Personal and Professional Development Contents

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Contents INTRODUCTION 3 MAIN BODY3 Professional Portfolio 3 Personal Skill Audit3 Personal SWOT Analysis 4 Professional Development Plan (PDP) 7 Examples of where one can look for relevant placements or job and also information about job 9 Professional CV 10 CONCLUSION 12 REFERENCES 13 INTRODUCTION The portfolio is a collection of different items and information which is generally organized in a notebook, file or in some similar format (Van Der Vleuten and et.al., 2018).

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
1

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Professional Portfolio.......................................................................................................................3
Personal Skill Audit.....................................................................................................................3
Personal SWOT Analysis............................................................................................................4
Professional Development Plan (PDP)........................................................................................7
Examples of where one can look for relevant placements or job and also information about job
......................................................................................................................................................9
Professional CV.........................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
The portfolio is a collection of different items and information which is generally
organized in a notebook, file or in some similar format (Van Der Vleuten and et.al., 2018). By
collecting such information, one can recognize abilities ad skills that he possesses in relationship
to the professional career. In the present report, professional portfolio is developed that includes
career development plan having details of potential skills and qualifications required for
progress. The report explains about changing career line from pizza maker and painter to the
manager in construction industry. The portfolio also includes examples of where one can look
for relevant placements and job related information. Further CV is presented in the report that
relates to the career ambitions in response with the advertised post in the construction industry.
MAIN BODY
Professional Portfolio
A professional portfolio is considered as an effective way for marketing the qualifications
to an employer regarding an internship or even a full-time employment that may follow
graduation (Perell, 2018). The portfolio includes the personal includes the Personal Development
Plan, Personal Skill audit and also details about Professional CV. The personal portfolio is
prepared for developing the skills, capabilities and knowledge which are required in the manager
in the construction industry.
Personal Skill Audit
An audit of personal skills, knowledge and capabilities needs to be done as it helps for
identifying the strengths and weakness and according to which personal development plan can be
prepared. The skill audit helps to identify the skills which needs to be developed for achieving
the professional targets and career change. The development plan can be used for minimizing the
gap between existing level of skills and desired level of skills for achieving the targeted goals
and objectives. I have tried to score my skill and capabilities level on the scale range of 0 to 5
(Rubens and et.al., 2018).
The skills that needs considerable improvement and are very poor are given score 1, the
skills that have average performance are given 2, skills which are above average are given 3, the
good performance skill are given the score of 5 and excellent performing skill are given the score
of 5.
Skills and knowledge Score Range
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(0 to 5)
Quick learner 4
Written communication skill 3
Verbal communication skill 5
People management skill 3
Multi-tasking capability 1
Time- management skill 2
Knowledge about policies and
procedure of business
5
Presentation skill 4
Problem solving skill 2
Team player 4
Leadership and motivation skill 2
Capability for bringing innovative
ideas
4
Risk management skill 2
Technical Knowledge 3
Effective negotiation skills 3
The outcomes of personal skill audit suggest that I have good command over the written and
verbal communication skills. I am quick learner and that is my greatest strength as I can quickly
learn new things (No, Tel and Prior, 2018). But I need to work on multi-tasking skill as this is
also an important skill required for effectively managing the business operations and activities. I
also possess good knowledge about the procedures and policies of business and I am even an
effective team player. But I lack in effectively solving the problems and also poor in managing
the time effectively. The personal skill audit also suggested that I have capability for bringing
new and creative ideas that can help me to achieve great things in my personal and professional
career. I have even scored great in people management skill according the audit of personal
skills, but, I scored less in motivational and leadership skill. I possess good knowledge and
understanding about technical elements and also have effective negotiation skill, but, I need to
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work on improving risk management skill. Thus, I need to focus on multi-tasking skill, problem-
solving skill, risk management, effective time- management skill and leadership skill.
Personal SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis is the strategic management tool which helps in identification of the
internal strengths and weaknesses and also help in the identification of external opportunities and
threats. This strategic tool is used for improving the performance level and achieve career goals
and objectives (Lauer and Cox, 2018). This self-assessment can be generally prepared at any
time. But, there are certain instances where this really benefits the person, such as:
Before going for an interview: SWOT analysis will guide person to focus on the strengths and
talk about these skills more. The SWOT analysis will also help and guide while preparing the
CV. If the person has the good idea and knowledge about the requirements of job beforehand, he
can accordingly modify the CV to match them in effective way.
While applying for the promotion: The SWOT analysis also helps the individuals for assessing
personal capabilities against or in comparison with other candidates. One having good
understanding about the strengths against the other competitive candidates makes him to focus
on them instead of focusing on the general strengths.
Before any career switch: This strategic tool also helps the individual for figuring out whether
own skills and capabilities effectively matches with the opportunities available in the new career
or whether the current skills are much suitable for the current job only. Here the SWOT analysis
is prepared for doing career switch from pizza chef to manager in the construction industry.
Strengths
 My biggest strength is that I am a quick
learner.
 I am good at verbal and written
communication skill.
 I possess good knowledge regarding the
business policies and procedure.
 I have the capability to bring innovative
and creative ideas.
 I am good at presentation skills
(Hanson, 2018).
Weaknesses
 I fails to manage my time effectively
thus; I lack required and effective time-
management skill.
 I also fails to manage different activities
and tasks at the same time and I do not
possess effective multi-tasking skill.
 I fails to manage for arriving to an
effective solution to problems therefore,
I lack effective problem solving skill.
 Motivation and leadership skills is also
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 I can effectively and systematically
manage people thus I possess effective
people management skill.
 I am a good and effective team player.
 I have great understanding and
knowledge about technical aspect
required in the construction industry.
 I possess good and effective negotiation
skill.
my one of the weakness (Kheir and
Wilbur, 2018).
 One of the weakness is that I am weak
in managing risks.
Opportunities
 There are great opportunities available
in the Construction industry and
organization in the intense competitive
markets.
 I can even have the opportunity for
working in international and global
construction companies.
 I can grow and develop my
professional career by getting promoted
by improving effective leadership and
motivational skill.
 With effective team player skill, I can
grab various opportunities available in
the new industry and organization.
 The effective technical knowledge will
bring further opportunities for me in the
future career in the construction
industry.
Threats
 There is increasing competition in the
workplace that may lead to downfall of
my career position.
 Work load or work –pressure may lead
to affect my creativity and innovative
ideas.
 Ineffective problem-solving skill also
affect the decision making effectiveness
which is an important aspect of the
business organization.
 Ineffective utilization of resources and
time due to the ineffective time-
management skill (Todd, 2019).
 Failure to effectively manage the risk
will lead me to face various challenges
and issues in the completion of business
operations.
Quick summary of the SWOT analysis: This is the method for looking at the current
situation by effectively identifying:
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Strength: or areas in which I have an advantage over other people, or have some unique
resources for exploiting.
Weakness: or areas in which I am weak as compared with others, or I have find that others can
do better than me (Conduct a Personal SWOT Analysis to Improve Your Career, 2018).
Opportunities: or possibilities that I can take effective benefit and advantage for achieving and
accomplishing the ambitions and goals.
Threats: or things which may prevent or restrict me from accomplishing my goals and
ambitions.
Professional Development Plan (PDP)
This is the process which helps in increasing and sustaining learning and development
practices. This also helps person to understand about the progression based on past experiences
and revising it in professional and systematic manner. Professional Development Plan can be
used for defining goals and objectives and also ways for achieving those. PDP helps individual
for understanding the areas that requires improvement and ways for improving those. It makes
use of past experience for making future plans and switching careers as well. Following is given
the description of my personal professional development plan that describes about various skills
and capabilities that needed to be developed.
Skills
needed
to
progress
Importance of the skill Resources and
actions required
for developing
skills
Ways for
measuring
success
Target date
for review
the progress
Time
manage
ment
skills
This skill is important
as it will help me to
manage different
business activities and
tasks in shorter time
and in effective way.
Prioritizing
activities, setting up
deadlines and
scheduling every
task will help me to
bring improvements
in the time-
management skill.
On-the-job training
and development
Feedback
from
colleagues
and
teammates
will guide me
about the
success and
progress in
the time-
3-4 months
will be
required for
developing
the skill and
review about
success.
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programs can also
help in improving
the time-
management skill.
management
skill.
Multi-
tasking
skill
I can effectively
manage more than one
task or activity at a time
and increase the
efficiency and
productivity.
Making a to-do list,
working on similar
tasks, delegating
task and planning
ahead will help me
for improving the
multi-tasking skill.
Taking up multiple
tasks or projects will
help in developing
the multi-tasking
skill.
Results and
outcomes of
the different
activities and
projects
undertaken at
a time.
6 months are
needed for
improving
this skill and
after that
review of
progress can
be done.
Effective
leadershi
p skill
Effective leadership
will allow me to bring
together diverse people
within team and make
them work towards
common goals (Dolan,
2018).
I need to focus on
empowering team
members, being a
discerning listener
and developing
situation awareness
in order to develop
effective leadership
skill. Part-time
leadership courses
or reading
leadership books can
be used for
developing this skill.
Formal and
informal
feedback and
appraisal will
guide me
about the
improvement
and success
about the
skill (Galán-
Mañas,
2019).
In order to
develop
leadership
skill at least
6- 8 months
are needed
and after that
success
review needs
to be done.
Problem- This will help me to Making use of mind Results and Problem-
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solving
skill
solve problem in
effective way and
overcome obstacles that
comes in way of
achievement of targeted
goals and objectives.
maps for visualizing
the problem can
help to solve it in
effective and
systematic way.
Reading to online
books, website and
journal can be used
as guide for
improving the
problem-solving
skill.
outcomes of
the task and
problems will
provide the
level of
progress in
the problem
solving skill.
solving skill
can be
developed
within 2
months and
after that
success
review needs
to be done.
Risk
manage
ment
skill
By developing the risk
management skill, I can
be more confident for
future decisions and
effectively manage the
risks.
Clarifying roles and
responsibility,
demanding
integrated
management system
and recognizing the
limitations on
various risk
assessment tools can
help in improving
the risk management
skill.
Feedback
from top
level
management,
on-site
managers and
colleagues
will guide me
about the
progress in
risk
management
skill.
The risk
management
skill can be
developed
within 2-3
months,
thus, after
that review
of success
needs to be
done.
Examples of where one can look for relevant placements or job and also information about job
People now-a-days have wide range of ways to look for relevant job and placements.
People also have various option from where they can look for job related information. Job
seekers are focused on being creative and also utilizing various new strategies in order to move
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their career forward in right direction. Following are given the different ways from which people
can look for relevant job placements.
Networking: This is generally done in both personal and online (Clarke and Boud, 2018). One
can look for relevant jobs by joining professional associations, focus on attending events that are
arranged for graduates and he may aim at connecting with the professionals who work in the
same field. LinkedIn is one of the online tool that allows people to network with various other
professionals and also learn about different job openings. Social networking sites such as Twitter
and Facebook also acts as the way for finding relevant job and job related information.
Referrals: This is the another way from where people can look for relevant placements.
Referrals comes from the candidates or people whom we know. This method is generally an
invitation for applying to a job position without actually looking or searching for the job (Lauer
and Cox, 2018).
Career websites and job boards: employment opportunities and job vacancies were posted on
the boards in traditional times, it is now changed into virtual format. I can also use job search
engines on internet as there are various career related websites which posts about job openings.
Such job related websites acts as similar way with the traditional want-ads, however, it has much
effective and quicker turnaround time and it also allows me for searching a larger number of
placements over a larger area.
Company websites: I can create a list of companies or employers that I like to work for within
the construction industry and I may also focus on visiting their official websites. This method
can also be used for collecting required job related information as well.
Job fairs: This method is typically targeted for the particular industries, though there are some
job fairs which are more generalized. The ads of such job or recruitment fair comes with a list of
business organization that will be present there (9 Different Ways to Find a New Job, 2019).
Cold calling: I can make use of the emails or telephone for contacting with people within the
organization by looking for their contact details from the company website or even by doing
enquiry on reception. I can contact different individuals within organization directly in order to
find out if there is any upcoming vacancy.
Head hunters or recruitment agencies: This method can also be used while looking for
relevant job placements. There are various number of business organization which hire, and
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recruit candidates through recruitment agencies as this helps for streamlining the long process of
locating and interview of candidates.
Professional CV
Professional CV
Job Objectives: To seek a job position as Construction Manager within your business
organization in which I can make effective and full utilization of my skills and competencies in
the business projects and tasks.
Skills
 Good Communication skill.
 Team player.
 Time keeper.
 Problem solving skill.
 Ability to work on my own.
 Effective Team Management skill.
 Good Leadership skill.
 Quality control management skill.
 Effective negotiation skills. Knowledge about key legislation and regulations.
Educational qualification
 GCSE or equivalent degree.
 Bachelor Degree in the Hotel Management. Currently student at University of business and computing London, Holborn.
Hobbies & Interest
 I enjoy team sports.
 I like to play football.
 I love swimming.
 I also like read books. I enjoy watching movies.
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Work Experience
 Painter and Decorator A&B - London April 2018 to Present.
 Painter and Decorator Cem Glaze ltd - London January 2017 to Present.
 Delivery Driver Amazon - London September 2016 to December 2016.
 Pizza Chef Fat Toni's - Gloucester October 2015 to June 2016.
 Pizza Chef La Locanda di Pio - Bagni di Lucca, Toscana June 2012 to September 2015.
 Pizza Chef Club Pane e Sibola - Altopascio, Toscana March 2009 to June 2012.
The CV is abbreviation for Curriculum Vitae which includes the detailed description
about the educational qualifications, skills and capabilities, experience from past or previous
jobs, hobbies and interests and job objectives. The prepared CV can be sent to potential
employer whom I wish to work for within the construction industry (Braidman, Regan and
Humphreys, 2018). my desired job role is to become in the construction industry. It can also be
sent to the company which has put advertisement in the newspaper or any print media. I may also
forward my CV to the recruitment agencies as they can refer me relevant job employer based on
my job qualifications and skills. The CV is forwarded or send to someone in order to get relevant
job or placement according to my personal skills, capabilities, knowledge and past experiences.
This will allow me to get the desired job role in the desired industry and organization.
CONCLUSION
Personal and professional development portfolio includes a career development plan that
describes about potential skills and qualifications which are needed to be developed and
improved. SWOT analysis and personal skill audit helps in identifying the personal strengths and
weakness which requires improvement. Such skills can be improved by taking various actions
and resources and feedback as well. There are examples given as well in the report that explains
about where one can look for relevant placements and find the job related data or information.
Further the report has prepared a detailed CV which relates with the career ambitions. The CV is
prepared in response with the existing advertised post.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Braidman, I., Regan, M. and Humphreys, J., 2018. 12 Personal and professional
developments. Wellbeing in Higher Education: Cultivating a Healthy Lifestyle Among Faculty
and Students.
Clarke, J.L. and Boud, D., 2018. Refocusing portfolio assessment: Curating for feedback and
portrayal. Innovations in Education and Teaching International. 55(4). pp.479-486.
Dolan, R., 2018. Convert Academic CV to 2-Page Document. FEMS microbiology
letters. 365(8). p.fny072.
Foucault, M.L. and et.al., 2018. Utilisation of an electronic portfolio to engage rehabilitation
professionals in continuing professional development: results of a provincial survey. Disability
and rehabilitation. 40(13). pp.1591-1599.
Galán-Mañas, A., 2019. Professional portfolio in translator training: professional competence
development and assessment. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer. 13(1). pp.44-63.
Hanson, A., 2018. Creating an Open Access Professional Portfolio.
Kheir, N. and Wilbur, K., 2018. Continuing Professional Development and Self-Learning for
Pharmacists. In Pharmacy Education in the Twenty First Century and Beyond (pp. 191-200).
Lauer, Z. and Cox, C., 2018. Importance of Portfolio Building for University
Students. Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and
Life Sciences. 19(1). pp.38-45.
No, C. C., Tel, C. R. L. and Prior, I. T., 2018. A. Personal Information.
Perell, K., 2018. The Execution Factor: The One Skill That Drives Succes. McGraw-Hill
Education.
Rubens, A. and et.al., 2018. Self-awareness and leadership: Developing an individual strategic
professional development plan in an MBA leadership course. The International Journal of
Management Education. 16(1). pp.1-13.
Todd, F., 2019. Planning continuing professional development. Routledge.
Van Der Vleuten, C.P. and et.al., 2018. The assessment of professional
competence. Developments, research and practical implications. 1996. p.1.
Online
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Conduct a Personal SWOT Analysis to Improve Your Career. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5543-personal-swot-analysis.html>
9 Different Ways to Find a New Job. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0711/9-different-ways-to-find-a-new-job.aspx>
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