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Entry 7 - Reflection

When looking back at the subject over the last month, I have gained valuable knowledge and insight from the wide selection of guest speakers about the internship process, what NSOs and SSOs will be looking for when assessing interns, and much more. In comparison with myself before the subject, I have made massive personal steps when it comes to the interviewing process, and feeling more comfortable opening up and talking about myself, whilst also ‘selling myself’ and really taking a deep dive into what skills and traits make me valuable to potential employers, not to mention the non-verbal cues in interviews, body language, eye contact, etc. As mentioned by Martín-Raugh et al, whose article analyzing over 70 years of research on the power of nonverbal cues in job interviews states, “... not only does what candidates say in an interview affect hiring decisions…, so does how they say it… nonverbal cues such as smiling may signify that a person is willing to cooperate, while eye contact may signal to an interviewer that one is listening intently. The article goes on to say “As it is thought that it is more difficult to control nonverbal than verbal cues… interviewees' nonverbal cues may be harder to “fake” and thus convey “genuine” individual differences to the interviewer that are more reflective of how interviewees typically act” (Martín-Raugh et al, 2023).

This subject has taught me a lot about myself and has given me the confidence, and the platform to push from and attempt to progress my career in not only the working industry but also the sports media industry, with the valuable insight I previously mentioned from guest speakers such as Steph Tirado, Zoe Lorenzin and more. This newfound confidence has come particularly through the A3 Interview, as before the interview I had never had any form of working experience, let alone had my own job interview, so I was extremely nervous in the build-up to the interview, but after receiving some very positive feedback, I feel more confident than ever that I can take that step out of my comfort zone and go seek some part-time work, so that I can have some previous working experience for when I graduate and look for full-time working opportunities.

Overall, I believe the transition subject has provided me with very valuable knowledge on Internships, allowed me to improve my interviewing skills, and given me the confidence to go out and finally search for part-time working experience.

References:

Martín‐Raugh, Kell, H. J., Randall, J. G., Anguiano‐Carrasco, C., & Banfi, J. T. (2023). Speaking 

without words: A meta‐analysis of over 70 years of research on the power of nonverbal cues in job interviews. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 44(1), 132–156. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2670 

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Entry 6 - Critical Reflection

My interviewing skills are the main thing that has seen a massive improvement in my eyes, as the interview process is something I personally didn’t have a lot of experience with before this subject, but after repeated mock interviews and practicing in front of my classmates, my confidence has grown so much, as well as my ability to articulate myself has improved. For most of the week, we spent time pairing up with what felt like everybody in the class and spending 10-15 minutes interviewing each other. These interviews involved asking some questions we may be asked on the assessment next week, as well as trying to perfect our elevator pitches, which as Mind Tools describes it, is a brief, persuasive speech that you can use to spark interest in what your organization does” (Mind Tools, 2023). As found below, I had written feedback from one of my classmates named Lucas, who was providing feedback for a mock interview of mine, where I was interviewing for an internship at Hockey Australia.

This was not one of my finest interviews, and at the time, I felt underprepared, and that was evident in the feedback, with Lucas saying “... but that could be a product of being nervous.” For the most part, my feedback was very 50/50, with at least one good comment in each section, but also one ‘bad’ comment, or way to improve, in each section too. Starting with the top box, which was allocated for ‘Professional Presentation’, Lucas said that I was “clear in what [I] was saying & why [I want] Hockey Aus”, however, he also wrote, “could've touched more on his strengths for the role”. I do agree with this feedback, due to being a bit underprepared and unsure what I wanted to say, I didn’t exactly cover this well.  The next section covered ‘Body Language’, and Lucas’s feedback said that I was leaning forward, looking down a lot, a little bit fidgety, and checking the time a lot. Again this was partially down to nervous, but that’s just my natural reaction when I am underprepared and am trying to find the right words to say and articulate myself, so whilst I am trying to work on them, I can’t really help it. The last section is for Language and Engagement, and Lucas said I “seemed engaged, but because [I] wasn’t looking at [them] seemed disinterested at times, but that could be a product of being nervous”. Now I feel this feedback is a bit harsh, as it is being made out as if I didn’t even acknowledge Lucas’ existence, and just spoke to the floor or something, and that is far from true.

Overall, I am very appreciative of Lucas for providing me some feedback, and I have and will continue to take the feedback Lucas has given me and use it for my own personal improvement. 

Figure 3:

References:

Mind Tools. 2024. Crafting an Elevator Pitch

Figure 3 - Interviewing Feedback. 2024.

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Entry 5 - Organizational Culture

Organizational Culture serves as the bedrock upon which the success and effectiveness of a company are built. As an intern and team member, understanding and embracing this culture is not only important but pivotal for achieving high performance and making meaningful contributions to the team and organization as a whole. First and foremost, organizational culture shapes the values, norms, and behaviors that govern how individuals interact and work within the company. As described by Global Sports Jobs, “good governance is required to make sports organizations fit for the present and the future” (Global Sports Jobs. 2018). By aligning with the established culture, interns and team members can integrate seamlessly into the team, encouraging collaboration, cohesion, and a sense of belonging.

This sense of unity not only enhances morale but also promotes productivity and innovation as individuals work towards common goals with shared values and purpose. Furthermore, organizational culture sets the tone for communication and decision-making processes within the company. By familiarizing themselves with the communication channels, protocols, and hierarchies essential to the culture, interns can navigate these dynamics effectively, ensuring that information flows smoothly and decisions are made efficiently. This enables individuals to contribute their ideas and insights in a manner that is beneficial to achieving the organization's objectives.

Moreover, organizational culture influences the attitudes and behaviors that are celebrated and rewarded within the company. By embodying the core values and demonstrating behaviors that are aligned with the culture, interns and team members can earn the trust, respect, and recognition of their peers and supervisors. This not only enhances their reputation within the organization but also opens up opportunities for growth, advancement, and leadership roles in the future.

In addition to understanding and embracing organizational culture, being a high-performing intern and team member requires a proactive and growth-oriented mindset. This entails seeking out opportunities for learning and development, taking initiative on projects and tasks, and continuously striving for excellence in all endeavors. By demonstrating a commitment to personal and professional growth, interns and team members can add value to the team and organization while also positioning themselves for success in their careers. In conclusion, organizational culture plays a crucial role in shaping the experiences and outcomes of interns and team members within a company. By understanding and embracing the culture, and embodying the values and behaviors that are celebrated within the organization, individuals can achieve high performance, make meaningful contributions to the team, and ultimately, drive the success of the organization as a whole. 

References:

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Entry 4 - Internship Applications

As we end this week, we have started to finish up our A2 work and should have a clear resume now, and have completed at least one cover letter, whilst also preparing for the interviews to come in the next few weeks. We had a worksheet activity in class where we partnered up twice with two different people, and exchanged our resumes, cover letters, if they had been completed yet, and our LinkedIn pages, and provided feedback on what was there, and what could be improved on. Now whilst I have done a resume, and have a very limited LinkedIn page, I haven't yet completed or even attempted a cover letter. So the feedback I did get wasn’t filled with as much information as other people would have been, because there is less of my current application to review.

I was partnered up with Brodie and Teagan, figure 1 is Brodie’s feedback and Figure 2 is Teagan’s feedback. Both Brodie and Teagan had pretty similar feedback when it came to my cover letter, “need to write one”. Simple feedback, and easy to follow, so I’m happy with that. When looking into my resume, Brodie said that I had a good about me section, and clearly showed a list of my skills, whilst Teagan said I included one reference, stated skills, and included a good description of my education. More importantly, in terms of feedback, Brodie and Teagan were both in agreeance that experience needs to be added, but Teagan also added a couple other things. She said I could avoid announcing being a sports fan, I could include specific career objectives and areas of interest, and she noted that the resume was only one page long. Upon reflection of this feedback, whilst I can’t help the experience part, since I have no previous working experience, the sports fan feedback is hard to change, since stating that I am a sports fan can help with the cultural side of the job, and can show potential employers that I can be an easy fit into the culture of the business. The final part of the feedback looks into my LinkedIn page, a page I haven't really used at all and set up because of my studies last year, but have only really used it during this subject. Brodie said I needed to add a photo of myself, which I completely agree with, I just didn’t and still don't have a good photo of myself, whilst Teagan added I could be more descriptive with my about section, lacked connections, and haven't posted anything. I have improved my number of connections since this feedback and went from around two connections to about 15, which will only increase when I start to post content as well. 

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

References:

Figure 1: Brodie’s Feedback. 2024

Figure 2: Teagan’s Feedback. 2024

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Entry 3 - Personal Marketing

Personal Marketing, Branding, and the unique value proposition are essential components for individuals looking to stand out and succeed in their respective fields. Personal marketing involves effectively promoting oneself, much like a product or service, to attract opportunities and create a distinct identity in the minds of others. Branding goes beyond a logo or tagline, it encompasses the overall perception and reputation that individuals cultivate through actions, communication styles, and professional image. A strong personal brand communicates one’s unique qualities, values, and strengths, helping to differentiate them from others and leaving a lasting impression on employers, clients, or collaborators. Central to personal branding is the concept of a unique value proposition (UVP), which articulates what sets an individual what sets an individual apart from their peers and why they are the ideal choice for a particular role or opportunity. It involves identifying one’s strengths, expertise, and what they can offer that others cannot. A compelling UVP not only highlights one’s skills and accomplishments but also addresses the needs and pain points of the target audience, demonstrating how they can provide solutions and add value. By investing in personal marketing, branding, and developing a unique value proposition, individuals can enhance their visibility, credibility, and attractiveness to potential employers, clients, or partners. In a crowded marketplace, having a well-defined personal brand and UVP can open doors to new opportunities, foster professional growth, and ultimately lead to long-term success.

In terms of my own personal brand, as defined by Monarth 2022, to differentiate your value and what you bring to the table in a business, you need to have more than a good reputation, you need to have a good personal brand. “Your personal brand… is how you want people to see you. Whereas reputation is about credibility…” (Monarth, H. 2022). I associate most with sports, and in particular soccer, so I would like to think that my personal brand is a massive sports fan, with a passion for playing and watching soccer. That being said, my personal brand can for sure be improved by continuing to spread my brand through posting and sharing content on social media platforms, which is something I struggle to do, with me having only 1 post on my Instagram page and a highlights folder with only 21 posts over a 2 and a half year stretch. 

References:

Monarth. H. 2022. What is the point of a Personal Brand? https://hbr.org/2022/02/whats-the-point-of-a-personal-brand

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Entry 2 - Internships

Experiencing an Internship is probably the most exciting part of my third year of studies and something I am extremely looking forward to. However, whether or not I think I am prepared for an internship is a whole different thought. In studying at Holmesglen, I have learned many new skills that will greatly help me during my internship, skills such as video editing and audio editing using software programs such as Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere Pro. That being said, the gap in my skills comes from my lack of experience in the workplace, but I am a quick learner, and those skills I can pick up quite quickly with a little bit of direction.

In applying for an internship, we need to attach our resumes, which helps give your potential supervisors a background check as to who you are, your skills and traits that could fit in with the business culture, previous working experience, and more. As well as this, a cover letter is also required as part of our internship submissions, which is described by Columbia University as “a one-page business letter that you submit when applying for a job, along with a resume … your cover letter will convey to the employer why you’re a great candidate for the role” (Columbia University. 2024). Before the course started, I had never written a cover letter before in my life, nor did I know what it was, and I did have a resume, however, I had not really made any adjustments to it in about 2-3 months, and throughout the last 2 weeks I have found many different ways to tweak and improve on my current resume.

Over the week, we have used many different websites and watched different videos to help add to our current cover letters and resumes, and as a result, my ability to write a cover letter and resume has improved drastically, and I can now confidently write a strong cover letter and resume for any future internship opportunities I may get. \

Therefore, I have learned a lot about the concept of Internships, as well as also learning how to write a strong cover letter and resume, and I am looking forward to using this week's classes to write strong cover letters for my potential internship opportunities in the year to come.

Reference:

Columbia University. 2024. How and Why to Write a Great Cover Letter. https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/how-and-why-write-great-cover-letter 

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Entry 1 - About Me

My name is Ethan, I’m 19 years old, and I was born and raised in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs. I’m a university student, with a deep passion for sports, in particular soccer, currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in sports media at Holmesglen. My hobbies consist of hanging out with friends, playing video games, and most of all, playing and watching soccer. My passion for soccer has been around since the young age of four when was first thrown into the “MiniRoos” program, and I have been hooked ever since. My favourite soccer team is Arsenal FC, who play in the English Premier League, and I have spent many nights forgoing a healthy sleep to support my team.

Whilst I haven’t had any previous part-time or casual working experience, not only am I a fast learner, but the skills I have picked up from playing soccer and other sports in a team environment will help me transition into the working environment quickly and with ease. That being said, I have an upcoming volunteering event with an accounting firm in April, where they’ve asked me to help make some content for their social media for their day out on the golf course. I am really excited about the opportunity and am counting down the days to use the skills that I have learned throughout my studies for the first time, and hopefully, leave a good impression.

My career ambitions are quite broad because I like living in the moment and not planning things out long term, but as far as ambitions and goals go, I would love to work on the social media team for my favourite club, Arsenal. There is a guy on the media team at Arsenal who goes by the name “Frimmy”, and he does all sorts of content work, both on and off the camera with the players, the manager, and the fans as well, and I’d love to be able to do the same job as him.

I’m hoping that once I finish my studies, my internship experience, as well as the skills I have learned over the last three years, can help transition me into a full-time role working for a sporting organization or club, preferably creating content for social media.