Summing it All Up: Final Reflection for COMM314

1.In what ways do you think you improved your professional presence after completing the eP?

By creating and cultivating an E-Portfolio, I believe I have taken an important step forward in refining my professional presence. My E-Portfolio provides a convenient and modern way for potential employers to view my accomplishments, projects, and resume. It allows them to get a full picture of who I am both as a student and as a professional. As I continue throughout my degree path, I believe this will open many career opportunities and ultimately, aid in securing a relevant internship or employment position.

2. Identify and explain what you like most about your eP.

The aspect of my E-Portfolio that I am the proudest of would be my “About Me” section; it is here that I feel I can truly showcase who I am as an individual. In this first major section, following right after my brief introduction page, I tell the story of my path as a student. I write about the clubs I’ve joined, the goals I’ve reached, and my gratitude for the experiences I’ve had. Unlike a traditional resume, where employers simply see a list of associations and accomplishments, my E-Portfolio allows me to go into depth in explaining the passion behind my opportunities and achievements. I believe I am able to articulate this well in my “About Me” section, which is why this is what I like most about my E-Portfolio.

3. Identify the most challenging aspect of the eP.

An experience that I struggled with in creating my E-Portfolio would be in trying to cultivate the perfect look. I found it challenging to place and replace things, reword paragraphs, and decide which of my projects were impressive enough to include. I struggled in choosing the perfect photo, the best design, and the smoothest layout. I had all the information I needed; I only doubted the best ways to fit it all together. Once I sought out a tutor and received helpful evaluation, I was able to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of my E-Portfolio. I realized it would never be perfect, and that everything I had chosen about it made me, me. Ultimately, I am happy with the way everything turned out, and I know I will only improve as I grow.

4. What advice would you give future students about the eP?

The best advice I could give would be to always seek help. Reviewing one’s work, consulting a friend or a professor, and getting a second opinion are all ways that an individual can feel confident in their final product. Especially if a student is brand new to the world of online portfolios, the task will seem much less daunting if they receive the help and assurance of someone with experience.

5. What component of this course was most interesting to you?

The part of this course that I found to be the most interesting would be the focused short writings. I have never done FSW’s in any class I have taken before, so I found them to be something different and fun to explore. The questionnaires revealed some of my subconscious thoughts about the world of nonverbal communication and allowed me to see the specific ways that it plays a role in my personal life. Additionally, they provided an outlet for creativity and opened my mind to experiments, questions, and concepts relating to nonverbal communication. Overall, I simply enjoyed the individuality the FSW’s gave to my learning and writing.

6. What did you learn from the Popular Pres Analysis?

I found the topic of my Popular Press Analysis to be incredibly interesting, and it taught me many things; however, perhaps the most interesting thing I learned would be Tu et al.’s (2020) study. In this study, it was found that though attractive people did receive higher hirability ratings in a job interview, this was likely based more on their nonverbal presence than their looks alone (Tu et al., 2020). The beauty bias is a popular topic among nonverbal communication and is one I have always been intrigued by. So, I found it fascinating to learn how less attractive individuals can improve maybe not just their hirability chances, but their likability as a whole by improving their confidence.

7. How do you think this course could benefit you in your chosen career?

Though there are several career fields I am interested in, I have not chosen a specific one yet. Marketing, human resources, and counseling would be my primary choices, but I have little to no experience in each of these areas so I can’t be certain which one will be best for me. I am hoping through campus clubs and internships, I will discover what my passions and talents are best suited for. Regardless of the path I choose, I believe that what I have learned in nonverbal communication will benefit me. Being cognizant of how my appearance, voice, and gestures affect others and realizing the vital role that nonverbal communication plays in conversation will help make me a better employee anywhere I go. I feel more confident in my attunement with the relationships and interactions I have with others, and I am grateful to this course for building that confidence within me.

References:

Tu, M.-H., Gilbert, E. K., & Bono, J. E. (2020, January 30). Is beauty more than skin deep? Attractiveness, power, and nonverbal presence in evaluations of hirability. Personnel Psychology, 75(1), 119-146.  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/peps.12469