My Practicum - Assignment 3 - Individual Reflection

Running head: MY PRACTICUM 1
My Practicum
Institution
Student
Course
Date

MY PRACTICUM 2
Assignment 3 - Individual Reflection
My Practicum
Introduction
A practicum alias work placement program or internship is often designed to offer a learner a
practical work experience. It lays more emphasize on the importance of learning something by
doing it practically. Internships are very important because they provide students with many
opportunities to network and initite vital contacts within their career path (Bukaliya, 2012). I
went for my work placement program in Stamford Plaza Auckland, one of the prominent 5 star
hotels in located Albert Street Auckland, New Zealand. This hotel strives to stand out completely
by offering the best customer services in the region. However, I noted that the organization is
faced with various customer-satisfaction issues which the management is undertaking to resolve.
During my placement, I worked in the food and beverages department under the supervision of
Mr. Hanish Gupta. Now I am writing this paper to critically analyze and reflect upon the
practicum in relation to relevant theories, concepts, models and current industry practice. I will
also evaluate the practicum experience in terms of personal development within the role in the
foods and beverages department. The report will as well provide an evaluation of the placement
experience in terms of industry practices observed plus a reflection upon the supervisor’s
feedback from the internship.
A Summary of My Experience in the Practicum
During my placement program at Stamford Plaza Auckland, I enjoyed my time working with Mr.
Hanish and other staff members in every organizational unit. I learnt a lot about setting goals,
professionalism, and ways of solving problems in various work-related situations. I believe this

MY PRACTICUM 3
internship has helped me enhance my confidence in the work I do and this will help me a lot in
my future work environment. The placement program was the first time I felt like I had a chance
to explore the hospitality industry. What is more, I established strong relationships with other
interns and permanent staff members in Stamford Plaza Hotel which enabled me to develop my
soft skills such as interpersonal, communication, and teamwork aptitudes. In the course of the
practicum, I also managed to successfully complete a research project whose main idea was to
explore different problems hampering the Company’s ability to achieve optimal customer
satisfaction. I learnt that hospitality industry as Umasuthan, & Park, (2018) states, is faced with
various management related challenges which every professional strives to solve in order to
satisfy various organizational goals and objectives. Using my soft skills and the knowledge I had
gained in class, I was able to comprehensively investigate various situations and propose
interventions or solutions that encompass many aspects of hospitality management. In a nutshell,
the experience I acquired from my practicum in Stamford Plaza has prepared me for a better
future in my professional career path.
Reflection upon the Feedback from the Practicum
Ali, & Al-Adawi, (2013) state that feedback from a practicum is of utmost significance for
students to develop their abilities and professional skills. Internship feedback is deemed as a
highly vital, influential and key component in assisting scholars learn to work, associate with
other people, and enhance their problem solving capabilities. After my placement in Stamford
Plaza, I had an opportunity to get both written and oral feedback from my mentors. This
feedback revolved around my overall code of conduct and ways of doing things during the
practicum period. I am glad to report that I received an effective feedback that I will certainly use
to improve my professionalism and performance in the future.