2024.03.04
What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
Background:
- Previous experience in project management/coordination
- Motivation to work in UCC
- Current situation at work
Last year, I was tasked with a leadership role in two organizations. While working in these roles, I realized the importance of having project management in your repertoire of skills as it has a wide variety of applications. Hence, I applied for the Project Manager Coordinator position at the University Communication Center this October. I have since been working for four months in the office under Imelda Mongillo. I want to gain experience in managing projects and hope to gain a variety of hard and soft skills through my experience at UCC. So far, I have been tasked with setting up projects for Imelda to review and adjust whenever we have project requests come in to the University Communication Center. Currently, I am working remotely and occasionally meet with Imelda to discuss next steps in my role as Project Manager Coordinator.
Hard skills:
- Proficiency in Adobe Workfront Software
- Upskill in Excel Spreadsheets
- Deadline Management
- Effective task assignment
I consider myself tech savvy and knowledgeable in working with design software such as Figma. However, I have room to grow in respect to project management software such as Adobe Workfront and Microsoft Excel. Adobe Workfront has several advantages compared to other management tools I have used in the past, namely, Trello, Jira, and Notion. I want to learn Workfront specific but universally applicable skills like deadline management and effective task assignment to keep projects on track. Gaining hands-on experience in Microsoft Excel through building reports, databases, and project wikis is something I look forward to as well. Taking the Excel and VBA class with Professor Oleinikov has made me understand just how powerful and versatile of a tool the program is.
Soft skills:
- Communication in the Workplace
- Understanding of project life cycle
- Project Management and Maintenance
On the other hand, I also hope to develop less technical skills. For example, communication in the workplace is something I’m new to that is extremely important in cultivating a healthy work life balance and success in the office. Tips my supervisor has offered me such as making sure to state the motivation and context for my questions in emails have been insightful. I hope to implement pointers and lessons like these in my day-to-day life as an employee. I am excited to develop a deeper understanding of the project life cycle and day-to-day maintenance. I am confident that I can successfully reach my goal of learning more about project management thanks to my supervisor’s support. I believe this course will also help me reflect and solidify my learnings.
How do you see this work as complementing your academic, extracurricular, or career interests?
I am on track to major in Computer Science and have recently taken an interest in finance and business. Post graduation, I am interested in working as a project manager in the tech field. Therefore, the skill set I cultivate from working in this role complements my academic and career choice quite well. I am looking to grow both professionally and personally.
What is the best way to give you feedback and support you to ensure your success in this role?
Whenever questions arise, I will try my best to openly communicate. The best way to give me feedback is to help me understand the underlying logic or reason for the feedback being given. This will help me to catch different mistakes that stem from the same source in the future. It will also help me to understand the issue or situation at a deeper level.
Of the six Ideals into Practice competencies, which do you feel play to your strengths or past experiences, and which do you feel need more development?
My strengths: Communication, Digital Literacy, Inquiry and Analysis, and Creativity
Need to be developed: Collaboration, Communication – Listening, and Sociocultural Awareness
