500 word reflective piece-
Due to transferring universities, it came with feelings of uncertainty, I felt I was at a disadvantage with my skill set. At the end of this module, I feel confident with my progression in the media industry, through conducting the skills audit it was evident i needed to improve my self-confidence, organisation and decision making.
To improve my self-confidence, i pushed my-self to volunteer as a presenter in the ‘Future Focus’ show; seeking this opportunity in an area I wasn’t overly confident in, especially public speaking. This was crucial to grow my confidence, my goal being to replace anxious thoughts with positive ones, by completing a LinkedIn learning course, ‘building self-confidence’ ; it taught me to embrace my mistakes and move forward, leading to having an instant boost in confidence. Also, as I interviewed an industry professional like Emma Woods, it is inevitable to feel worried. However, I enjoyed engaging and learning from her in this setting. I was trying to focus my attention on conducting a successful interview for my portfolio, as it is beneficial if I want to expand into the field of presenting. Having done the interview, I have gained not only self-confidence, but also adaptability to new environments which will be useful for graduate roles. Additionally, I learnt the importance of flexibility as the conversation took unexpected direction at times, but moving forward I’ll focus on refining my listening skills and preparing more questions to deepen future discussions. Having been offered a job in presenting, these transferable skills will be invaluable for graduate roles, allowing me to present myself effectively, as employers tend to value those who can communicate clearly. Finally I can ensure I am ready for this, with attendance to further trainings and events to enhance my knowledge and ability.
As well as Future Focus, myself and classmate Daisy, decided to start ‘The Girls Girl Podcast’. Alongside our studies, this played a valuable part in expanding our skill sets. Especially in my case, of organisation. While the technical set up was challenging, I’m now proud of how well my organisation has improved. Due to setting up, conducting the podcast, recordings and fitting it in alongside three other modules. Also, this involved elements of making logos, branding and discussion topics. As women, we were adamant on creating a warm, relatable environment for others wanting to engage with us. Content wise we primarily touch base on whatever we feel is current to listeners, like our first episode launching on Halloween we discussed this, which reached a wider demographic on our Instagram. Regarding a professional career, this was an asset to add to my CV for future opportunities in communications. I will enter graduate roles, feeling I can manage tasks efficiently and adapting to new challenges with my ability to prioritise, plan and stay on top of responsibilities. Ensuring I am ready for this , through loyalty and consistently creating our weekly podcasts.
In addition, I have my own photography business and Instagram account: ‘Portmellon Pictures.’ Which helps me improve my decision-making and leadership skills. As a freelancer, it involves building and managing the content reflecting my ability to set a clear direction for my business and ensuring quality. Its taught me to take initiative and create connections with others with a passion for photography. Also, it requires me to enhance my technical skills, with editing and software like Lightroom. Beyond technical skills, I took an insightful course in photography. Ultimately these skills are invaluable to my graduate prospects, continuing into a photography profession, with strategic planning, creative direction and consistent effort to grow all of which are leadership skills. Also , ensuring that I will carry these to graduate roles through carrying on with my content creation and passion for photography.