Professional Identity and Practice: Benefits and Importance of Ongoing Professional Development

This document discusses the key benefits and importance of ongoing professional development in maintaining professional identity and practices. It explores the expectations of employers and provides an evaluation of own skills and competencies. The document also covers learning theories and approaches, and provides guidance on creating a professional development plan. Additionally, it offers insights into planning and undertaking a job interview for a bar manager position.

Unit 3: Professional
Identity and Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
LO1.............................................................................................................................................................3
An evaluation of the key benefits & importance of on-going professional development.........................3
Investigation of Professional Employer Expectations of Skills & Competencies....................................5
LO2.............................................................................................................................................................6
Critically evaluation of own skills & competencies................................................................................6
Range of Learning Theories & Approaches.............................................................................................9
LO3...........................................................................................................................................................10
Professional development plan to enhance chosen skills & competences.............................................10
LO4...........................................................................................................................................................12
Plan and undertake a job interview for Bar manager of Waldorf Hilton hotel.......................................12
Reflection on job interview process.......................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
In this modem generation, it is necessary for everyone to maintain their professional identify
& practices. Basically professional identity and its practices considered as a procedure and
techniques which can useful to evolve the skills and enhance the knowledge of the individual so
that they can obtain their goals effectively (Akman and Turhan, 2018). Professional identity e is
mandatory because it can help full to maintain the standard of living of the people so that they
can appropriately make their career bright & maintain long term career development goals. The
main concern of this project is to create appropriate understanding about different dimensions
related to the professional identity & also consider all the practices which are helpful in
development of people. For this project, Waldorf Hilton hotel is considered which is established
in London, UK & this 4 star hotel providing various wide range of services to their potential
customers and all the services delivered by their high potential and skilled employees. This
project will discuss about various facts related to the professional development & also self
directed learning, this report also so determined soft and hard skills and competencies. Moreover,
many range of theories & approaches & also strength & weaknesses about interview process also
discuss in this project.
LO1
An evaluation of the key benefits & importance of on-going professional development
In this competitive world, it is mandatory for each and every individual to pay more on their
ongoing process of professional development. With the help of appropriate practices of
professional development, individual can effectively gain more opportunities & experience
which can help full to improve their core competencies and knowledge. This practice contain as
the learning methodology that can helpful to boost the confidence level of the individuals so that
they can achieve all their goals in an appropriate manner (Bates and Morgan, 2018). In context
of hospitality and service industry, professional development is inevitable for the firm because
they are taking requisite steps to improve the professional development of their staff members
which can create disconnect identity of their organization so that they can effectively take more
competitive advantages as compared to their rivals. In term of Waldorf Hilton hotel, it

incorporated with various stakeholders that provide various benefits for the execution of
professional development activities and programs for the growth of their employees. The key
benefits related to the professional development in context of Waldorf Hilton are given below -
Benefits to Employer
As per all the practices of professional development process it is identified that employer
are directly involved with this. There are numerous benefits which determined by the employer
in contexts of Waldorf Hilton are explained below -
 Skilled & potential workforce - To attain more success, employees of the firm are
playing an essential role. As per the service industry, high skilled employees are liable to
maintain good relationship with the employer so that they can fulfill all the requirements
of them. Efficient workforce is helpful to achieve each and every day today goal of the
business & it can helpful to deal with the customers & clients (Desimone and Pak, 2017).
 Competition edge through human resource - Now human resource considered as the
main part of the firm which can help full to maintain all the operation and complexities in
an appropriate way. As per the Waldorf Hilton, professional development practices is
helpful to maintain the competitive edge and improve the working of employees which
can help full to create the specific identity of the firm at the whole market place.
 Employee involvement through growth opportunities - The involvement of the
employee need to be more in each and every firm which leads more productivity &
profitability. To enhance employee involvement in the task it is necessary for the
manager of the hotel to maintain proper communication process so that all the staff
members can follow the communication process and perceived adequate information.
 Brand value of firm - Brand value of each & every organization play a prominent role to
create a positive image in front of customers. With the help of professional development
consideration, Waldorf Hilton can maintain their employee’s skills so that Hotel can
effectively face competitive situation and hotel can get more profitability as compared to
rivals.
Benefits to Employee

Employees of the firm are most precious assets & they are liable to boost the productivity
level so that company can reach more high place. Waldorf Hilton mainly concerned about their
employees and also work oriented employees so that they can effectively achieve the
organizational goals. Hotel use professional development process which can provide various
benefits to the employees which are discussed below-
 Improve morale - Through professional development process, moral of the employees
can be improved properly which lead the growth and development of competencies and
skills. Employees feel self motivated and also perform their job role in a right manner
(Douglas and Gammie, 2019).
 Career development - Professional development practice can helpful to shape the career
of the employees so that they can effectively take the opportunity for their career
development. With development process, employees of Waldorf Hilton can learn new
skills and competencies so that they can effectively improvise their professionalism, CV
& provide right path to their career.
Investigation of Professional Employer Expectations of Skills & Competencies
In every firm, employers contain various expectations from the employees so that they can
deal with them more appropriately e and maintain good communication. As per the Waldorf
Hilton, the main motive of the hotel is to fulfill the requirements of the employer so that Hotel
can complete their all expectations and receive high satisfaction rate from their employer (du
Plessis and Eberlein, 2018). Employer has some specific expectations from their employees so
that they can deal with them effectively to achieve the organizational goals. Waldorf Hilton want
to contain some specific skills & competencies in there employees so that they can effectively
fulfill the expectations of their employer. The description related to the skills and competencies
are as follows -
Skills
It is compulsory for every employee to have some specific skills which can help to make
their personality more strong so that they can fulfill the expectations of their company. The main
expectations of Waldorf Hilton from their staff members & other employees are that they can
enhance their creative thinking & contain influential skills so that they can take attention of their

employer. Employees of the hotel should have some skills like technological skill, computer
skills, social interaction, leadership quality, and employee engagement skills so that they can
create good relationship with their employer and fulfill all the expectations of their employer in a
right manner.
Competencies
There are various competencies which company wants in their employees so that they
can effectively address all the requirement of their employer and also fulfill their expectations
appropriately. Waldorf Hilton also required some specific competencies in their employees like
team working; follow ethical considerations, sense of responsibility, capability to influence
others, self confidence, innovativeness & many more. All these competencies are beneficial for
the employees so that they can effectively boost their performance and also fulfill expectations of
their employer.
LO2
Critically evaluation of own skills & competencies
As per the current situation, being the Bar Manager in Waldorf Hilton, it is mandatory to
evaluate some specific skills & competencies that can help me to feel more liable in context of
my duties & responsibilities so that I can effectively maintain all chain of command in a right
manner. In order to maintain my performance in Waldorf Hilton, I can evaluate bye
performances on the basis of some specific skills and competencies as for the job role relate to
the Bar Manager (Frunză, 2017).
Hard skills
 Technological Skills - As per the current requirement it is necessary for the job role of
Bar Manager to have excellent technological skills so that manager can effectively access
all the data and information frequently. As per this skill, I observe that I have good
knowledge about technologies and I have excellent command on this skills. For this scale
I can give myself 8 out of 10 rating and I also considered that I can effectively handle all

the task in Waldorf Hilton. With the help of this skill , I can achieve business objective of
the hotel in a right manner (Hanitzsch, 2017).
 Mixology & product knowledge - This skill is essential for the role of Bar Manager so
that manager can contain some specific knowledge about the mixing, drinks, cocktails &
also products background. Bar manager need to provide specific training sessions to their
employees so that they can effectively maintained the stocking of the right product for the
sell. As per this skill, I am considering that I don't have core knowledge about mixology
& specific product knowledge of the bar so I am rating myself 5 out of 10 for this skill. In
context of Waldorf Hilton, I can effectively develop my skills related to the product
background and mixology so that I can achieve my gold effectively.
Soft skills
 Customers services skill - This skill is on demand and also useful to fulfill the
requirement of the customers and clients which can help full to achieve more profitability
rate. For this skill, I can rate myself 9 out of 10. As for the job role of Bar Manager, I
analyze that it I have this skill and I also contain a good command to maintain customer
services effectively. I have confidence that I can easily maintain my performance in
Waldorf Hilton and execute the entire task to my team members & lead them so that they
can effectively maintain all the customer services at the hotel and bar (Infographics,
2019).
 Stress Resistance - Every job role is challenging and require lots of dedication so that
people can balance their role without any stress and workload. On the basis of Bar
Manager role, it is is mandatory for the manager to maintain stress and also so help to
reduce the stress level of their staff members so that they can provide best services to
their customers and clients. For this role, I can rate myself 7 out of 10 because I am
average to manage my stress level and I am I'm looking forward to improve this skill so
that I can give my best as a Bar Manager in Waldorf Hilton.
On the basis of Bar Manager role in the Waldorf Hilton , there are some specific points about
the skills considered by me which are explained below -

 Critical Problem solving - There is a requirement for the firm to have this is skill for the
managerial post so that they can manage their own problem and also provide their
contribution to manage their superior and subordinates problems. For Bar Manager role ,
this skill is essential because it can help full to maintain adverse situation in a right
manner. For critical problem solving skill, I rated myself 8 out of 10 and I can consider
that I can effectively solve the problem & situations in a right manner (Jones, 2019).
 Leadership - This skill essential and also helpful to provide proper direction to the staff
members so that they can work in a discipline manner. For the leadership skill, in an rate
myself 9 out of 10 and I am confident that in can effectively lead my team of Waldorf
Hilton & also execute all the work in a right way.
Personal SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
 I have good leadership skill & I can
effectively manage team & provide
right direction to attain all the regular
operations.
 I am a very positive person & my
dedication towards my passion also
my big strength.
 I am considering that I don't have
good ability of decision making which
can be a main weakness of mine.
 I analysed that I am not good listener
so that can be a big weakness in future
so i am trying to improve listening
skills.
Opportunities Threats
 I am considering that to learn about
the specific products & services
related to the service industry can
boost my confidence & provide me
opportunities to evolve my
performance (Korthagen, 2017).
 Competition in service industry & not
properly get attention of my peer &
high authorities can be a big threats
for me.

Belbin Team Theory
This theory is helpful to create the effective team in the firm so that company can
effectively organize the entire relevant task as per the team members performance & roles. There
are nine roles are involved in this theory like investigators, teamwork,, plant, coordinator, shaper,
monitor, implementer, completer , evaluator. All these roles considered by the Waldorf Hilton
maintain this role in their team members so that hotel can effectively achieve all the operation in
a right way & also improve the brand image.
Tuckman’s model of group development
In this theory, give stages are associated which are given below -
 Forming - This stage is determined the more dependency on the leaders & team
members fully depend upon their leaders and follow their guidelines appropriately. As
per the Waldorf Hilton , leaders providing direction to their teams in order to obtain
goals.
 Storming - This stage considered that lack of clarity demonstrate among the team so that
conflicts can be arise. Waldorf Hilton provide full guidance bro their team as per their
requirements.
 Norming - This stage is helpful bro resolved all the difference which can helpful to to
maintain the core competencies of the employees. Waldorf Hilton provides proper
direction to their team to that they can take appropriate diffusion to achieve the objective
of the hotel.
 Performing - This stage balance the coming of the employees and solve all these issues
which employees are facing. Waldorf Hilton considers this for the purpose to framing
their team so that they can effectively make in real life and attain specific goals.
 Adjourning - This last stage is about achievement of the team members so that an
effective team maintain in a right manner. Waldorf Hilton maintains intensive team work
so that potential employees can be considered for the future role purpose.
Range of Learning Theories & Approaches
There are various learning theories and approaches are considered by the Waldorf Hilton
which are discussed below -

Approaches
 Cognitive Approach - This Curie is totally based on the knowledge with this individual
can retain and enhance their knowledge level for a longer time period. Waldorf Hilton
considers this theory for the purpose to delegate all duties and responsibility to the team
members in a right way.
 The Humanist Approach - This learning approach is very useful for the individual to
obtain specific knowledge so that they can effectively achieve their target in an effective
manner. Waldorf Hilton use this approach so that all the employees can provide their best
participation to achieve business goals.
Theory
VAK Learning Style
This learning theory is mainly associated with many dimensions which are discussed as
per the Waldorf Hilton are given below -
 Visual - This dimension is mainly determine that through videos company can make
understand about the working style so that they can obtain specific goals.
 Auditory - This dimension maintains the aspects of the learning & provides assurance as
per the audibility which can help to maintain all the guidance by Waldorf Hilton.
 Kinesthetic - This dimension maintain the realistic learning which provide to the
employees so that they can maintain their effectiveness. This dimension also contain by
Waldorf Hilton.
LO3
Professional development plan to enhance chosen skills & competences
Current skills &
competencies
Goals &
professional
development plan
Monitoring of
progress
Evaluation of
effectiveness

activity
Hard skills I I analysed that I am
lacking the hard skills
like accounting & also
maintain proficiency.
Within 3 months, I
can able to develop
these skills and
maintain good
performance level .
During the
progression period,
performance will be
monitored &
evaluated by the peer.
All the goals can be
set as per the desired
outcomes.
Soft skills This skills take place
as a medium team
goals. I have observed
that I am facing some
issue in public
speaking & also don't
know about the
organizational skills.
Ii am daily reading
articles & also show
my participation in
seminars (Osgerby,
Premier inn and Gee,
2018).
As per comparison of
my performance with
past one, present
process can be help
maintain the
monitoring &
evaluation.
As per Waldorf Hilton
can obtain the skills &
also lead me to
develop their own
skills. n.
Technical skills This is considered as
the long term goal or
mine because in this
time technologies are
playing vital role &
constantly taking
place everywhere. As
On the basis of
process & outcomes
all the outcome the
performance can be
monitored & evaluate.
These skills are
beneficial to evolve
their good relationship
with the customers so
that they can create
positive attitude of
their customers.

per the job role of Bar
Manager in Hotel.
LO4
Plan and undertake a job interview for Bar manager of Waldorf Hilton hotel
As per job interview which conducted by the Waldorf Hilton some specific plans
considered which are given below -
HR manager of Waldorf Hilton selected my CV and then shortlist me to take interview for
the job role or Bar Manager. During the interview time, HR manager asked various questions
like why you want to be a Bar Manager? , Tell me about your last working experience? , How
our firm and I'll benefits with your special knowledge & skills ?, All this question asked by the
HR manager so that Hotel Ken appoint high potential Bar Manager and maintain all the
considerations of the working place in ethical manner (Tanis and Barker, 2017).
Job Portfolio
Company - The Waldorf Hilton
Division - Bar Manager
Job Title - Hospitality Industry
Job Location - London, UK
Working hour - 7 Hours per day
Job Summary
The Waldorf Hilton Group comes under the luxurious hotel which about to hire Bar Manager.
Organization is mainly looking forward to a person who have appropriate skills and

competencies about the all course criteria of Bar manager
Role & Responsibilities
 Follow most appropriate working policies within an organization.
 Pay more attention on the requirement of the customer and provide them the services.
 Monitoring and controlling all the the working task. .
Strengths of Job interview process
There are numerous benefits of job interview process and this process utilized by the each
and every manager who want to hire most appropriate candidate for the job role. There are
various strength of job interview process which are considered by the Waldorf Hilton like job
interview is not consuming more time so that manager can easily select most desirable candidate
for the vacant job. Through job interview process, manager and higher authority is liable to ask
the questions with the candidate so that can consider face to face interaction with the candidate
which can help full to judge their knowledge and competencies (Duboust and Knight, 2018).
Weaknesses of job interview
There are few weaknesses of job interview also exist which can affect the whole process
of job interview. Some specific weaknesses such as biased interview, not aligned properly job
role, weak organizational structure can also affect the interview process of the company.
Reflection on job interview process
During the interview session , I have realize that the whole process properly followed by the
Waldorf Hilton . HR manager asked me various question and I have answer all the questions in
appropriate manner. While HR manager of the Waldorf Hilton was taking my interview, I
observed that I was very confident and also my communication skills was excellent. I also
discuss about my knowledge and core competencies which can help full for the job role. I am
considering that this was a good experience and also it is helpful for me too to implement my
role of the Bar Manager position in Waldorf Hilton.

CONCLUSION
According to this project it can be concluded that professional identity and practices need to
follow every individual which can help full to maintain their professional development and shape
their career. This project also discussed about the various skills and competencies which can help
full in the professional development of the individuals. This project also determined various
theories and approaches for the learning so that employees can maintain their performance to
fulfill the expectation of the employer.

REFERENCES
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