WoW - Week 1

Being listed in Group C, this was the first week I attended the WoW Pilot Programme. It is really a useful and productive programme organised by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) specially designed for undergraduates who will soon step out to the real world of work.

Before going further to an interesting piece of information I experienced from today workshop, just a brief introduction of what WoW is all about. WoW stands for 'World of Work'. The WoW Programme is all about giving students a 'value added' higher education experience. All undergraduates have actually acquired the core of knowledge which the course required, and that probably could just satisfy the academic degree. Besides knowledge from the books, the WoW skills are equally important for undergraduates who will soon fight for a placement in their chosen industry. To stand out from the others, or at least being capable to handle job more competently, essential WoW skills are needed, for instances, analysing and problem solving, team working, interpersonal skills, verbal communication, initiative, ICT skills, etc..

What is really matter in the first place to a graduate is actually to understand himself or herself in term of his strength, weaknesses, values, motivators. Though these four aspects seems easily understandable, but they are the fields where most of job seekers found difficulty to fill in the CV. And I'm experiencing it today, really a bit hard to squeeze some words for praising myself... hahaha..so there was this friendly lady who coached us through the process with leading questionnaire and games to find out more about ourselves.

The below is piece of information I found interesting and would like to share for raising criteria out of Self-awareness:

 Figure 1

From Figure 1, choose a shape which you find most appealing. Please take some time to choose the one most appealing to you without referring to the explanation below. 

Square

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  Squares are organised, logical, conservative, loyal, analytical, task-oriented. and knowledgeable.
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  Squares will not tolerate sloppy work and need structured settings.
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  Squares believe in following the manual.
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  They live by the 3 Ps: Policies, practices, and procedures.
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  They are data collectors and will not make decisions without a thorough analysis of the data. If your boss is a square, be specific. They need things in writing, preferably with numbers!
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  They have calenders and lists everywhere.
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  They have plan for everyday.
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  They plan A, B, C, D. Why, because they are the most linear thinkers.
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  However, they are not the strongest team players because a square tends to be a loner. Meetingsjust mess up their day.
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  One the positive side, squares are loyal. Squares are loyal.
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  Squares are totally committed to friends and spouses.
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  The motto squares live by is if you want a job done right, then do it yourself.
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  A square is a very left brained and tactical thinker.
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  Sqaures are the most likely shape to work late at the office because they are the hardest workers in the group.
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  But, despite all their work, squares are the slowest to make decisions, because they always need more information.

Triangle

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  The triangle is rooted in thousands of years of history. The symbol itself focuses upward to the sun, to the deity. It is the pyramids. In current times it is the hierarchy in management.
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  Triangles are the ultimate symbol of leadership.
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  Triangles are strong,, decisive people.
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  Triangles are the power shape.
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  Triangles love to tell other shapes what to do.
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  The triangle is a strategic thinker with long-term plan.
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  Male triangles are delegators; female triangles still do everything themselves.
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  The triangle is a left brain linear thinker; however the triangle processes information very quickly. Triangles do everything faster because they wish to get to the point. Triangles are the snap decision makers.
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  Triangles are generally smart people.
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  On the Downside, they tend to be egotistical, into status symbols, and highly opinionated.
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  They are focused and smart.
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  Triangles are the classic leadership type and most likely to be found in the boardroom.
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  However, they are not broad thinkers and tend to be self-oriented instead of open.
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  Motto of the triangleis "I did it my way".

Circle

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  The circle is an ancient symbol. It is the most used shape in religions. Circles are the people who seek harmony.
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  Circles are caretakers, the peacemakers, and the nurtures of the world.
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  Circles simply need to help. They love people with problems!
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  They are the huggers and the smilers.
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  The circles motto is "forget your troubles and just get happy!"
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  Circles are the teachers and office workers who put smiley faces on things.
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  Circles are talkative, self-critical, warm, caring, sensitive people.
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  Circles are real people personsm with lots of friends.
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  Circles love to gossip, but generally not maliciously. It is just that everybody tells them everything!
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  Circles cannot stand conflict.
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  Circles are joiners and often belong to many clubs or organisations.
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  If we consider how circles think, they are both linear and non-linear, left brained and right brained; they can think both styles and are the only shape that is capable of this.
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  Circles combine their thinking styles in a unique way that makes them somewhat intuitive.
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  They have sixth sense when it comes to communicating. Why? Because they can read people. They are the best communicators of all the shapes.

Squiggle

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  Squiggles are creative, witty and impulsive.
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  Squiggles are eccentric. Squiggles don't do well in routine.
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  The squiggle is the only pure right-brained thinker.
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  Brain research states that only 12-15% of people are right brained thinkers, so fewer people are true squiggles that what is claimed.
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  Squiggles get bored easily. They need challenges and freedom. Squiggles love to meet challenges because they enjoy peak experiences.
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  Squiggles are random holistic. They do not like to bother with details.
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  Squiggles are the ones who ask why. They need to know reasons for things.
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  They are strong shape along with the triangles.
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  Lots of the squares are what squiggles want to be.
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  At work, you can recognise the squiggles as the person with the messy office.
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  The squiggle lives in the future.
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  A pure squiggles is as spontaneous as they are fickle.
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  Squiggles are bright and having big ideas and big dreams to match.
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  The squiggles motto is "To dream the impossible dream".
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  Squiggles are the most likely shape to be in a supermarket at midnight.
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  Squiggles are great to have as friends because they are so interesting, however don't count on squiggle.
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  Squiggles are dramatic and flamboyant.

Rectangle

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  First of all, if you are a rectangle, bless you.
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  Secondly, if your spouse is a rectangle, bless you more!
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  The good news is rectangles are generally just passing through on their way to another shape.
• Rectangles represent a period in life, a changing growing, questioning and unpredictable.
• Two well documented periods of rectanglism are adolescence and the middle age crisis.
• Firsts in life will pull out rectangles in us - a first marriage, first child, first job and retirement.
• A rectangle rarely recognises that they are rectangles. However, you can recognise them by their changes.
• One day they are rectangle, the next a circle.
• They try on all shapes.
• If you have a rectangle boss, you are constantly on your toes trying to figure out which shape they are taking that day.
• The motto of the rectangle is "I know you think that you understood what I said, but is what I said, what I really meant?"
• Rectangles are the shape most likely to lose their car in a parking lot.
• However, rectangles are truly a great shape to be because they will learn more any given situation than any of the other shapes. Why? Because they are so open and searching!