Action Points: 1. I will speak with a teacher and ask for some advice on how to give a successful Power Point presentation. 2. I will look for an online course on how to improve my body language such as this course: http://www.openlearningworld.com/innerpages/Body%20Language.htm. 3. I will also go to the library and read a book on how to engage my audience more such as this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Talk-Your-Way-Top-ebook/dp/B000WLYO40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350515989&sr=8-2.	2 Months	05/02/2013 – I have completed action point 1 by speaking with my communications and employability teacher and asked for some advice on how to give a successful presentation. 05/02/2013 – I completed action point 2 by completing a course which I found online that would help me improve my body language. The course I chose to complete is in the link below: http://www.openlearningworld.com/innerpages/Body%20Language.htm. 05/02/2013 – I also went to the library and got a book on how to engage the audience better and improve my skills at this. The book I bought was called "A Creator's Guide to Transmedia Storytelling: How to Captivate and Engage Audiences across Multiple Platforms". ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creators-Guide-Transmedia-Storytelling-Captivate/dp/0071791523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367414369&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+engage+audience )
3. Microsoft FrontPage Skills I feel I have a good knowledge on how to carry out basic operations in Microsoft FrontPage.	I plan to improve my FrontPage skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my Microsoft FrontPage skills, specifically in areas such as using HTML and linking web pages together. Action Points: 1. I will speak to a web design lecturer and ask them to explain how to link web pages together and give me a short demonstration. 2. I will research for an online course on how to use HTML and a tutorial on using HTML in Microsoft FrontPage. 3. I will also ask one of my classmates who has experience using Microsoft FrontPage to show me how to use HTML and link web pages together in Microsoft FrontPage.	6 Months	25/04/2013 – I was unable to ask my web design teacher to explain to me how to link web pages together or to give me a short demonstration. 25/04/2013 – I was unable to complete the online course on how to use HTML that I found because I didn’t have enough time due to other work. The online course I found was at this link http://www.e-learningcenter.com/free_html_course.htm. 25/04/2013 – I was unable to speak with any of my classmates who have experience using Microsoft FrontPage to show me how to use HTML or link web pages together as I couldn’t find a good time to ask them.
Weaknesses	Action	Review Date	Progress Diary
4. Verbal Skills I feel I have poor verbal skills when it comes to reading out in class as I tend to rush through what I am reading.	I plan to improve my verbal skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my verbal skills in areas such as reading slowly, more clear and also using the right tone of voice. Action Points: 1. I will speak to an English teacher and ask them to give me some advice or a short demonstration on how to read out properly at a good pace. 2. I will research for an online test on verbal skills such as this one:  http://www.wiziq.com/tests/verbal-skills. I will complete some of these tests to help improve my verbal skills. 3. I will also speak to a friend who is good at reading out and get them to explain how to read out properly.	3 Months	15/03/2013 – I was unable to speak with my English teach as I didn’t have enough time. 15/03/2013 – I was not able to complete an online verbal test because I didn’t have the time. 15/03/2013 – I was unable to arrange a good time with a friend who I know is good at reading out.
5. Time Management Skills I feel I do not manage my time efficiently. I also feel I  have a habit of handing in assignments late. I need to arrange my time so that I have more time to work on assignments and have them completed for the deadlines.	I plan to improve my time management skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my time management skills, making sure assignments are done before the deadline and handed in on time. Action Points: 1. Spend time completing work in the college library on Fridays, as I have no classes. 2. Create a  timetable so I stick to it and get work done on time. 3. Make sure I do not plan any events on the weekend, if I know my assignment work is due the week after. Therefore giving me the right amount of time to complete it.	3 Months	01/05/2013 – I was able to spend time in the library on Fridays to get my assignments done. 01/05/2013 – I was able to create a timetable which I stuck with in order to make sure I had enough spare time to get my assignments finished. 01/05/2013 – I made sure not to plan any events on weekends I knew my assignment was due the week after to give myself extra time to complete the assignment.
6. Written Communication Skills I feel I have poor written communication skills in areas such as spelling and grammar. I rush my work sometimes and don't proofread thoroughly before handing it in. I have my GCSE English but I still have a hard time with punctuation.	I plan to improve my written communication skills by making an action plan as follows: My target/goal: I would like to improve my written communication skills in areas such as proofreading and using punctuation as I have a hard time understanding where commas and apostrophe's go. Action Points: 1. I will speak to an English teacher and ask them to give me some advice on how to use comma's and apostrophe's correctly. I will also ask for a worksheet on this topic that I can work through and have corrected. 2. I will ask a classmate to read over my work before I hand it to my teacher so I know the work is correctly proofread. 3. I will also research online for an educational website that can help me improve my written communication skills and use spelling and grammar properly such as this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/spelling_grammar/.	12 Months	23/04/2013 – I was unable to speak with an English teacher about advising me on my use of punctuation. 23/04/2013 – I was unable to ask a classmate to read over my work as they were too busy completing their own assignments. 23/04/2013 – I failed to find a good educational website to help me with my use of spelling and grammar.

Attributes that employers look for mind map