Work-based reflection

The Work-based reflection task is a key component of the Gold Wolverhampton Enterprise and Employability Award.  This undertaking will assess and allow you to develop your ability to reflect on your work experience in order to provide examples of experiences, competencies, skills, attributes and values sought by employers. This will prove extremely useful when completing application forms and performing in job and course interviews.

Fundamentally, Employability is about using the skill of self-reflection by drawing on your experiences and achievements from your employment (full-time or part-time), volunteering, charity work, university courses or responsibilities from your private life.

Why is it important

During the course of completing this task you will self-reflect and develop the following abilities that will be invaluable to you for the world of work, including:

• Identifying new skills, qualities, values as well as confirming others.
• Good writing and grammatical skills for your job applications
• Spoken communication skills with the option of a verbal account
• Learning the language of your industry and world of work
• Writing or speaking in a coherent and succinct manner.
• Analysing, reflecting and assessing your strengths and weaknesses to match against future job descriptions and specifications
• Confidence in entering a competitive graduate labour market

How and when to complete

You can complete your Work-based reflection task at any point during your studies, or after graduation as part of your Gold award. Full details of how to complete this task are available on our Canvas topic.  

What to do

Using a reflective model such as the Gibbs cycle you will need to produce a reflective journal either through a writing piece or a verbal account. We recommend that you use the learning outcomes below as a guide or framework to produce one of the following:

• Writing a review of a minimum of 500 words (1000 maximum) based on your work experience(s)
• Face to face – to be delivered to a careers consultant by booking a slot via careers@wlv.ac.uk 
• Video call e.g. Skype/ MS Teams/ Zoom – to book this with a member of the Centre Centre staff email careers@wlv.ac.uk  

In our Canvas topic there are resources on how to compile a work-based reflection and how to prepare a high standard reflective account.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the nature of your work experience and the role you undertook
2. Evaluate both the positive and challenging aspects of your work experience
3. Conclude the learning gained from undertaking your work experience and how it has impacted on your future career plans

Further help

Full resources and instructions about this element are available on our Canvas topic.  

There are a wealth of interactive resources available on CareerSPACE, our careers information portal where you can access interactive tools, videos and e-learning. See www.wlv.ac.uk/careerspace   

If you are completing this task independently from your course, full resources and instructions about this element are available on our Canvas topic.  

Alternatively, if you are completing this task through your course speak to your module tutor for help, or contact careers@wlv.ac.uk. Some of the resources available on our Canvas topic may also be helpful.  

There are a wealth of interactive resources available on CareerSPACE, our careers information portal where you can access interactive tools, videos and e-learning. See www.wlv.ac.uk/careerspace   

The Work-based reflection marking sheet will also serve as a useful resource because we will be using this marking criteria to assess your work.