#transitiontoprofessionalpractice

Reflection on the subject with respect to your starting point, new learnings and experiences, and how this will assist you from a career development perspective.

Transition to professional practice was one of the most rewarding classes I have done over my three years at Holmesglen as I could see my personal growth from the first class to my last. At the beginning I didn’t think I was capable nor ready to start an internship within the sporting industry. Creating a brand-new LinkedIn account and learning different interview techniques and how to correctly write and format cover letters and resumes I am very excited to put all this work to the test and apply and hopefully accept my dream internship. 

Understanding my own skills and qualities was a big first step into being able to answer the key criteria sections of applications and I have now been able to create a good base to answer these questions when applying for jobs in the future. I am proud of the way I was able to conduct myself through all the assessments but especially the interview assessment as I am proud of coming out of my comfort zone and performing well on the day. 

Critical reflection on your experience of and performance in your interview practices and assessment. How have you developed your technique? What do you need to focus on? Use your peer feedback to assist.

During the semester we have had the chance to practice and refine our own interview skills and ways that we can improve and also understanding what we do well. It is important to make a good first impression to an employee so being well dressed, speaking well and being organised are easy first steps to take when entering an interview (Langer et al., 2019). I have struggled in the past being able to talk about myself in a positive light but throughout this process I have been able to improve on this and have a clear answer when asked ‘tell me about yourself?’. 

A technique called STAR was also used within the interviews as it allows for you to be able to draw on a situation and set the scene, next to describe the task, followed by the action explaining what you did and finally ending with the result and sharing the outcome. I felt like I used this technique well and it also gave me a good start and finish point when answering questions.

The peer feedback I received was to try and keep eye contact and talk slower, I tend to talk quickly naturally but I find when I’m nervous this becomes even worse. I have become quite comfortable in this situation throughout the sessions and am confident and excited to be tested when being interviewed for real internships in the upcoming weeks. 

During the interview for the assessment I felt nervous but as the conversation started, I was able to draw on the feedback and tips I had received during class and left feeling I did quite well. I believe from the very session until my assessment interview I have devolved my interview skills immensely using the STAR technique and preparing well. I felt relaxed and sure of myself when answering questions, I think small things like this helps to ensure the interviewer that you know what you are talking about and believe in what you are saying. 

The importance of organisational culture and being a high performing intern and team member.

Organisational culture has continued to evolve and become increasingly more important, it relates to the shared values, beliefs and views held by the employees within an organisation (Taylor et al., 2018). As more and more companies are seeing the benefits of sustaining a balanced culture it is becoming a key factor to success as it allows for companies to have clear values, attract and retain staff as well as hold a strong brand image to the public (Hoye, 2018). 

I believe through being exposed to a number of workplaces I have seen different cultures and how different businesses operate. I want to be the best possible intern I can be as the opportunity of receiving an internship in the industry is not something I take lightly. Using my qualities of being reliable, organised and professional will help me in good stead to be a ‘high performance’ intern and team member. During my process of finding an internship that fits me best I will be asking the employer questions about the culture of the organisation and how they like to operate. 

There are many examples of sport teams that have shown great organisational culture and one that comes to mind is the Australian Women’s Cricket Team. With success both on and off the field they are held to a very high regard in the public and as someone who follows the team closely, they do a very good job of possessing the qualities of organisational culture. 

Organisations usually have clear objectives and requirements to create the culture, most use mission and vision statements to follow and track their goals and to ensure success. Understanding what organisational culture allows to be in the ideal work environment for yourself to flourish. I think that I am able to adapt quickly to different situations and I believe that through my experience and the skills and qualities I have I can positively add to any culture and I will do my best to reach the goals and values set out by whatever organisation I get the chance to work at. 

Hoye, R., Smith, A., Nicholson, M. & Stewart, B. (2018). Sport management principles and applications. (5th ed.). Routledge.

Critical analysis of your internship applications relative to best practice using peer feedback.

I was very excited to complete assessment two which was creating three internship applications from last years PDs. Looking through the different internship opportunities started to make me think about where I want to complete my own and what I want to get out of the opportunity of being able to work within the sports industry. I decided I wanted to apply for the marketing internship at Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic centre (GESAC), the commercial partnerships intern at the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) and the internship at Table Tennis Victoria (TTV). I chose these three as I believed my skill set was best suited to the criteria and the roles piqued my interest in marketing and commercial partnerships. 

Firstly, I had to create a resume suited to these roles and received some peer reviewed feedback about my formatting and what things I could possibly change or take out. Using this feedback, I was able to narrow my focus on my work experiences and skills while also writing a new and improves section on who I am and what my aspirations are. The cover letters on the other hand challenged me a bit more as I haven’t had to write one in such a professional manner before. 

The value of participating in an internship has been long recognised and that having a practical experience incorporated into the academic preparation of a student would enhance the overall value of the educational experience (Green et al., 2011). It is clear how important this internship is, and it Is probably the most exciting about this degree. Having been able to build up my skill set over the last three years has held me in good stead to be able to test myself and finally put my learning into action within the sports industry. 

I believe that my cover letter and resume are up to a very high standard and have created a great layout and format for the future. Something I can improve on is proofreading my work and getting someone to check over it before submission.  

The importance of personal marketing, branding and your unique value proposition. What is your brand and what areas do you need to improve?

Personal marketing and branding can be defined as diverse methods to present yourself in an attractive way, through verbal communication or digitally (Burchell et al., 2013). It is also the ability of one’s self to show the best parts of their personality and skill set to a business or organisation. Being able to ‘sell’ yourself and provide your own unique proposition allows for you to establish your image as a professional by communicating your values, skills, experiences and vision to potential employees. 

One way of marketing yourself is by creating a LinkedIn page that gives people a great understanding of who you are, what you have done and the skills and goals you possess. Before this class I did not have a LinkedIn, account and was nervous to create one and put myself out there. I decided I was going to look at other people’s accounts and see how they were marketing themselves to potential employees, adding your skills, work experience and volunteer work makes for a great looking profile. Now my account has all of my work experience, my skills, my hobbies and a little blurb on who I am and what my career goals are, I even have 35 connections and try to interact with others on my feed. 

My brand is that I am a female looking to work in the sports industry with lots of passion and experience in sport. I think that narrowing my focus on my career aspirations and not being afraid to let people know my goals is something I can work on to improve my overall brand image. 

When understanding the importance of personal marketing and branding, it is vital to recognise that it is developed over time and through trial and error meaning there are different paths and journeys for everyone using a host of strategies and techniques along the way (Hinge, 2018). I look to make more improvements on my own personal brand using different strategies I have learnt throughout these classes and I’m excited to use my learnings to try and best sell myself when doing internship interviews later in the semester. 

Burchell, K., Rettie, R., & Patel K. (2013). Marketing social norms: Social marketing and the social norm approach. Journal of consumer behaviour, 12(1), 1-9. 

About me 

I am 21 years old and in my third and last year studying a bachelor of sport business at Holmesglen where I have integrated my love of sport to excel in my education. Sport has always been a huge part of my life and a key why that I identify myself. I have played a numerous amount of sports such as tennis, taekwondo, football and both indoor and outdoor cricket. Throughout the years I have been lucky enough to represent my state and country in Taekwondo and cricket where I have learnt to deal with pressure, working in teams and to have resilience. 

My work experiences have been both paid and volunteer work as I was able to work at Cricket Victoria throughout a number of years doing different roles from participation, coaching and administrative work. I have also worked in hospitality at KFC and Fifty bird’s café where I was able to work within a team under the pressures of time restrictions and having to have the upmost customer service at all times. My current job where I am part time doing vendor administration has helped me understand how to communicate to high level stakeholders and also the challenges of working five to three-day weeks juggling sport and uni. My dream job and where my passion lies would be to eventually get a job in sport marketing, sport sponsorship or Public Relations within the sports industry. Working within sports such as the AFL is very high on my radar as I have a vast passion for the sport.  

During my high school years, I never believed that I would attend university and be able to produce the standard of work that it takes to do well in a bachelor’s course. After gaining some confidence and having the drive to succeed I have been lucky enough to have almost finished the course while always maintaining and producing a high level of work. I think that I have improved on a variety of skills including my writing, content creation, public speaking and time management which I hope to use to my advantage when conducting my internship. 

Entry 7

‘Educators believe that strong associations exist between students’ participation in undergraduate internship programmes and the success of new graduates’ transitions to practice,’ (Matthew, Taylor & Ellis 2012).

The importance of the internship program for both the sports media and sports business degrees is unparalleled. It provides the student with tangible industry experience; in which they can demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have acquired throughout their studies. As Matthew, Taylor, and Ellis state above, this experience can be vital when trying to secure employment post study.

As I have mentioned throughout these entries, this subject, this semester, the state of the media industry is in an unprecedented state due to the effects of COVID-19. The whole experience of this semester has been different. But I believe this subject above all has been affected the most by the interruptions.

This subject started slowly for me. Already having a seven-year career behind me, some of the content for me was a bit humdrum and commonplace. However, as the subject progressed and we began to delve into more specifics around applying for positions and creating a personal brand, I was quickly drawn back to the pack.

While I have had experience in the workforce, its been in a completely different environment to the one I will be entering. Learning about personal branding, UVP’s, elevator pitches and STAR methods are facets I had no experience with. While at first I was a little sceptical on why they were all necessary (I felt as these could be twisted to be exceedingly disingenuous), I learned they all come together as one collective that reflects YOU as not only an employee but as a person. And its crucial for an organisation to get an understanding of who you are, to decide on whether you will fit in their culture.

The biggest takeaway from this subject I acquired was the interview procedure. I had my doubts over how I would perform in a professional interview setting, as my naivety with the whole process had me continually questioning it. This wasn’t a great attitude to have and after my interview I was cursing the system again. However, it was also a moment of clarity. While I may not have ‘liked’ how the interview process was, this my reality and I had to accept it then and there and move forward. Ending up the with the feedback I eventually received also quashed all the contempt and doubts surrounding the interviews, as the feedback was incredibly positive and gave me a significant confidence boost moving forward.

Reflecting on this subject has been extremely eye opening. From week to week, all of the content delivered and learning outcomes separately didn’t have nearly as much of an impact as they do when you piece it altogether at the end. This subject has thoroughly prepared me for life beyond university.

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Entry 6

Throughout my studies, each semester has carried a theme. Whether it be the unknown of the first semester or the all-consuming third and fourth semesters, you can reflect on your experiences throughout this journey and title each period like chapters in a book. There is only one theme or title adequate for this semester, Unprecedented.

Like most aspects of everyday life around the world for the first half of this year, the Coronavirus pandemic has affected our studies. For our cohort, this has had a resounding impact on quite possibly the most important facet of the course, the internships.

While in the past the internship process has been sowed up by now, with students locked into placements, our official process is yet to begin. While this isn’t ideal, as I have mentioned in some of my other entries, it has provided essentially a free hit for us, with the mock applications and now the mock interviews.

Personal interviews and interpersonal skills are greatly important when it comes to securing a placement. It has been stated that initial interviews and interactions are the most commons factors when evaluating candidates (Hueston & Holloway 2016).

Personally, I used this as an opportunity to learn by failing. As mentioned before, the mock interviews where pretty much a free hit. Knowing this, I prepared the best I could (interviewing for a position I had no idea about) with the mindset this exercise could be used as a platform to base my future interviews off, as the feedback will highlight what I did well and not so well.

The experience itself was a little nerve racking. I doubt whether I am hitting the points the interviewee is in search of from the questions asked. Most of my experiences with job interviews have been in a blue-collar environment, which is a lot different to the job interviews I will encounter in this industry. Once the interview was finished, I was super critical of both my performance and the overall concept of how it was conducted. It’s not a criticism of the interviewer, it’s just that difference from a job interview on the tools to a more professional workplace. It’s foreign to me and I am still adapting to the process and its intricacies.

However, the feedback I got was extremely positive and quite a shock to be honest. My conduct and all of my answers where received really well and I was commended on them. As I mentioned before, this was to be used as test run for future interviews, and the feedback I received was very articulate in explaining how I can enhance my answers to make an even better impression. Two things I need to include in my answers is more industry-based examples of work and what I bring to the table as a potential industry employee.

It was a nice surprise to get such positive results, as I thought I had completely bombed in certain sections.

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