Professional Identity & Practice : Assignment

PROFESSIONAL
IDENTITY AND
PRACTICE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Key benefits of ongoing professional development for various stakeholders in an
organisation.................................................................................................................................1
P2 Professional employer expectation of competence and skills in organisational context.......3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P3 Assesses own skills, abilities and competences for a specific job role..................................4
P4 Define a range of learning theories and approaches used for professional and personal
development process...................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P5 Produce a development plan to increase chosen skills and competences in work context ...6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
P6 Prepare a job interview process for a suitable service industry role......................................7
P7 Key strengths and weaknesses of an applied interview process .........................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity of individuals depends upon the value, motive and beliefs that are
experienced by them at workplace in day to day life. Professional identity of a person varies
according to the changing conditions and situations. These practices impacts the cognitive,
personal and social factors associated with an individual (Avalos, 2011). This assignment is
based on Whitbread hotel which is a Britain based multinational hotel which is headquartered in
Bedfordshire, UK. It was founded in 1742 and its Largest division is Premiere Inn which is
successfully operating at more than 780 locations. This report will cover Key benefits related
with ongoing professional development along with skill expectations of employers from
employees. Beside this, own abilities, skills and competences are assessed for a job role. Range
of learning theories are mentioned for professional and personal development. Also, a
development plan is prepared to increase competence and skills along with a job interview
process for suitable role.
TASK 1
P1 Key benefits of ongoing professional development for various stakeholders in an organisation
Whitbread plc is a UK based multinational restaurant and hotel organisation which is
headquartered in Bedfordshire, England. This organisation was founded in 1742 by Samuel
Whitbread. Biggest division of the hotel is Premier Inn which is a large hotel brand in UK.
Beside this, other divisions of hotel are Table Table, Beefeater and Brewers Fayre. According to
the reports of 2018, company is employing around 50,000 employees and successfully operating
in UK, Russia, Europe, India, China, Dubai and Ireland. Due to their standardised facilities,
company has sustained a strong position in marketplace and earns high revenues (Campbell and
Groundwater-Smith, 2013).
Ongoing professional development is essential for a company to ensure that better
products, processes and services are offered to their customers. To attain high growth, businesses
associated with hospitality industry needed to develop themselves according to the needs and
demands of customers. In respect with Whitbread plc, major stakeholders are the employers and
employees of company. Benefits of these ongoing professional development for employees and
employers of Whitbread Plc are discussed below:
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Employers
In context with Whitbread Plc, major employers of hotel are their board members, senior
officials, managers and CEO. Management and employees associated with hotel are managed by
these people only. Below are mentioned different merits that are attained by employers in
Whitbread Plc due to ongoing professional development:
 Ongoing professional development will benefits the employers in Whitbread hotel in
achieving skilled workforce and increasing the engagement of employees within
organisation. As Ongoing professional practices will benefits in giving guidance,
developing and training to employees due to which organisational productivity will
enhance and workforce will be able to perform efficiently. Ongoing professional development allows the managers in increasing reputation and
brand image of Whitbread Plc in market because of increased skills and knowledge of
employees while serving their customers (Goldie, 2012).
Employees
Employees in an organisation are considered as a major asset because success of a
business depends upon their performance. Ongoing Professional development of workforce will
allow them in serving customers more efficiently due to which high revenues and profits can be
earned.
Some benefits in this context are listed below:
 Due to development of new skills and competences, future career opportunities of
employees increases. This will benefits the workforce in providing additional value to
their CV's.
 These developmental practices will benefits the workforce in Whitbread organisation to
perform their job roles with full efficiency. This will enhance their intrinsic motivation
due to which they will add more value in their professionalism.
Benefits of ongoing professional development in increasing career aspects
On-going development of professionalism has different benefits for a person in
enhancing career aspects. It will benefits an organisation and its employees in gaining
competitive advantage over competitors. Beside this, Workforce in Whitbread will be able to
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serve customers in a proper manner due to which sales and revenues of hotel will increase
considerably. Professional development will increases the confidence in employees so that they
will perform well even in challenging and difficult situations (zadinia, 2013). This will benefits
both employers and employees in developing at both personal and professional level.
P2 Professional employer expectation of competence and skills in organisational context
Employers in Whitbread plc posses some expectations from their employees so that targets
and objectives of an organisation can be achieved properly. In this context, there are two kind of
skills which must be incorporated by the employees in hotel. These are soft and hard skills which
are discussed below for the role of general manager in Whitbread Plc:
Soft Skills: These are the subjective skills which are difficult to quantify. These skills are
related with the manner in which a person interacts with another person. These are also known as
interpersonal skills. Communication: It is an essential skills that employees in Whitbread hotel must posses
so that they can efficiently interact with employers and customer base. Appropriate
communication skill will allow general manager of hotel to acknowledge the issues faced
by workforce and customers in a proper manner.
 High confidence: The employers in Whitbread Plc expects high enthusiasm and
confidence from their workforce so that challenging work can be performed in an
efficient manner. Beside this, high confidence will benefits the employees in professional
and personal development due to which their working potential will increase
considerably (Kumari, 2011).
Hard skills: These skills are very easy to quantify and relates with the basics of financial
and accounting modelling. In context with Whitbread, hard skill expected by employer is
mentioned below:
 Use of technology: It is an important skills which is expected by the employers in
Whitbread from their employees. These skills will benefit general manager in performing
complex task in a timely and simplified manner due to which organisational productivity
will rise.
 Customer service: This is another basic skill which is demanded by employers from
their workforce. If general manager of Whitbread plc will not be capable to serve
customers properly, then image of company will degrade and so their profit margins.
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There are some competences which are expected by the managers and management of
Whitbread hotel for the role of general manager. Some of these competences are listed below: Maintaining professional standards: Manager in a hotel expects their general manager
to perform work in a professional manner, respecting cultural and financial differences,
helping colleagues, wearing neat and clean uniform, satisfying needs of guests on time
etc. This will allow company to gain competitive advantage against competitors.
 commercial Awareness: Employers in hotel expects their general manager to have
awareness about changing trends and needs of consumers. Also, employees in hotel
require information of organisational plans, ethics and policies so that business operations
can be performed desirably (Thornton, 2013).
TASK 2
P3 Assesses own skills, abilities and competences for a specific job role
As per the situation, on the position of general manager in Whitbread plc, it is vital for me
to identify my abilities, competencies and skills. This will allow me to perform my work duties
desirably. In this context, a skill audit is performed below:
Basis Target proficiency Existing proficiency GAP
Skills
Communication 10 9 1
High confidence 10 7 3
Use of technology 10 6 4
Customer service 10 9 1
Abilities
Team work 10 7 3
Research and analysis 10 9 1
Competencies
Maintaining
professional standard
10 8 2
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Commercial awareness 10 7 3
Personal skill audit will helps me in acknowledging my competnecies, skills and abilities
so that requied improvement can be carried out. According to this audit, my strengths are
communication, high confidence, cusotmer service, research and analysis, mainitiang
professional standard whereas I need to carry out improvements in use of technlogy, team work,
commercial awaneness etc. So that duties and role of general manager can be performed in a
proper way.
Critical evaluation of own skills and competences to meet employer needs
Below are metioned critical evalaution of skills and competences which are possessed by
me for the role of general manager in Whitbread:
 Communication: In this skill, I will rate myslef 9 out of 10 due to my capabiltiy to
interact and communicate with people in a proper manner.
 High confidence: In this aspect, I will give myslef 7 out of 10 as I am not able to
perform challangeing task without getting nervous.
 Use of technology: For this skill, I deserve 6 out of 10 as I lack is using and implemting
technology while performing business activities and operations.
 Cusotmer service: In this context, i will rate myself 9 out of 10 due to my abiltiy to cater
the needs of customers in a desired manner.
 Maintaining professional standard: For this aspect, I can rate myslef 8 out of 10
numbers as I work as a professional personal but sometimes I lack some aspects which I
need to improve.
 Commercial awareness: In this aspect, I will give myself 7 out of 10 numbers due to my
lackness in updating about modern trends and needs of people in a timely manner.
P4 Define a range of learning theories and approaches used for professional and personal
development process
There are various learning theories and approaches which can be adopted by a company
to achieve professional and personal development with organisation. In case of professional
practices, these theories and approaches are mentioned beneath:
Learning theories:
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Kolb’s Learning Cycle: This learning cycle theory is associated with four levels or stages
of learning. In this cycle, first stage is concerned with encountering new experiences. In second
stage, learner observe experience and situations in a proper manner so that inconsistencies can be
identified (Williams, 2014). In next step, new ideas are created or existing ideas are modified and
in forth stage, these ideas and concepts are implemented in a proper manner so that Whitbread
plc will acquire high revenue and growth.
VARK Learning Style: According to this theory, there are various ways through which
learning styles in an organisation can be categorised. This theory is dependent on four aspects
which are visual, audio, reading/writing and kinetics learning. It is the most efficient learning
style by which abilities and skills of workforce in Whitbread can be improved in a proper
manner. This will allow organisation in achieving high revenues and profits.
Learning approach
Behavioural approach: According to this approach, personality and knowledge traits in a
person are inborn. Behaviour approach states that attitude and behaviour of an individual is
dependent upon a specific learning pattern. It revolves around that fact that to improve attitude
and behaviour of workforce in Whitbread plc, they must repeat the tasks until they became
perfect in it. Beside this, employees are required to consider feedback of their senior in a sincere
manner to achieve improvements.
Cognitive approach- As per this approach, personality of an individual is emphasized
due to learning. It involves reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy and observational learnings that
can boost up the morale of a person in a considerable manner. This theory will help the manager
in Whitbread Plc in altering or modifying the employee behaviour by providing them training
and development sessions (Crigger and Godfrey, 2014).
TASK 3
P5 Produce a development plan to increase chosen skills and competences in work context
Current Skills and
Competencies
required in
personal and
professional plan
Goals for
Personal /
Professional
Development
Ways to Improve
these skills and
competencies
Evaluating the
effectiveness of personal
development plan
3 months By taking guidance Effectualness of
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High confidence from different
magazines, books and
journals so that
information about
various techniques and
concepts can be
improved further.
development plan can be
evaluated by providing
different solutions for the
problems that are faced by
employees and customers.
Maintaining
professional
standard
6 months To improve
professional standards,
a person is required to
have clarity in its
speech, acting with
etiquettes,
accomplishing with
efficiently and timely
manner. Following
norms and policies of
hotel and wearing
proper uniform during
working hours.
By completing assigned
work in a timely manner.
Other than it, professional
standards are evaluated by
satisfying demands of
customers as per their
requirements.
Use of technology
12 months By starting training
sessions and joining
classes where individual
will be taught about the
ways to use digital
technology.
By Performing
organisational work on
machines and computer
rather than performing
work in a manual way.
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TASK 4
P6 Prepare a job interview process for a suitable service industry role
Job interview process: Job process is a multi stage process that is required to recruit
new workforce in a company. It involves various stages and steps like posting information
regarding job vacancy, written about job description, interview scheduling, conduction of
preliminary interview etc. There are different stages associated with interview process in
Whitbread hotel are mentioned below:
Stage 1: Under this stage, interviewer decided to communicate with the interviews for a
short time period. After that, the employer inform about company and roles and responsibilities
related with the job position vacated by Whitbread (Kumar, and Hamer, 2013).
Stage 2: This stage consumes more time as under this stage the interviews ask questions
related with the vacant job position and decide whether an applicant is qualified to get job or not.
Stage 3: Under this stage, employer gives an opportunity to candidates to ask any
questions relevant to their job position along with the skills and knowledge so as to get an
attention of the employer.
Stage 4: This is the last stage in interview process under which the interviewers decided
whether to ask further questions to the candidates or not.
Interview question
 Why are you interested in our company?
 How would you describe your leadership style?
 Tell us your experience with managing contracts and budgets.
 Did you ever coach someone? How would you describe the changes in that person?.
 How would you tell a team member that he/she was under-performing?
By answering these questions, company can select desired candidate that can contribute
in high success and growth of company.
JOB SPECIFICATION
Organisation: Whitbread hotel
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Division: Human Resource department
Job Title: Hotel supervisor
Job Location: Birmingham, Bedfordshire, UK
Working conditions : 8 Hours
Job Summary: Whitbread hotel operates their business operation in global context and require
a general manager. Candidates which are applying for vacancy must be able of formulating
plan and strategies so that hotel can be supervised and customers can be served in a proper
manner. Also, general manager of hotel will be required to visit oversees for business purpose.
Role
 Require to convince investors to invest in hotel.
 Research and developmental operations for hotel to gather opportunities
 Carrying out improvement and modification in lacking areas.
 Appropriate interaction with employees and customers to supervise needed
requirements.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Curriculum Vitae
Name: Rahul Badsra
Address : 69th street, Birmingham, UK
Phone No. - 7663010564
Profile summary: I have graduated in international business and have experiences of working
as assistant manager in Holiday Inn for one year. I wish to work for a company where I can
develop my skills and competences both at professional and personal level so that I can have
high career opportunities in future.
Specialisation:
 Effective communication skills
 Creative thinking
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 Commercial awareness
Educational qualification:
 BBA in marketing MBA in International Business.
Date : 12th June, 2019
Place : Birmingham, UK
Evaluating job interview processes of Holiday Inn
Job interview process which is followed in Whitbread plc is effective but questions that
are asked form the candidates are confusing. Employers were less satisfied and happy with the
response of candidates due to lack of clarity in answers. In second stage when questions related
with job position were asked interviewers give more preference to experience, background and
hobbies due to which candidates feel confused and unable to showcase their skills properly
(Trede, Macklin and Bridges, 2012). No proper schedule was prepared for interview due to
which candidate face lack of time while giving interview.
P7 Key strengths and weaknesses of an applied interview process
Strength of job interview process in Whitbread Plc
Selection procedure related with the post of general manager is easy and the employers of
company are taken interview without any partiality and in accordance with time. Simple
questions are asked from respondents that denoted their working capability and potential. People
applied for job have not waited for a long time and feedback concerning their performance is
given very early i.e. within three days. In selection rounds, simple questions were asked related
with background, experience and knowledge of candidates so that deserving candidate can be
selected (Cole, 2013).
Weaknesses of the job interview in Holiday inn
While carrying out interview process, questions that are asked from people were based on
conditions and answers related with them vary according to the perception of individuals. Due to
which skills of candidate are acknowledged according to the perception of interviewee. This is
the reason, sometime conflicts takes place while hiring the deserving candidate (Hsieh, 2015).
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CONCLUSION
From above mentioned report, it has been concluded that professional development will
benefits in giving different kinds of advantages to employers and employees of a company. This
will allows to improve the working potential and capabilities of companies so that targets and
aims can be accomplished desirably. Employers of a company have some expectation from their
staff and these expectation benefits company in gaining advantage over rivals. PDP helps in
enhancing skills and capabilities of people. With the help of job interview, suitable candidate for
vacancy can be selected.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Avalos, B., 2011. Teacher professional development in Teaching and Teacher Education over
ten years.Teaching and teacher education. 27(1). pp.10-20.
Campbell, A. and Groundwater-Smith, S. eds., 2013. Connecting inquiry and professional
learning in education: International perspectives and practical solutions. Routledge.
Cole, M., 2013. Professional Values and Practices for Teachers and Student: Meeting the QTS
Standards. Routledge.
Crigger, N. and Godfrey, N., 2014. From the inside out: A new approach to teaching professional
identity formation and professional ethics. Journal of Professional Nursing. 30(5).
pp.376-382.
Cruess, R. L., Cruess, S. R. and Steinert, Y. eds., 2016. Teaching medical professionalism:
supporting the development of a professional identity. Cambridge University Press.
Goldie, J., 2012. The formation of professional identity in medical students: considerations for
educators. Medical teacher. 34(9). pp.e641-e648.I
Hsieh, B., 2015. The importance of orientation: Implications of professional identity on
classroom practice and for professional learning. Teachers and Teaching. 21(2). pp.178-
190.
Kumar, R. and Hamer, L., 2013. Preservice teachers’ attitudes and beliefs toward student
diversity and proposed instructional practices: A sequential design study. Journal of
Teacher Education. 64(2). pp.162-177.
Kumari, N., 2011. Personal therapy as a mandatory requirement for counselling psychologists in
training: A qualitative study of the impact of therapy on trainees’ personal and
professional development.Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 24(3). pp.211-232.
Thornton, A., 2013. Artist, researcher, teacher: A study of professional identity in art and
education. Intellect Books.
Trede, F., Macklin, R. and Bridges, D., 2012. Professional identity development: a review of the
higher education literature. Studies in Higher Education. 37(3). pp.365-384.
Williams, J., 2014. Teacher educator professional learning in the third space: Implications for
identity and practice. Journal of Teacher Education. 65(4). pp.315-326.
zadinia, M., 2013. A review of research on student teachers' professional identity. British
Educational Research Journal. 39(4). pp.694-713.
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