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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Allison (Smidt) PrebleB.A. Psychology, 2010

Personal Statement

I have always been one to have a lot of determination, but feel as though that I had never had the will power

to go after my dreams. After listening to many people who are close in my life I realized that I am so determined in

life, more so than many I know. With that I have completed my associate degree in interior design, and then made a

gutsy decision to drop everything and chase my dream of psychology. Although nervous going into this major life

goal of mine, I have managed to maintain a 3.9 GPA. This is a huge accomplishment for me because again I never

thought I had it in me. This has allowed me gain a lot of confidence while using my creative side as well as my side

that is passionate for helping others. I am also a very outgoing and considerate person, because I love to help people

through life issues weather I know them or not. At the same time I am always looking to help people be creative

within them because we all know that everyone has a creative side.

While thinking back to my love to help others and to see how I can be a light in others lives, I have realized that I tend

to focus on helping with relationships and work related issues. This is where I learned of my interest in Industrial

Organizational Psychology. I love to help people with relationships but, I would rather keep that narrowed to the

people who are the closest to me. With work issues I have stepped in and been there for people I barely know. I

have seen so much in my working history and it hurts me to see people treated badly in a work setting. With that I

have found a passion for helping people make their work life enjoyable.

I have had more jobs than most at my age, being I struggled with finding who I was and what I wanted to be.

I look at this now as a learning experience and a time of opportunity because it has helped me to find and shape

myself into the career person I want to be. I now have an idea of the type of co-worker/manager I do and don’t want

to be and also now know the path I would like to pursue.

My dream is to help others and being I have a large interest in workers’ rights, I am the right person for the

human resources and team member relations field. I am currently working in the human resources department of a

casino as a staffing representative. I look at this position as the first stepping stone toward my goal to be a team

member relations manager. To get to that point I know I must work my way into an HR generalist position and then to

the team member relations manager. I feel that with my bachelor degree in psychology with a concentration in

industrial organizational psychology, I will be able to get to my next step as an hr generalist. This position will not

only give me experience in work related counseling, but also in a variety of areas in HR. I am a very determined and

hard working individual that will chase my goal until I accomplish it. That, I feel is a strength that will continue to serve

as a benefit to me.

Personal Statement

In order to achieve my goal and become a team member relations manager, I plan to pursue my Masters in

Industrial Organizational Psychology. This degree along with my work experience will help me to successfully reach

my goal. I plan to start this program after a few years of working experience in the HR field. I would like to have this

experience and knowledge first because I feel it will help me to have both in my working knowledge and skill set for

the position I hope to achieve. I currently have ten years of professional experience in the banking/financial field with

5 years of management experience which I feel will be of use to me, but, I would like to add hr experience to that as

well.

Once I have achieved my goal as a team member relations manager I would like to make considerable

contributions to the company I am working for. I think that a company’s team members are one of their biggest assets

and should be adequately recognized for their work contributions. I have experienced several companies that do not

recognize their employees adequately, and that is where you see a lot of turnover and push back from the

employees. I would like to create a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere for the employees while at the same time

achieving their longevity. I have made a few contributions to employee well being in the position I am currently in.

One example is I planned, put together, and executed a banquet for the “Best of the Best” employees. Each month 4

employees are nominated to be recognized as the best of the best. At the end of each fiscal year they receive a

banquet and a night out on top of the reward they received during the nomination of the month. I came up with a plan

to send them to a Broadway show with dinner and then each received an extra paid day off. The plan was approved

and my work contribution toward this banquet was a success and much appreciated. This is a good way to recognize

the employees and show them that the company does appreciate them.

In concentrating my goals towards becoming a team member relations manager I feel that I will be able to

make a difference in the lives of employees. I want to put them first so that they know they are appreciated. I feel

that I have already taken some steps toward achieving this goal and I will continue to push my way toward my final

goal. I feel that I have exceptional qualities including drive and a sense for self accomplishment that will help me to

reach my goal. I also feel that there are some weaknesses I need to overcome including learning to let the small

things go. I know I have a tendency to hold on to everything, but feel that I will be able to overcome that as I have

identified the problem. As I work through my strengths and weaknesses I feel I will be a great asset to a company

some day.

Resume

Allison B. Preble1845 Greenwood Valley Drive

River Falls, Wisconsin 54022

Telephone: 651-434-1588

Email: allisonsmidt@hotmail.com

Objective: To obtain a responsible and challenging human resources generalist position

where my previous three years of human resources compensation, staffing, and

leave of absence experience will be of value to your organization.

Experience:

04/08-Present Treasure Island Resort and Casino, Red Wing, MN

Staffing Representative

Interviewing, pre-employment pre-screening, and working with Nu-view HR

08/09-08/10 American Bank, St. Paul, MN

Lead Teller

Supervise teller line, in charge of main vault for all branches, making senior decisions in regards to

transaction processing, customer service

09/08-06/09 Buffets Inc, Eagan, MN

HR Services Compensation Representative

Calculating and processing monthly manager bonuses, compensation reviews, minimum wage impact

studies, processing and maintaining leave of absences for restaurant managers, processing payroll for

managers on leave of absence.

09/07-04/08 Coborn’s Superstore, Hastings, MN

Bookkeeper

Counting tills, balancing store cash, maintaining purchase orders, managing service counter, customer

service.

Resume

09/05-07/07 Bremer Bank, St. Paul, MN

Lead Teller/Underwriting Administrative Assistant/Commercial

Loan Underwriter

Supervising teller line, maintain large vault, collateral due-diligence, underwriting small business loans,

processing loan documents.

10/04-07/05 Merchants Bank, Hastings, MN

Teller

Customer service, cash transaction processing

08/03-04/04 Ethan Allen, Minnetonka, MN

Sales and Design Consultant

Furniture sales, designs for client homes.

10/99-07/03 Vermillion State Bank, Vermillion, MN

Proof Operator/Bank operations specialist/Teller

Customer service, transaction processing, proof work, ran POD machine, process cash letter for FED,

balanced cashier checks and money orders, processed customer statements

Education:

09/07-12-10 Argosy University, Eagan, MN

B.A. in Psychology with concentration in I/O Psychology

09/00-05/03 Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, MN

A.A.S. Degree Interior Design

09/96-06/00 Hastings Senior High School, Hastings, MN

High School Diploma

Reflection

Overall I have had a pretty memorable good learning experience

while studying for my BA in psychology at Argosy University. I have

learned a ton of general information about the history, theories, people,

and ways of psychology and how it has developed over the years. I

feel that I have gained a lot from this program that will benefit me in the

HR field . I have learned a lot about myself including the fact that I do

have the determination and ability to do well in school. For the first

time in my life I can say that I am proud to have been successful in

receiving my degree. I can also say that I am happy with my outcome

in this program. I have also found that my strengths are in my writing

and weaknesses still remain in my test taking. Even though test taking

was my weakness I did not allow that to get in my way of receiving the

grades that I desired. Below I have attached my SSAL in which shows

my strengths and weaknesses from this program in more detail. I am

relieved I have completed the program, yet happy that I did with all that

I learned from

Reflection - SSAL

Please note the following when marking the boxes for each of the core competencies:

Limited Exposure: If the student does not demonstrate that he or she has received college-level instruction in this area, check this box.

Moderate Exposure: If the student shows some competency with this outcome, and shows recognition of some of the discussion

points in this area, check this box.

Significant Exposure: If the student can fairly easily address some of the major themes and their application to theory and/or to their

own life, check this box. These are abilities beyond those described under Moderate Exposure.

Extensive Exposure: If the student demonstrates expertise in a given area that sets him or her apart from their peer group, check this

box. These are abilities beyond those described under Significant Exposure.

Section 1a: Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking: Given a psychological issue, employs skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach.

2 = Significant Exposure

• Able to choose from and appraise a wide range of psychological perspectives and theories within written and oral presentations.

• When presenting (in written work or orally), can illustrate multiple perspectives on a given topic.

• Able to analyze the complexities of a given issue.

Section 1b: Cognitive Abilities: Information Literacy: Given a research question related to psychology, accesses information

from a variety of sources and select appropriate sources to respond to the question.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Able to collect and arrange information from a variety of sources pertinent to the chosen topic, integrating reasoned appraisals of

such information into the work of a project in psychology.

Section 2: Research: Understanding Research Methods: Given an article about research findings in the field of psychology

from a scholarly journal, identifies the research design and statistical tools used (including research design, data

analysis, and interpretation), and the findings of the article.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Able to correctly summarize the research design, statistical and other evaluative tools, and findings of the article.

• Able to use sound reasoning as a basis for criticizing the research results.

Reflection - SSAL

Section 3a: Communication Skills: Oral: Effectively presents psychological concepts orally as appropriate to the audience.

2 = Significant Exposure

• Possesses significant ability in creating, organizing and delivering oral presentations.

• Exhibits the ability to identify, select, and apply basic/general levels of organization and clarity of presentation.

• Able to recognize higher levels of organization and clarity, exhibits the ability to identify, select, and apply appropriate levels of

presentation for specific audience(s), and/or is versed in correct usage of grammar and appropriate word selection.

Section 3b: Communication Skills: Written: Effectively presents psychological information, in writing, using software and style

appropriate to the audience.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Exhibits the ability to develop and apply appropriate levels of conciseness and clarity in content, language use, grammar,

organization using APA formatting.

• Exhibits the ability to develop, apply and defend a particular stance related to psychological concepts in written work.

Section 4a: Ethics: Identifies the issues and challenges related to ethics in the field of Psychology.

2 = Significant Exposure

• Not only understands the importance of ethical guidelines and is able to identify key elements therein, but can also analyze and

apply ethical concepts and ideological frameworks to specific psychological issues.

• Claims ownership over the prescribed ethical principles for the field, and works to promote ethical decision-making and activity

accordingly.

Section 4b: Diversity: Identifies the issues and challenges related to diversity in the field of psychology.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Effectively engages in multiculturally-sensitive thought and action, evidenced by the ability to articulate best-practices pertaining

to case examples and/or other specific diversity issues and populations associated with the field.

• Recognizes more subtle forms of discrimination and prejudice within and around psychology and can construct alternative

analyses and choices of behaviors.

• Claims ownership over personal biases, and works to increase awareness and respect for diverse populations.

5. Knowledge of Psychology: Recognizes the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, applications, and historical

trends in psychology.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Exhibits consistent recognition and exceptional comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings,

applications and historical trends in psychology or within a specific area of study in the field.

• Able to synthesize and evaluate various psychological theories, and apply them to explain everyday events and experiences.

Reflection - SSAL

6. Knowledge of Applied Psychology: Applies psychological principles to personal, social, and/or organizational issues.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Provides comprehensive explanations that incorporate psychological principles, as well as, empirical data and best practices.

• Demonstrates the ability to use psychological principles in solving problems, explaining social issues, and dealing with everyday

life situations.

Section 7: Interpersonal Effectiveness: Active Listening Communication Skills: Develops and improves positive relationship

skills via effective communication, respect for others, appreciation of diversity and cultural sensitivity, and awareness of their

impact on others.

3 = Extensive Exposure

• Able to consistently and effectively apply active listening communication skills in interpersonal and organizational scenarios to

establish empathetic, collegial relationships that facilitate consensus building in working toward common goals and is appreciative

of diversity and culture.

• Able to consistently analyze the importance of effective nonverbal communication skills in developing strong interpersonal and

organizational relationships that are culturally sensitive and respectful of diversity.

• Actively solicits and utilizes feedback to develop adaptable strategies of facilitating dynamic interpersonal and organizational

relationships.

• Consistently & actively demonstrates an understanding of the impact of technological advances on communication within

interpersonal and organizational relationships.

• Consistently demonstrates strong utilization of effective communication and relationship skills in order to promote the growth of

others and effect change.

Table of Contents

• (Pages 1-30) Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking

and Information Literacy • Counseling theories course project

• (Pages 31-42) Research Skills• Motivation in the workplace: Research Methods Project

• (Pages 44-55) Communication Skills: Oral and

Written• Jealousy in Intimate relationships: Social Psychology Project

• (Pages 56-69) Ethics and Diversity Awareness• Terri Schiavo Case Study - Ethics

• (Pages 70-76) Foundations of Psychology• Letter to Freud – Personality Theory

• Visual Imagery – Cognition and Learning

Table of Contents

• (Pages 77-83) Applied Psychology• Decision Making in Groups – Industrial Organizational Psychology

• Observational Learning and Media Violence – Personality Theory

• Interpersonal Effectiveness (Presentations are

uploaded in the my Slide Share section of my

LinkedIn profile)• Martha Stewart Living: Omnimedia

• Getting Past No: Dealing With Difficult People

** Please note that the above assignments are located in a file titled Professional

Work Samples under my BoxNet files on my Linkedin profile.

My Future in Learning

Learning is a lifelong process. How do you envision

your future as a lifelong learner?

I envision myself working in the Human Resources field for

a few years in order to gain experience in the field and to utilize

my BA in psychology. I then plan to pursue my master’s degree

in industrial organizational psychology. In the mean time I plan

to continue taking classes that will help me expand my

knowledge and skills throughout my career through SHRM. I

am also planning to peruse my PHR to maximize my education

and learning experience in life.

Contact Me

Thank you for viewing my

ePortfolio.

For further information, please

contact me at the e-mail address

below.

allisonsmidt@hotmail.com