Skills gained from participating in service project
Participation in a service project enables students to acquire various skills that can enhance their careers and wellbeing with others. Service projects help in developing student’s experience section and equip them with various leadership and services skills. Service projects enable students to develop skills regarding planning, organization, implementation and evaluation of projects (Seifer, 273). Most employers look for prospective employees that are capable of taking projects through these stages. In this regard, student with good communication skills, critical thinking skills, budgeting skills and have the ability to work as a team get employment opportunities compared to students that lack these skills. Thus, the centrality of service project in the enhancement of a student’s capabilities cannot be gainsaid.
Communication skills: Good communication skills enable students to interact and relate with other during the service projects. Interaction is important because it facilitates learning through questioning. A student that engages experienced people in a service project is likely to acquire more knowledge concerning the entire scope of the project than a student that does not seek understanding of the project. Effective interaction is enhanced through good communication. Failure to express oneself freely before a group is an indication of incompetence on the part of the student (Seifer, 275). Thus, students need to develop good communication skills to build confidence that may eventually elevate them into higher positions of leadership.
Team work: Service projects allow students to work with other people in the development of the community. Working with various groups of people allows students to develop understanding, patience and compassion. In addition, students may understand group dynamics and identify various ways of working a diversified environment. Ability to work in a group is an indication that a student may cope with various groups of people in a workplace environment.
Budgeting skills: Project development entails different processes and stages. A budget is the amount of money that a single service project requires. This money can be broken down to the financial aspects of the planning, organization, implementation and evaluation of a project (Seifer, 277). Students taking part in service projects may be exposed to the budget-making process to understand how it works. This exposure can consequently enhance their knowledge on matter relating to budgeting and enable exercise prudence in the use of resources.
Relevance of the skills in the workplace
The relevance of the above skills in the workplace cannot be understated. These skills might help me to establish a working relationship with the rest of the members of the organization. For example, I can use my proficiency in communication to enhance my interaction with my colleagues. In the process of interaction, I can use the opportunity to seek more information about the working of the organization and understand the acceptable codes of conduct. Good communication skills might improve my overall stature and reputation within a workplace. This may increase my chances of promotion or improve my leadership skills. I might also take advantage of my ability to work in a team and develop a working relationship with my teammates. I believe that working in a group enables a person to recognize the unique differences that integrate to achieve a common goal. Teamwork might enhance my ability to acknowledge the differences that exist between various members of the group. In addition, the budget making skills may enhance my understanding on the subject of money and increase my prudent use of organizational resources.
Work Cited
Seifer, Sarena D. "Service-learning: Community-campus partnerships for health professions education." Academic Medicine 73.3 (2008): 273-7.
