Benefits of Ongoing Professional Development in the Service Industry

This study highlights the importance of ongoing professional development and the benefits of self-directed learning in the service industry. It explores the key skills and competencies expected by employers and provides a development plan to enhance chosen skills. The study also includes a job interview for a suitable service industry role.

Unit 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P 1. The key benefits of ongoing professional development...........................................................
P 2. Investigation of professional employer expectations of skills and competencies....................
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................3
P 3. Assessment of own abilities, skills, and competences for a specific job role...........................
P 4. Reviewing a range of learning theories for personal and professional improvement
processes..........................................................................................................................................
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................6
P 5. Development plan to enhance chosen skills and competencies................................................
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................9
P 6. Job interview for a suitable service industry role.....................................................................
P 7. Key strengths and weaknesses of an applied interview process...............................................
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Professional development is a process of learning new things and develop various skills
professionally.
This study will highlight, the importance of professional development and the benefit of
self directed learning in order to enhance the career opportunities and professional development.
This study will also demonstrate and access to own skills with the help of various development
and learning approaches. Furthermore, it will also highlight professional development plan and
also demonstrates various range of service industry and skills needed for job application.
Marriott International is a diversified multinational hospitality company. It was
established in the year 1927 and was founded by J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott. It
manages its operations all across the globe by providing various luxury facilities and services to
the customers.
LO 1
P 1. The key benefits of ongoing professional development.
Professional development is a process of learning new things and develop various skills
professionally. It helps in developing various professional skills which leads to high career
growth and opportunities (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, and Gardner, 2017). On- going professional
development attracts attention of both employer and employee which helps in developing
professional skills in order to compete effectively in a multinational market. Continuous
professional development helps individual in meeting the capabilities with the current standard in
the particular field (Kooij, Tims and Kanfer, 2015). There are various benefits of On- going
professional development to different stakeholders of the company mainly includes:
Greater employability: The employees of the Marriott company are seeking for skilled,
professional and knowledgeable individuals which helps them in continuous development and
growth (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, and Gardner, 2017). On- going professional development
helps in increasing employment opportunities for the individual. The employees must possess
various skills such as communication, teamwork, self- management, technology, learning, etc.
Increased adaptability and flexibility: There is large number of competition in this rapid
changing dynamic world. On- going professional development helps owners of the company in
adapting to changing environment with ease.

Improved performance, competitiveness and productivity: On- going professional
development helps owners and managers in developing skills and gaining wider set of
knowledge (Kennedy, 2016). It also helps in developing trained, skilled and educated workers
who have the capability to perform the task with utmost accuracy efficiency (Importance of On-
Going Learning and Professional Development, 2015). Trained, skilled and educated workers
helps in increasing the profitability and competitive position of the Marriott company. The
owners and managers of the company should have various professional skills such as technical
and interpersonal skills, flexibility and adaptability, etc.
High chances of promotion and salary: On- going professional development helps
employer and employee in continuous advancement of knowledge and skills which results in
high salary and promotion (Kooij, Tims and Kanfer, 2015). The employees should possess
effective problem solving skills, good communication and team building capability, leadership
skills, organized, positive attitude, etc. for high chance of promotion (Korthagen, 2017).
P 2. Investigation of professional employer expectations of skills and competencies.
The hospitality industry has a complex and diverse structure which helps in developing
necessary skills in order to generate higher operational efficiency, performance and productivity
(Ritzhaupt and et.al., 2018). The employers of the Marriott company focuses on developing
necessary skills in order to give excellent customer service to the company in order to attain
higher professional standards and accuracy.
A good communication skill is very crucial to transmit the right and important
information from one person to another. Time management is very crucial as it helps in
performing all the activities on a timely manner without nay delay. Attention to detail and
innovative and creative skills helps in delivering the excellent customer experience which leads
to happy customers (Carpenter and Krutka, 2015). Delivering of high quality customer service
by examining the needs and wants of the individual helps in attaining higher operational
standards. Interpersonal skills mainly includes empathy, listening, patience, creative thinking,
tolerance in order to deliver the best possible results. An effective problem solving skills helps in
dealing various multiple problems and also helps in finding the best possible solution to the
problem. Commitment to the industry helps individual in performing the best possible services
which eventually results in higher growth prospects and also leads to higher operational
standards and efficiency (Kang, and Ritzhaupt, 2015). Multitasking capabilities helps individual

in performing various different task in a systematic manner which results in attainment of goals
and objectives (Voogt, and et.al., 2015).
In a particular job role of Hotel Manager where the employer of the Marriott company
has certain expectations of competency skills which mainly includes:
• Effective communication skills, interpersonal skills and team building capability.
• Higher flexibility and adaptability to change (Macià and García, 2016).
• Enthusiastic and have a positive attitude.
• Commitment to the industry.
• High quality customer service and understanding the need of customers.
• Cultural awareness and multitasking capabilities (Knobel and Kalman, 2016).
• Effective leadership and management skills.
• Capability to work under stressful situation.
• Orientation to detail and better operational knowledge.
• Financial and marketing skills.
• Customer handling and understanding.
• Time management and problem solving capability.
• Creative, innovative and attention to details.
• Knowledge about various laws, rules and regulations.

REFERENCES
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Sanghi, S., 2016. The handbook of competency mapping: understanding, designing and
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Online
Importance of On-Going Learning and Professional Development. 2015. [ONLINE]. Available
through:<http://www.lsda.org.uk/importance-of-on-going-learning-and-professional-
development.html>