Employability and Professional Development Skills

This document discusses the importance of employability skills and professional development in enhancing career prospects. It covers topics such as continuous professional development plans, skill audits, reflection, and more. The document provides insights into improving interpersonal, motivation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. It is relevant for individuals looking to enhance their employability and professional skill sets.

Employability and
Professional
Development Skills

Table of Contents
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................3
SECTION 2 - CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (CPDP)............3
Review of previous Professional Development Plan (PDP).........................................4
Skill Audit...............................................................................................................................6
Continuous Professional Development Plan (CPDP)....................................................6
Continuous personal development record.....................................................................10
SECTION 3 - REFLECTION......................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX – CURRICULUM VITAE.......................................................................................15
Curriculum Vitae (CV).......................................................................................................15

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
Employability skills are those transferable abilities which are essential for a
professional to hold and commonly looked by every employer in their employees while
hiring and selecting new staff (Allatt and Tett, 2019). Employability skills are thus
knowns as those aspects which make the individual employable and move them a step
ahead to their professional career and further developments. Thus, professional
development and skill sets are linked with employability abilities of the individual as it is
an on going process which will be moving forward with career opportunities and
chances for out performing and standing aside from others. This is a the second
assignment which is an individual portfolio needs to be presented in-front of the board of
Aldi.
The report covers two segments one of a Continuous Professional Developing
Plan (CPDP) that will be reflecting upon the key learning experience of the professional
while completing studies in university along with showcasing its prominent influence
over professional development of the HR trainee. Along with it the Continuous
Professional Developing Plan (CPDP) will be focused on future development as well
with significance to how the individual will be making those improvements and
improvisation in their skill set. Lastly, in the report a reflective essay will be added for
showcasing the learning and knowledge the individual gained through the whole
process and how future chances will be proceeded and worked upon. The assignment
is based upon individual learnings, experiences, development and skill sets as well as
how they can engage into better practices, embrace them and make future changes as
a professional in their career choices and on personal level too.
SECTION 2 - CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PLAN (CPDP)
A Professional Development Plan is a tool or the method which an individual
uses for creating a blueprint for development of their professional skills with regards to
their present proficiencies and their ultimate targets (Bates and et. al., 2019). A
Professional Development Plan is therefore defined as a document that includes goals,
required skills and competencies that the professional needs to develop for moving

forward in their career and making progress. It is always recommended to professionals
either fresher or an experienced employee to have a living that is current Professional
Development Plan with themselves as it will encourage them to move further in their
skill development and reaching to new heights in their career.
Review of previous Professional Development Plan (PDP)
In previous assignment several tests and self evaluation tools were used for
identification and determination of those skills and abilities that are lacking for the job in
HR professionals field and needs to be developed further. The first test conducted was
a self Skill Audit which showcased that as HR professional certain skill sets in which I
lack proficiency and some are key to my professional course and performances. The
measurement was made on the basis of BAD, AVERAGE, GOOD and EXCELLENT.
According to the evaluation it was recognised that I lack in Problem Solving skills and
need improvements in my Communication, Time Management and Leadership skill
for working with my utmost efforts and potentials.
In addition to the evaluation and development of employability and professional
skills a certain specific techniques are presented for updating and uplifting my skill set
and along with it a Professional Developing Plan (PDP) was created in which targets
are highlighted in regards to skill development and achievement along with specific
activities which needs to be undertaken for developing respective skills. The
Professional Developing Plan (PDP) reflected upon all four areas which I lacked as a
HR professional and showcases the need for higher skill development.
In the Professional Development Plan (PDP) made before current and target
proficiencies are elaborated related to the four areas of improvisation and skill
development. According to which my communication, time management and leadership
skills are average and I have to make developments for excelling in them. While is was
completing my course work in University I gathered huge theoretical knowledge of all
the aspects highlighted. Thus, while taking my lectures in semester I grabbed the
opportunities to talk with my professors and other intellectual professional for observing
their ways or communication in different situations and for addressing different aspects
of the matter. This enable me to move further in my skill development practices at
University level for having better conversation skills.

In case of my time management skills as well I was at average stage as my work
use to rarely complete on time either academically or personally. But time management
is a active skill which a employer needs in their employee and thus as a HR
professional I need to develop too. So as mentioned in the Professional Development
Plan (PDP) the development practice is considered to increase and develop better time
management skills was to be more participative in different activities in my University
which are time bound and needs to be completed in limited time period. This is a
practice exercise that enabled me to understand minute details about time management
skill and its importance for me as a professional and as a human being in my day to day
life.
The third area of development was my Leadership skills in which I was average
that is I can handle a team by myself but needs some initial guidelines and most
specifically bad at resolving conflicts my team members. In relation to develop my
leadership capabilities I preferred to being involved in more activities that includes
leadership aspects and leading tasks. As well as I took more initiatives to become team
leader in small class activities and assessments. Those initiatives of becoming leader
and working with other class mates allowed me to practice and apply my theoretical
knowledge into practical situations a but the limited ones. Despite of the limited nature
of the situation I still gathered enough understanding of the importance and value of
leadership skills which in need to gather to work in professional business setting that is
my workplace.
The last area of skill development which I considered in the Professional
Development Plan (PDP) was of Problem Solving skills. This practice hold prominent
significance over my leadership abilities as well. My problem solving skill was bad as I
mentioned in my skill audit and PDP. In order to seek better conflicts management skill I
made use of present opportunities that is using my theoretical knowledge and develop
more insight about the concept of conflict management and problem solving. Thus,
firstly I gathered knowledge form various academic sources, journals and published
articles from professionals and experts. Then for implementing them in practical
situation and to gain an in-depth understanding of the notion I made use of different
leadership situations for improvising my leadership and problem solving capabilities.

In this manner my academic and University learning helped me in developing
and making improvements in those skills and capabilities in which I lack. These skills
are important for me to develop and improvise continuously because they make me
employable and a professional. The employers seek for such skills as they are basics
and make the individual fit for their professional career and go on with making huge
developments in their work practices and performances. In relation to my employability
and professional skill development I have to be aware with the fact that variations in
market is taking place which changes the dynamics every now and then. Therefore, a
Continuous Professional Development Plan (PDP) in regard to my future goals and
starting my career as an HR professional is developed or presented below with
embracing the new stages of my life.
Skill Audit
Skills Bad Average Good Excellent
Interpersonal
Skills
*
Communicati
on Skill
*
Negotiation
Skills
*
Time
Management
*
Motivation
Skills
*
Problem
Solving
*
Continuous Professional Development Plan (CPDP)
The skill audit above clearly highlights the some of the skills which an HR
professional should hold to be working in an organisation and dealing with practical

situations and performing job roles of the respective position. Thus a Continuous
Professional Development Plan (PDP) is as follows:
In what area
do I need to
improve my
performanc
e?
What do I
need to
learn in
order to
achieve
this?
What will I
do to
achieve
this?
What are the
likely
resources
and support
that I will
need?
How will I
evaluate a
successful
outcome?
What are my
deadlines
for meeting
this target?
Interperson
al Skills-
These are
the
behaviours,
tactics and
attitude of a
person which
he or she
uses to
interact with
people and
make
connections
with one
another.
In order to
gain
interpersonal
skills and
effectively
participate
with people
as an HR
professional
on formal
and informal
level is
learning
more about
the effective
listening and
communicati
on practices.
The
opportunity I
have to
develop such
skill is to
work with my
full potentials
and take
initiatives
seeking
opportunity
to showcase
my
knowledge
and ideas.
As well I will
be taking
initiatives to
keep my self
more
indulged
with
employees
The likely
resource and
asset I have
to develop
my
interpersonal
skills and
improve my
practices
while
interacting
with other
are the
trainings
sessions as
well
guidance of
my superiors
and
managers.
Seeking
judgement
and
feedbacks of
my superiors
and leaders
is the best
source of
judging my
learning and
knowledge.
Also, I can
make self
judgements
about my
learning and
competency
gained.
Around 3 to 6
months.

and take part
in different
interactions.
Motivation
Skills- The
motivation
skills of
people and
individuals
refers to and
reflects upon
their morals
while working
within the
organisation.
In concern
with HR the
motivation
skills are
important to
gain in order
to keep
people happy
and make
them work
willingly with
their utmost
potentials.
In order to
achieve
better
motivation
and staff
moral
upliftment
skills I need
to learn
about
different
techniques
and
resources
established
by experts
and used in
the
professional
environment
related to
motivation.
Such as
motivation
theories and
practices.
My aim is to
reach to
excellence
level in
regards to
my
motivation
skills as an
HR
professional
in need to
have good
hold of the
skill. Also,
in order to
attain better
motivational
skills first I
will be
seeking an
in-depth
knowledge
from journals
of experts
and the
major
techniques.
Once I am
The most
favourable
and likely
resources
available to
me in
regards to
enhancemen
t of my
motivation
skill are the
practices
provided by
the experts
like the
process and
content
theories.
Moreover,
the guidance
of my
superiors is
also a strong
resource I
have.
My
motivational
skills are
weak and
really bad
thus, the best
source of
judgement is
my superiors
and their
expertise in
the field over
the
respective
topic and the
feedbacks
they render
for making
appropriate
changes and
development.
Approximatel
y 8 months.

aware about
the whole
idea then
will be taking
initiatives by
grabbing
opportunities
to practice
them in real
practical
situations
with
guidance of
my superiors.
Negotiation
Skills- The
negotiation
skills is major
aspects of a
job role in
HR field and
currently I
hold ample of
that is
average
negotiation
skills but I
need to
make
improvement
s.
In order to
achieve more
and efficient
negotiation
skills in need
to take up
theoretical
knowledge of
the whole
concepts of
negotiation
and its
importance
for me as an
HR
professional.
In order to
develop
better
knowledge in
relation with
negotiation
skills I will be
first giving a
thorough
reading to all
the
conceptual
aspects and
then make
my
understandin
g and
The likely
resources
and support
which will be
requiring in
concern with
gaining
better
knowledge
and
understandin
g of
negotiation
skills are
books and
journals
available
The best
source of
judgement of
my employee
relation skill
is my team
mates and
other
subordinates
whom I
manage with
company's
whole HR
team.
At least a
year or 18
months

strategies in
relation to it.
online on
internet and
in physical
aspects.
Continuous personal development record
Development Activities Evaluation
Details of
CPD
activities
Effective
learning
time
Dates Key
learning
points
Key
benefits/
Value added
Further
comments
Trainings
and
workshops
The trainings
took 6
months of
time period.
From April to
September
Interpersonal
skills
Improved
understandin
g of having
an
interpersonal
relations with
others
The learning
was surely
successful
and
beneficial.
Through
trainings and
workshops I
received a
wider idea
and
knowledge
about
interpersonal
skills and
their
importance.
Feedbacks
and
guidance
The
superiors
feedbacks
On going
action while
performing
Interpersonal
and
Motivation
Gained
benefits of
knowing the
The learning
was
successful as

form
superiors
and
guidances
was going on
in
continuation
while I was
performing
my job and
conducting
separate
activities.
job roles skills efficiency of
superiors and
their success
my superiors
provided by
utmost and
necessary
support.
User of
internet
resources
and journals
The resource
were
available at
all time to me
thus, it is
took 3
months for
me to use
them and
gain higher
understandin
g and
knowledge in
respective
fields.
During or in
between
march to
may.
Motivation
and
Negotiation
skills
The benefits
received is
both personal
and
professional
by using
internet
several
learnings
were gained
which helped
me as a
professional
and HR
executive.
The
knowledge
received and
the learnings
were highly
beneficial
and
supportive for
me as I
enhanced my
professional
knowledge
and
understandin
gs of the HR
field.

SECTION 3 - REFLECTION
In order to make effective development in my professional skills I have looking
forward to advance some specific set of skills through which it is easy for me to proceed
my career in HR with professionalism and utmost efficiency required. In support of
continuous development plan I have clearly define my goals and objective that I want to
achieve within the specific period of time. It is even more helpful for me while achieving
better heights in professional career. In the continuation of personal development I have
made a skills audit of myself that assisted me to make better understanding about my
strengths and weaknesses or to recognise those areas which needs more focus.
Through my skill audit I have measured that my problem solving skilled have evolved
and reached the excellence level since past PDP and I have excellent HR knowledge
and expertise. In addition I am quite good in different skills which are related to my
profession and makes me employable that are Communication and Time Management
skills.
These skills were concentrated by me earlier in my Professional Development
Plan (PDP). Now in my Continuous Development Plan I will focus on Negotiation,
Motivation and Interpersonal skill. I am a really bad motivator and thus I have to work
even more harder while manage this kind of skill set. In order to manage my negotiation
skills I need to be more concentrated on learning theoretical concepts for making and
them implement the knowledge received in practical manner. If I have develop better
level of competency that I am able to induce certain level of excellence within different
practices. For this, I have start seeking superior knowledge and expertise advices while
observing or under their guidance. In order to measure success criteria I have take
feedback and judgement of senior and leader.
Another skill set which needs improvement is interpersonal skills and for this I
have measure current skills as average and as I am a good learner thus in order to
enhance this skill I have worked with higher potential by which knowledge and idea is
increases. In order to induce my skill I have taken feedbacks form my seniors and have
undertaken practices where I take more initiatives to be more interactive with others it
took around 6 months for me to improvise the respective skill. The Continuous
Professional Development Plan enabled me and helps me to develop more awareness

so that I could take effective decisions in favour of my professional development. In
collective if I develop these skill sets and improve my personality then I am able to make
better decision and assist to gain better position in future as an HR professional and in
the field. The future changes is implies as per the requirement of condition and as per
gaining more experience I will enhance my skills with learning as well.
CONCLUSION
The above report is a individual portfolio which is made for reflecting upon the
past and present skill sets and capabilities of an individual who is moving to
professional world soon and concludes the requirement and importance of continuous
development of a professional who is either a fresher or an expert. People need to
change and develop and most specifically when the external business environment is
dynamic and changing regularly and most frequently. Thus, in the portfolio a Continuous
Professional Development Plan (PDP) is prepared highlighting the current proficiencies
and the targeted one which the person has to for seeking higher opportunities in their
career and moving forwards with utmost potentials and power.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Allatt, G. and Tett, L., 2019. Adult literacy practitioners and employability skills: resisting
neo-liberalism?. Journal of Education Policy. 34(4). pp.577-594.
Bates, G. W. and et. al., 2019. Beyond employability skills: Developing professional
purpose. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability. 10(1).
p.7.
Di Gregorio, A. and et. al., 2019. Employability skills for future marketing
professionals. European management journal. 37(3). pp.251-258.
Griffin, M. and Coelhoso, P., 2019. Business students’ perspectives on employability
skills post internship experience. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based
Learning.
Martínez-Cerdá, J. F., Torrent-Sellens, J. and González-González, I., 2020. Socio-
technical e-learning innovation and ways of learning in the ICT-space-time
continuum to improve the employability skills of adults. Computers in Human
Behavior. 107. p.105753.
Menz, M., 2020. Integrating academic skills and employability-revisiting the learning
journal. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. 8(1).
Okolie, U. C. and et. al., 2020. Enhancing graduate employability: Why do higher
education institutions have problems with teaching generic skills?. Policy
Futures in Education. 18(2). pp.294-313.
Ornellas, A., Falkner, K. and Stålbrandt, E. E., 2019. Enhancing graduates’
employability skills through authentic learning approaches. Higher education,
skills and work-based learning.
Sotiriadou, P. and et. al., 2019. The role of authentic assessment to preserve academic
integrity and promote skill development and employability. Studies in Higher
Education, pp.1-17.
Succi, C. and Canovi, M., 2020. Soft skills to enhance graduate employability:
comparing students and employers’ perceptions. Studies in Higher Education.
45(9). pp.1834-1847.

APPENDIX – CURRICULUM VITAE
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Curriculum Vitae
PROFILE
I am a highly driven, dedicated and loyal individual with a proven successful track
record of success operating at a senior level and a contributing influence in the growth
and prosperity in the field of Human Resource Management. I am accustomed to
working under pressure and meeting strict deadlines, not only on my own but those
staff under my supervision.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
 Employee Relations
 Earned highest marks for Human Resource, company-wide
 Workflow Planning
 Implemented new work process flow which increased departmental productivity
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Human Resource Manager, Tesco Plc August 2010- Present
 Key Roles and Responsibilities:
 Provide leadership and coaching to all claims staff.
 Design a personalised training and development programme for each member
of staff, including role coaching, using external resources as necessary.
 Work with staff to ensure agreed job descriptions and objectives.
 Manage relationships with workforce.
 Deepen employee involvement where the employee relationship demands such
support.
Human Resource Manager, Sainsbury, September 2007 – August 2010
 Key Roles and Responsibilities:
 Provide leadership and coaching to all Human resource.

 Design a personalised training and development programme for each member
of staff, including role coaching, using external resources as necessary.
 Work with staff to ensure agreed job descriptions and objectives.
 Manage relationships with employees and develop employee relations.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Ward End School
O’level’s including Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, History,
Geography, Technical Drawing, Environmental Studies.
Master of Science, Human Resource Management
Bachelor in Science, Human Resource Management
Fairfield School of Business: Level 4: FdA BA Business(completed) Level 5 ongoing
TRAINING COURSES
Distinction - Advanced Knowledge & Skills in Interpreting – Language Communications
(Professional Code of Conduct/Ethics, Interpreting skills, Public sector organizations &
Research skills for interpreters)
BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders
Management Training Course 5 Day Course
Attending Solicitors’ Training Seminars - updating the Civil Reforms and General &
Special Damages
Internal Training Courses Various
LANGUEAGES
English
Bengali, Sylheti
Urdu & Hindi (basic)
INTERESTS
In my spare time I enjoy socializing with family and friends I read go to the gym and
cook. I also enjoy watching various traveling abroad shows.