Employability Skills and Professional Development

This document discusses the importance of employability skills and professional development for individuals in the corporate world. It explores the components of a portfolio and the benefits of continuing professional development (CPD). The case study focuses on Marks and Spencer. The document provides insights into the skills needed for complaint handling, negotiation, decision making, and time management.

Employability Skills and
Professional Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
COMPONENTS OF PORTFOLIO.................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................3
Aims and Objectives...................................................................................................................3
CPD .................................................................................................................................................4
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Employability skill is referred as transferable skills that is required by individual for
making them employable (Asonitou, 2015). It is very important for employees to have proper set
of skills along with subject knowledge, technical understanding and so on. On other hand,
professional development is defined as learning in order to earn and maintain professional
credentials like formal coursework, informal learning opportunities, attending conferences. This
is referred as collaborative as well as intensive stage for learning. It is very important for
individual to have employability skills as well as professional development to work in corporate
world for positive outcomes. The organisation chosen for assignment is Marks and Spencer
which was established in 1884 at London, United Kingdom. The main purpose of report is to
prepare continuous development plan in order to enhance and improve their skills and
capabilities for achievement of goal and objectives of individual as well as organisation.
COMPONENTS OF PORTFOLIO
Introduction
The Personal Development Plan (PDP) prepared in assessment 1 provide information
regarding abilities and skills which are lacking in individual and ways for improving them
(Fletcher, Sharif and Haw, 2017). PDP is defined as process that helps in establishing objectives
as well as aims of person where they want to achieve and see themselves in their career life. This
helps them to identify their skills, knowledge and competence for their personal and professional
growth and development. With the help of PDP plan, Continuing Professional Development
(CPD) plan is prepared for improving lack skills and abilities in given time period for
achievement of goal and objectives.
Aims and Objectives
The above portfolio indicate CPD plan of HR manager of Marks and Spencer. As there
are many skills which are lacked which should be improved by working hard in order to attain
them in best possible manner for positive outcomes. The aims and objectives are as follows:
Aim
To improve my several skills so that I can perform better at workplace in order to achieve
desired goals and objectives.
Objectives

 To enhance my complaint handling skills for solving problems arise at workplace.
 To improve my negotiation skills in order to avoid conflict situations arise in business.
 To improve decision making skills so that I can take appropriate decisions according to
situations.
 To enhance my time management skills in order to complete my task within given time
period.
CPD
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is defined as procedure of documenting as
well as tracking knowledge, skills and experience which are gained in formal and informal way
(Continuous Professional Development (CPD). 2019). This is the record of what has been learn,
apply and experience by individual. Professionals are engaged in such activities to develop and
enhance skills and abilities in an effective and efficient manner. This enables to make learning
proactive as well as conscious. CPD is combined of several methodologies like e-learning,
training, events, workshops, programs, conferences, best practices, idea sharing that focus on
improving individual in order to enhance personal and professional development. It is also called
ongoing process of maintaining, documenting and developing professional skills of individuals.
Individuals can get such skills from training or courses or through watching others in effective
and efficient manner. This is prepared usually after professional development plan as it provide
assistance to improved lacked skills by an individual in best possible manner. It is career area
that requires professional qualification for working at organisation. People engage in CPD ensure
practical qualifications as well as academic which does not allow to became out dated or
obsolete.
CPD is necessary in helping organisations, individual and whole business in order to
keep knowledge and skills up to date (CPD is the holistic commitment of professionals towards
the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout their careers, 2019). The
providing of CPD leads organisations for becoming knowledge bank to their stakeholders of
business. This accredited workshops, training courses and professionals for using learning time
towards requirements. It is also helpful for people to focus regularly on becoming competent as
well as effective professional. CPD provide learning and training to individuals that helps in
increasing capability, confidence and compliments career growth and success. With the
assistance of CPD, individual can easily adapt change environment in positive manner that

occurs at industry or workplace and indulge themselves as per requirement of surrounding place.
It shows clear commitment towards professionalism as well as self developments that creates
opportunity to identify gaps and resolves in best manner. Similarly, on the other hand, CPD helps
to organisation through enhancement of brand perceptions, recognition. This promotes and
encourages healthy learning culture of workplace and fulfilling need and requirements of their
staffs. In order to meet staff requirements, training and development session are held for positive
outcomes in best possible manner. There are various issues and problems arise in business that
are resolved through CPD learning and achieve positive outcomes in best manner.
Continuing Professional Development procedure is designed for identifying and own
development needs (Jackson, 2015). This process starts from identifying plan which goes
through learning activities, reflecting own learning and applying those learning and end with
sharing with other. It is very important for individual to enhance, improve and develop their
skills, learning and knowledge so that they can survive, sustain and grow at marketplace. This
also helps in personal as well as professional growth and success of person. The CDP is prepared
in order to improve several skills within given time period from provided PDP in assessment.
From personal development plan, it has found that I lack in several skills like complaint
handling, negotiation, decision making and time management which should be improved in best
possible manner. CDP plan is mentioned below for improving myself in best way such as:
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Plan
Identifying
learning
needs
Define
expected
learning
outcomes
Identify
learning
activity
Resources Timescale Communication Evaluation
Complaint
Handling
Skills
The outcome
which are
expected
after
enhancement
of
complaints
For
improving
my
complaints
handling
skills, I
have to
These
skills is
improved
by me
through
taking help
of several
19th
December,
2019- 2nd
February,
2020
For complaints
handling skills, I
have used oral as
well as written
communication
strategies so that
I can learn more
CPD is
prepared in
order to
improve
oneself in
best
possible

handling
skills as it
helps in
building
goodwill of
business and
customers
are satisfied
with service
and refer to
others. This
leads to
enhance
goodwill and
brand value
of
organisation.
involve in
formal
activities
such as
taking
courses,
seminars,
technical
training
and other
so that I
can
improve
myself.
people
such as
mentor,
manager,
leader and
other. As
they
provide
guidance
and helps
to enhance
my
complaints
handling
skills.
about such skills
and enhance
myself for
positive
outcomes.
manner.
This is done
on regular
basis for
individual
to know
where they
lack and
their
positive
aspects in
an effective
and
efficient
manner.
This skills
is required
in business
to handle,
manage and
resolve
complaints
of people in
best
manner.
Negotiation
Skills
Outcome
which is
expected by
me after
enhancement
of
This
learning
activity
which I
have
identified
The
resources
required
for
developing
my
25th
December,
2019- 15th
March,
2020
For positive
result, I have to
use best
communication
strategy. In
context of
For
improveme
nt of
respective
skills, I
have

negotiation
skills are
that it helps
in increasing
goodwill of
organisation
at
marketplace
in an
effective
manner. This
foster in
maintaining
and
developing
strong
relationship
with people
and
negotiate
with them in
best manner.
It also reflect
convincing
power of
mine while
dealing with
clients,
supplier and
other people
of
for
negotiation
skills are
attending
workshops,
reading
books. It is
very
important
to chose
appropriate
method for
improveme
nt so that if
same issues
arise in
business
then it can
be resolved
without
any
obstacle
and
problems.
negotiation
skills are
trainer,
mentor
who will
guide me
to enhance
such skills.
Along with
this, I also
required
appropriate
time to
attend
classes and
learn to
develop
myself in
best
possible
manner.
negotiation
skills, I have to
follow oral
communication
strategy as
negotiation is
done through
speaking in
fluent and clear
way. This is
important for me
to do maximum
oral
communication
with suppliers,
clients so that I
can enhance my
negotiation
skills.
prepared
CPD as it
helps to me
so that I can
do
continuous
improveme
nt in
respective
skills which
is required
to run
business
activities
and
operations
in best
possible
manner.

organisation.
Decision
Making
Skills
Outcome
occurred
after
working on
decision
making
skills is that
I can easily
make
decision for
business to
achieve set
goal and
objectives.
This helps to
me in
grabbing
various
opportunities
and where I
can make on
the spot
decision in
effective
manner.
The
learning
activities
which are
required
for
decision
making are
peer and
professiona
l
interaction.
As I have
to interact
with each
and every
people and
staff
working in
organisatio
n in order
to make
decisions
in best
manner.
The
resources
required
for
decision
making
skills are
people,
time and
space.
Decision
making
training is
provided
by
experience
d person as
well as
trainer for
that money
has to be
spend for
buying
books
related
with
decision
making. It
is provided
in peace
25th
January,
2020- 30th
March,
2020
In order to make
decision at
workplace, I can
use both oral as
well as written
strategies for
positive results.
For the benefits
of short
decisions, oral is
used and benefits
of long terms,
written is used as
evidence.
CPD helps
me to make
decision at
organisatio
n without
facing any
loss and
helps in
achieving
business
goal and
objectives.

and calm
place so
that I can
learn in
appropriate
manner.
Time
Manageme
nt Skills
Outcomes
occurred
after
working on
the time
management
that it saves
time and
cost by
paying
attention on
major
activities. It
helps to
occurs
results in
very fast
pace in order
to remain
competent in
working
environment
.
In order to
manage
time and
related
activities in
proper
manner it
is very
much
crucial to
manage
works and
activities as
per their
importance
as all
activities
are not
equally
important
for an
individual.
To manage
works and
activities it
The
required
resources
are money,
time
profession
als, work
schedule
charts and
many
more.
31st
December,
2019- 30th
January,
2020
In
communication
consist of the
strategies to
achieve the goal
and objective. To
manage time and
related activities
need to start day
with clear focus,
dynamic task list,
prioritize high
value activities,
minimize
interruptions and
many more. To
develop the time
management
skills it is very
essential to focus
on respective
areas to remain
competitive.
It has been
evaluated
that after
working on
respective
area an
individual
can be able
to manage
various
activities in
proper time
frame it
helps in
saving not
only time
but cost
also.

is very
essential to
plan for the
whole day
by writing
important
task for a
day and
time
required to
gain
potentiality
and
necessary
improveme
nts to
remain
competitiv
e.
REFLECTION
It is very important for me to prepare skills audit in order to identify my strength and
weaknesses. With the help of professional development plan, it has classified about strong and
weak areas of mine that has to be improved. My strengths in terms of skills are communication,
persuasion, empathy, problem solving and technical. I am very good at doing communication
with my manager, staff and others. I can easily communicate and keep my points in front of
them. I can easily change my belief, attitudes, behaviours towards person or individuals. This is
done through conveying message, feeling, information and so on. This is persuasion skills which
helps me to change my perception regarding and work accordingly. While working in team, I

carry empathy skills where I put myself in situation in order to solve other problems. This is
important skills which helps in understanding perception of other point of view. There are
various problems which arise while working in group. As I can easily resolve problems by
providing accurate solution so that goal and objectives can be attained. I have learned problem
solving skills while working in group assignment and being leader of team have to solve issues
and problems arise during completing work. I am also good at technical skills which is required
while carrying work in group.
On other hand, my weak areas are: complaint handling, negotiation, decision making and
time management skills. In order to improve these skills, continuing development plan has
prepared. I have to improve my weaknesses so that I can achieve set goals and objectives. In
order to resolve complaints handling, I have to prepare my self and attain classes regarding to
improve skills. When work is performed in group, then there are high chances of occurring
issues which leads to rise in complaints by team members that has to solved in effective and
efficient manner. I lack in my negotiation skills which can be improved by participation in each
and every activities organised at workplace. It is done in context of sales, buying of materials and
so on in appropriate manner. This skills helps in maintaining strong relationship with customers
and supplier and foster success of business. Decision making is also important skills which has to
be improved through taking coaching, learning from other, participants and so on in an effectual
and effective manner for positive outcomes. In organisation, each and every work has to be
performed on timely basis. For this, I need to improve my time management skills and make plan
in advance regarding each and every activities and work so that I can improve and achieve
business goal and objectives.
It is very important to prepare PDP and with help of it, CDP is prepared for improving
weak areas and attain positive results. This is essential for me to enhance and develop myself so
that I can perform each and every activities and work for organisation and attain their set
outcomes. I have to focus on my weaknesses and improve those areas so that I would not have to
face any issue and problems in future time period. Therefore, I have to focus on CDP and keeps
on learning new things and up to date about various activities and operations taken place in
organisation. Thus, this leads me to develop, growth and success in my both personal as well as
professional life.

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has summarised that every individuals working in an
organisation should have proper skills, knowledge and experience for achievement of business
goal and objectives in best possible manner. It is very essential for individual to identify their
own strengths and weaknesses so that they can improve. Being human resource manager, it is
crucial for me to know about employees and their working at business. From the personal
development plan, weakness are identified such as time management, negotiation, complaint
handling and decision making. These are improved with continuing development plan which
requires training and development session, coaching, e-learning in order to achieve business goal
and objectives. These improved skills helps in personal as well professional growth and
development at workplace along with achievement of career goal and success. The individual has
to keep themselves up to date and improve their weak areas to become successful in their
personal and professional life.

REFERENCES
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Online
CPD is the holistic commitment of professionals towards the enhancement of personal skills and
proficiency throughout their careers. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://cpduk.co.uk/explained>.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD). 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/continuing-professional-development.html>.

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