Reflections on Leicester Award for Employability Skills - Personal Development and Online Networking (whew, what a name!)

I've been doing more thinking than writing recently. I was quite prolific (I think) with my first four posts on this blog with a gap of a few days between each of the first four posts. This fifth one has a massive gap of 23 days.

One possible reason is because my first four posts were mere rants/raves which I liken to streams of consciousness..I just thought, felt and typed whatever came to my mind at that time. This fifth post and probably my sixth and seventh needs to be different. I now need structure: background, reflections, less descriptive and more reflective and a word limit. I can write more than 500 words but not less.

Does structure constrain me?

YES, it does..which is why it's taken me 20 days to start writing.

I've always thought of myself as a creature of rules and order, but now that I've been critically analyzing myself, I realize that I've compartmentalized myself. I'm a creature of habit and order and structure when it comes to work. I prefer to know my duties, hours of work, the scope of my work and have a ready manual to refer to. And yet, outside work, I seem to prefer a non-structured day. I would hate to schedule regular times for reading, TV, exercise, or play with the kids - though I do make an exception for my higher studies, which I tend to keep for after everyone's gone to sleep.

So where does my blogging fit in? Should this be structured time or whenever the blogging mood hits me? Hmm, this is a tough one...my first four posts were written at odd times when the mood struck me. This one is being written during my study hours in the early parts of the morning. That gives me a clue. This blog post is more study than recreation, which is why I'm having such a difficult time writing it. And to think that I have to compulsorily write two more after this?

Yes, dear reader. I'm currently doing a Summer course from Leicester University. It's called Leicester Award for Employability -Personal Development and Online Networking (I think).  The best part of this course is that it's gratis. As in free, on-the-house, without charge. The worst part is that I have to write three blog posts and this is one of them! But allow me to explain further before you think I'm on a rant.

I'm currently doing an MSc in HR from Leicester. I've done two years and have another year to go. Thankfully, I don't intend (for now, at least) to blog about it, because I've spent hundreds of hours reading material and doing assignments that even my husband doesn't want to hear about. Anyways, about two months ago while working on an MSc assignment I got an invite from Leicester asking me if I was interested in a Summer course with that longish name above. I didn't understand much about the course except for two words: employability and free! Two words that most human beings desire. I jumped at the offer and I'm halfway through the course even as I type this assignment, err, bog post, sorry..blog post.

I'm still not sure what to call the course, firstly because it has such a long name and secondly because I don't know too much about the award aspect. On the blackboard, it's called the ONE course which stands for Online Network and Employablity , but having done half the course so far, I prefer to call it  MyPB or 'My Personal Branding'. The course takes about 3 months, is completely online and comprises three units:
1. Defining my personal brand (done)
2. Social media for employability (doing)
3. Creating an effective online presence (to be done)

Assuming I complete this course, I get a certificate (I guess that's the award) and it will appear on my academic transcript. But more importantly, I have been coaxed and dragged into the world of social media for networking and getting that new job in HR.

Without going into too many details, I now understand the importance of being in charge of my own digital footprint. Thanks to MyPB, I am now much more aware of social media and have begun using and experimenting with Twitter, LinkedIn and this blog. Earlier I thought a widget was some kind of screw or too. I still don't know what it is, but I've used it to link my Twitter account to my blog!

I've learnt so much about myself through psychometric testing, while defining my personal brand.
I'm beginning to realize the importance of a social media presence for me to be employable! To get that dream HR job. I'm also realizing that it would be useful to check a candidate's digital footprint as an integral part of the recruitment process.

So, there's plenty that I've learnt and would you believe it, I've finally written this blog post! More than 800 words and they kept flowing. I had better keep the rest of my learning experience for my next few posts. Cheers for now.

Thoughts on development in Mauritius very similar to Goa

Am posting from Mauritius (our favourite getaway). You get a visa on arrival, plenty of smiles and awesome beaches - very therapeutic after that last Leicester assignment. During our visit, we also met up with leading academics, NGO's and even the Minister of Environment & Sustainable Development. It was interesting to get their perspectives on the rapid growth and development taking place in Mauritius.

Every place reminds me of my home-town Goa in India with a huge difference. I see the Goa of 20 years ago in Mauritius. Less pollution, not so much traffic, still peaceful. And yet, I can see the not so good future. If Mauritius does not plan well, it will become today's Goa - chock full of traffic, pollution, too much development, erosion of the coastline. We told everybody we met that if they want to see the future of Mauritius, then they should visit Goa.

What is most promising is that there are many members of civil society in Mauritius who are working behind the scenes to ensure that development is done in a sustainable manner. There is always going to be friction between fast paced development/beach front property sale and community displacement.

I've visited Mauritius three times now and each time I return I can see it becoming more like Goa..I hope my prediction does not come true and civil society and the government keep working at preserving its unique beauty, culture, heritage and environment.

Here's my third post. 

First of all, thanks to all who commented on the blackboard regarding my blog. Most liked my design but I am conscious that more than design or aesthetics, a blog should have content worth reading. 

So what's my rant/rave about today? It's about Facebook and getting a better perspective.  

Each time I go to my newsfeed on FB, I see fabulous updates and photos from my friends all over the world.  Holidaying on the beach, parties on the lawn, fancy pubs, at the spa ..you get the picture. Suddenly my life seems so much more ordinary with my work and then looking after the kids and study late at night. Why aren't I partying or having as much fun? 

Then suddenly the scales lifted off my eyes..don't I always choose the best pics of mine to post on FB. I never put pictures of myself in my old nightgown, or with a sleepy face. It's always the happy smiling ones. I realize now that everybody does that, which means FB is not a real reflection of our life. It's just a tiny slice - and there's so much more to life than FB. 

So folks, when you see fab pics of me and my family on FB and think I'm having a blast - yes and no. Most times, I'm working really hard and have hardly any time for fun and relaxation. Wonder if somebody will come up with a SADFACEBOOK one day? 

Hmm..I'll begin by musing about life in Dubai, so here goes... Is this a rant or rave?

Dubai has been in the news for its bid to win the Expo 2020. My husband is supporting the bid - he's so pro-Dubai.

From his point of view, winning the Expo bid will mean boost to the economy (!!), lead to an increase jobs and opportunities, increased awareness of Dubai as a global brand...and so on...

As for me, I wonder what it will do to the traffic? And real estate prices? And house rents? And the carpet-bagger returning? I'm thinking just like the middle-class Brazilians protesting about bus hikes and price hikes because their politicians forced the Football World Cup and Olympics on them. I'm sure they are proud of winning the bid - but when taxes and prices go up (but salaries don't), you do wonder and struggle. So, I'm wondering whether winning big bids like the Expo 2020 are good for middle class people. Some people will say the usual - don't like it, go home, but I think this is very negative thinking and doesn't really help.

So that's my latest rant/rave. Let us know what you think, if you wish.

Okay, folks (for now that's my husband and one friend) - and anybody else who came here accidentally. 

I'm now online and on my first blog. 

Well, actually my second. I had one years ago on Geocities - which sadly closed down. So, this is my first, second blog. 

Now - why am I writing a blog? 

I live and work in Dubai - the city with eternal sunshine, provided you have great sunshades & stay out of the sun! 

I have three kids and a sales/consulting career - so juggling work and family life is tough - that's the tax I pay, but nothing to the government. 

As part of my Master's HR course from Leicester University, I am also doing a summer course on Personal Development & Online Employability

More to come later, as the course progresses....