Professional Development and Identity

This assignment delves into the significance of professional development for educators, examining its role in shaping professional identity and fostering career growth. It explores various aspects of professional development, including training programs, development plans, and interview processes. The document emphasizes the connection between assessing skills and competencies and achieving career advancement. Additionally, it provides insights into how professional identity influences teaching practices and highlights the benefits of ongoing learning for educators.

Professional identity
and practices

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task1................................................................................................................................................1
Continuous professional development for stakeholders and benefits .........................................1
Skills and competency desired by employer to perform job responsibility.................................2
Importance of continuous professional development..................................................................3
Task2................................................................................................................................................3
Assess skills, abilities and competencies for a particular role.....................................................3
Critical review of learning theory and approach in professional and personal improvement ...4
Task3 ...............................................................................................................................................5
Development plan........................................................................................................................5
Task4................................................................................................................................................7
Job interview for Thomas cook group ........................................................................................7
Strength and weakness of interview process...............................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity means a person who possess special identity and also have different
beliefs, attributes, object, experience and values that attract the person in order to achieve
organisation's goals. Professional refers a person who works independently by using own skills
and knowledge and increase the production of the organisation. Every organisation hires
professional person who is able to understand the changes and can accept the challenges in order
to gain profitability (Bainbridge, 2016). To understand the value of professional identity Thomas
cook group has been selected that is UK based company providing travel and tour packages to
customers and also provides attractive services that influence clients and new comers. The main
aim of this report is to understand the needs of professional person in organisation and how they
help to make effective business plan. This report discuses about on going professional
development, benefits and importance of professional development, skills and competencies that
person possess. Moreover report will state development plan that is used to growth of business.
Task1
Continuous professional development for stakeholders and benefits
Overview about organisation: Thomas cook group is international travelling
organisation which was established in June 19 in 2007 by the Thomas group. This is well
popular travel and tourism industry that runs tour services and airline services in UK. It is listed
on London stock exchange that makes different from other companies. The manager of Thomas
cook group are highly qualified and experiences who provides attractive services to its customers
and make feel them good. It finds customer demand and fill their expectation by giving travelling
and tourism services. On the other side, it provides fresh meal and dinner services and also
provide staying services that increases customers loyalty (Barbour and Lammers, 2015).
Benefits from ongoing professional development
On going professional development is the process of learning new things at work place
and be able to solve the organisation's as well as other problems. Additionally, continuous
development is the procedure of enhancing skills and knowledge due to work at workplace. It
has number of key benefits that is described below-
It helps to increase efficiency: Professional development not only improve efficiency of
employees, but also it increase the efficiency level of staff. Such as staff of Thomas cook group
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increase their work efficiency through training and development programme that gives an
opportunity to learn new thing and apply in organisation which helps to increase productivity.
Provide more energy to staff: Ongoing learning process help Thomas cook group's staff
to turn the process of monotony or work repetition at work place and reenergizes to employees
for creating new work and environment that increases number of growth opportunities.
Moreover, through periodic development employees of Thomas group can increase skills and
perspectives that leads greater opportunity and reenergizes to staff who are working in
organisation (Key benefits of ongoing professional development 2019).
Build confidence level: By providing professional training employees feels more
confident and increase creditability. Such as manager and staff of Thomas cook group does not
feel that they are missing most important skills in order to performing job. Additionally,
continuous development build confidence level that helps to respond quickly and make correct
decision.
Helpful to take risk: Manager of Thomas cook group helps to growth of business by
taking risk. Such as continuous development build confidence and helps to take risk in order to
expand the business in order to increase profitability.
Helpful to make successful planning: As professional learning is great tool that is used
to make successful business planning. The manager of Thomas cook group provides training to
its staff that make further business planning that helps to enhancing business activities.
Skills and competency desired by employer to perform job responsibility
The main purpose of any organisation is to expand the business and increase profitability.
For doing such manager need to hire highly experienced and skilled person who are able to solve
problems and can increase productivity by using own skills. Such as Thomas group focuses on
employee's training that helps to increase number of customer (Brat and et.al., 2016). It hires
skilled and competent person who provides different services such as room service, room
cleaning, amenities, food services etc. The employer of Thomas cook has expectation from
employees to perform such job role-
Willing to learn: This means the employer of any organisation and Thomas cook group
wants that employees should have skills to learn new things training and development
programme. This skills helps to increase the confidence level of Thomas group's staff and
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enhance productivity. Thus, manager provides training to staff that help to take better business
decisions.
Capable to solve problems: Every employer desires that employees should be capable to
solve the problems and can take effective decision in changing business environment. The
manager of Thomas cook group wants that employees should be enough capable who can solve
incurred business problems and can make effective business decision that help to run business
continuously (Grubenmann and Meckel, 2017).
Positive and good behaviour: As good behaviour of staff and employer influence the
customer and emphasis to obtain services in further that leads to productivity and profitability.
This is most important skills that every employer expected in order to respond properly. Such as
Thomas cook group hire those employees who has positive attitude and good behaviour. The
staff provides good services to customer such as proper communication, quickly and sweetly
respond and do as customer wants, that helps to expand the business activities.
Importance of continuous professional development
Ongoing professional development is very important in all industries because it helps to
provide solution of organisation problems. If employees are not enough qualified and skilled
then they can not make effective business decision by solving problems. Moreover, learning
process gives opportunities to learn new things and adopt in business that increase business
activities. Such as employees of Thomas cook group gets training and solve customer's problems
that leads to sustainable organisation. Moreover, it is important to accept the challenge and
changes through ongoing development in order to growth of business (Keyko and et.al., 2016).
Task2
Assess skills, abilities and competencies for a particular role
It is essential for every one to know own skills and competencies that is used to solve the
business issues and increase learning capacity. Skills refers qualities or attributes that should
have in a person to complete the task. Skills are demanded to accomplish an acceptable level of
performance through learning new things. Competency shows that is employees are capable to
complete the task in a certain period. Moreover, it reveals that what makes a capable in order to
achieve targets. Such as employees and manager of Thomas cooks group analysis own skills and
competency through communicating the problems and get effective solution of problems. For
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instance, there is need to hire marketing manager who have marketing degrees and experience to
perform job role (Oliver, D.A.V.I.D., 2015). The applicant who have applied for this vacancy
first need to assess own skills and competency which is required to fill particular job role. As
Thomas cook group want its marketing manager will helps to increase the number of traveller
and tourists through advertising and other marketing process. After assess own skills employees
applied for job and shows own capabilities in order to increase the productivity. The manager of
Thomas cook group also need to assess the skills or qualities of applied person through giving a
situation and task. If applicant solved the situation by using qualities that means able to accept
the challenges (Tarvydas and Hartley, eds., 2017).
Skill audit is a tool which is used by employer and employee in order to assess the
qualities and attributes. Moreover, it is used to define the skill gaps in an enterprise. It helps to
assures where training is required to perform the specific job roles. The manager of Thomas cook
group can use this tool in order to assess the skills and competency while working in
organisation. It can be assess by using this table-:
No. Skills and competency which is
required in organisation
Scores Scores from other
people
1. Communication skills (listening
and speaking )
8 9
2. Able to make successful plan,
organise and give prioritise job
7 7
3. Competent to attract the customers
and tourists
8 6
4. Problem solving skills and taking
corrective decision.
8 8
5. Interpersonal skills 7 9
Critical review of learning theory and approach in professional and personal improvement
Thomas cook group apply number of learning theories and approaches that help to get
new things and solve the problems. By application of learning theory staff who are working in
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industry can increase the productivity and profitability. It involves range of theories and
approaches such as-
Behaviourism: It involves new behaviour and changes in behaviour that responds
speedily. It believes that knowledge exists independently and outside of person. It also believes
that learning comes when new behaviours and changes are obtained by an organisation among
stimuli and responses. Such as Thomas cook group is planning to bring new technology that will
helps to attract the customer. For adopting new technology how employees responds that
consider in behaviour approach. Moreover, it helps to respond quickly by accepting the
challenges (Teunissen, 2015).
Cognitive: This theory is based on thought process behind behaviour. It helps to learn
and receive instead of responding and stimuli. Under this theory manager observed that what is
going on in learner's mind. In Thomas cook group employees can use this learning theory and get
information what is going on manager's mind. Basically this theory help to read the learner's
mind and learn new thing from reading the mind.
Social learning: This approach is used by most of the organisation that states employees
learns new skills and experience by observing the people. Such as staff of Thomas cook group
observes the manager, and learn how they cope op with critical situation and applied to make
effective business decision.
From the above mentioned learning theories it has been analysed that it is important
because it helps to learn new thing and solve the problems which is arising in business
organisation. The Thomas cook group adopts behaviourism and social learning approach that
helps to get new skills by observing other people and their behaviour. Moreover, employees get
guidance how they react in critical situation in order to accept new technology (Walther, Miller
and Sochacka, 2017).
Task3
Development plan
Development plan is the process of growing the business by solving problems and
expanding the business activities at market place. It is prepared by the managers of the
organisation in order to achieve the goals and objectives. This planning are useful to guide and
promote development the business in a particular area. Moreover, development plan is the tool
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that is used to solve the conflicts by using skills and competencies. The manager of Thomas cook
group provides training and development programme to its employees that help to reduce the
conflicts by using advanced knowledge and skills. Thomas cook group prepare a development
structure that help to solve problems though using skills-
Skills Measurable Activities need to
be undertaken
Resources Attainable
goals
Time period
Willing
to learn
It can be
measure
with past
performance
of
organisation
that specify
needs of
training.
The manager of
Thomas cook
group should
provide training to
employees who
wanted to learn
new things and
will help to solve
the conflicts
among staff by
getting training.
Organisation
have enough
skilled and
experienced
person who can
helps to make
understand how
to solve the
conflicts and
teach new
things .
By providing
training
employees can
take effective
business
decision that
will help to
expand the
business
functions.
Moreover, it
helps to
increase the
knowledge and
skills of staff.
2 Month
Capable
to solve
problems
The
manager
measure the
problems
and identify
the reasons.
The organisation
need to make
planning by
concerning with all
staff that helps to
solve problems
which is arising in
business functions.
For this there is
As employer
has high skills
and competency
to solve the
business
problems. It
should provide
guidance to
employee how
The manager
need to record
the
performance of
employees that
how they tackle
the critical
situation that
leads to solve
7 days
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also need to have
proper
communication
among employer
and employees.
to solve the
problems.
the problems.
Positive
and good
behaviou
r
Good
behaviour
will help to
retain the
employees
for long
period of
time.
This is required
skills that helps to
increase the
number of
customer through
positive behaviour.
Need to provide
enough training
and make
improvements
in behaviours.
Daily basis
Task4
Job interview for Thomas cook group
As I applied for job in Thomas cook group I noticed that I have enough skills and
competency to perform this job role. In interview process manager has asked me number of
question which relates to job profile and experience. The manager and other interviewer
impressed with my advanced knowledge and skills (Weiner and Torres, 2016). I have also
noticed that my internship part helped me a lot to provide this opportunity out of number of
candidates. I think that a person should have ample of knowledge and experience regarding job
profile for which person I going to applied. As I got information about vacancy in Thomas group
I started to prepare interview process and got knowledge about job responsibility that helped me
to provide this job. By giving proper answer I selected as marketing manager profile and got
appreciation for my skills and knowledge.
Strength and weakness of interview process
During interview process I analysed my strength and weakness such as-
Strength: Interview helped to increase the skills and knowledges that is useful in every
field. It also showed that how smartly I answered all question and impressed interviewer from
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my knowledge. Thus, interview process gave a valuable experience for lifetime. I also observed
that my training part helped me to crack the interview easily (Woo, Storlie and Baltrinic, 2016).
Weakness: I also noticed my weakness such as lack of general knowledge and weakness
in maths that may be a reason of loosing this opportunity. In starting I got panic but my
knowledge helped me to give proper answer.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that professional development is very
important at every place because it make sure to continue and competent to complete the task.
Professional development helps to enhance the knowledge and skills in order to expand the
business activities. Additionally, report has covered learning theory that helps to get training and
development education. This report also covered development plan and interview process that
help to provide good opportunity for career growth by assessing own skills and cometency.
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REFERENCE
Books and Journal
Bainbridge, A., 2016. On Becoming an Education Professional: A Psychosocial Exploration of
Developing an Education Professional Practice. Springer.
Barbour, J. B. and Lammers, J. C., 2015. Measuring professional identity: A review of the
literature and a multilevel confirmatory factor analysis of professional identity
constructs. Journal of Professions and Organization. 2(1). pp.38-60.
Brat, M., and et.al., 2016. Promoting professional counselor advocacy through professional
identity development efforts in counselor education. Journal of Counselor Leadership
and Advocacy. 3(1). pp.62-70.
Grubenmann, S. and Meckel, M., 2017. Journalists’ Professional Identity: A resource to cope
with change in the industry?. Journalism Studies. 18(6). pp.732-748.
Keyko, K., and et.al., 2016. Work engagement in professional nursing practice: A systematic
review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 61. pp.142-164.
Oliver, D. A. V. I. D., 2015. Identity work as a strategic practice. Cambridge handbook of
strategy as practice. 2. pp.331-344.
Tarvydas, V. M. and Hartley, M. T. eds., 2017. The professional practice of rehabilitation
counseling. Springer Publishing Company.
Teunissen, P. W., 2015. Experience, trajectories, and reifications: an emerging framework of
practice-based learning in healthcare workplaces. Advances in Health Sciences
Education. 20(4). pp.843-856.
Walther, J., Miller, S. E. and Sochacka, N. W., 2017. A model of empathy in engineering as a
core skill, practice orientation, and professional way of being. Journal of Engineering
Education. 106(1). pp.123-148.
Weiner, J. M. and Torres, A. C., 2016. Different location or different map? Investigating charter
school teachers' professional identities. Teaching and Teacher Education. 53. pp.75-86.
Woo, H., Storlie, C. A. and Baltrinic, E. R., 2016. Perceptions of professional identity
development from counselor educators in leadership positions. Counselor Education
and Supervision. 55(4). pp.278-293.
Online
Key benefits of ongoing professional development. 2019. [Online].
<https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/resources/pdc/5-benefits-of-professional-development/>
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