Trang Thu Tran
Reflection Assignment #1
1. I have taken the opportunity to expand my mind into the larger world of marketing through marketing and recruitment projects. I recognized that the lack of knowledge and experience in Canada workplace would be a professional challenge I will face during my internship. Time and stress management also are problems if I try to do multitasking without effective management. They are engaged with my daily tasks. To solve these problems, I believe that I can make up my lack of knowledge and working experience by learning from my colleagues, ask and practice, improve research skills and communications skills, go out with friends to know and share experiences in work as well as personal life.
2.
I discuss and contact with my mentor, my colleagues frequently by mail, in person anytime I have some questions to ask them, or when I feel unclear about what I am supposed to do.
I can use my work computer at VIU and my laptop using Internet to contact with customers/ clients, attended the campus tour as member with Chinese high school student when they visited VIU. When I do not know whom I should contact with to know about detailed information, I can ask Director’s assistance or anyone I meet up in the office.
3. There are some differences between VIU or Canada workplace culture and environment and Vietnam companies I have worked for. The first difference is that how people communicate. Vietnamese people would prefer to speak indirectly while Canadian would like to get straight to the point. I tried to speak out my opinion, but I still think of Vietnamese language when I was talking to my mentor and colleagues. I need to practice more in English and try to understand the requirement clearly. In Vietnam, officials would like to go out for a dinner, and then go to a karaoke restaurant to sing. Time is unlimited, the invitation can come at the last minute, and it depends on their feeling at that time. To invite a Canadian partner go out for a dinner, I will need to make appointment few days ago, so they can make their schedule. Effective communication, well- organization and time management will be the interpersonal skills I need to improve in order to adapt the new environment.
4. I have received feedback from my mentor and my co-worker frequently by email and in person. They have given the feedback in detail for me to help me understand what I should do to improve and to perform much better. For example, my mentor helped me correct a lot in my internship proposal to see how professional it is. If they are out of office, I still get the feedback from them as fast as they can.
5. I want to say thank you to my instructor of international marketing and marketing technology classes because these classes have helped me a lot during my internship. I learn and practice my knowledge in marketing field for making survey and collect data as well as information about segment market, clients. I use Kotler’s five factor to analyze market, clients, demand…Also, I apply the knowledge of Pestel analyze to complete my applied business project. Currently, I am working on ESL and GIS that stand for English as a Second Language and Geographic Information System. I use some social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Mailchimp… to promote and attract more students come to VIU for studying.
6. My career goal is to become a professional marketer. I have got experience to work in a busy and excited environment. Most of the projects I am working on are relevant to marketing field. I feel that I am more confident on the path I chose. I recognized that there is many ways I can learn to improve my interpersonal skills, by friends, by mentor, by colleagues and so forth. I have to find out what are my strengths to improve and my weaknesses to make good my shortcomings.