Work-Based Learning: Evaluating Potential Placement Opportunities at Tesco

Work-Based Learning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................3
Task 1: Self-evaluation....................................................................................................3
Abilities and achievements................................................................................................3
Previous experience..........................................................................................................4
Discipline and work-related preferences...........................................................................4
Special support requirements needed...............................................................................5
Personality.........................................................................................................................5
Task 2: Evaluation of Potential Placement opportunities...........................................6
Placement provider............................................................................................................6
Organizational structure of the workplace.........................................................................7
Theories of management...................................................................................................8
Task 3................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Work-based learning can be defined as a strategy wherein students are provided
with work experience in real-life. The students can apply their technical as well as
academic skills in order to grow their employability (Baker, Peach and Cathcart, 2017).
Work-based learning helps student to develop skills that are essential for employability
and also construct a strong and positive work history. Organization chosen for this
report is Tesco, which is a multinational grocery retailer founded by Jack Cohen. The
company was founded in the year 1919 and is headquartered in England, United
Kingdom. It is regarded as the third-largest retailer in the world in terms of gross
revenues. The report includes a self-evaluation as well as an evaluation of the potential
placement opportunities. A career path in the placement based on the above
evaluations is also provided.
Task 1: Self-evaluation
Abilities and achievements
In order to achieve high quality placements, it is important for a student to have
certain skills, abilities and a strong record of achievements. Placements provide
students an opportunity to students so that they can gain skills that are specific to their
specialization and thus enhance overall employability skills (Fergusson, Allred and Dux,
2018). Soft skills are considered as an important component for students to achieve a
good placement. I have the ability to work as a part of a team or group as I got many
such opportunities during my time at the university. Teamwork taught me to express my
ideas within a group setting and that asking questions is not wrong. I also possess the
ability to communicate effectively because I believe communication plays an important
role in a job. I can efficiently communicate through emails, group discussions, articulate
notes etc.
I achieved a second prize in an inter-college debate competition and also was
regarded as the most effective team leader for a group activity that was held in class.
I’ve always been involved in different co-curricular activities that were held at the
university. I was also awarded for having the highest attendance during the last two

semesters. Lastly, I was also the coordinator of the finance club in the university and
was responsible for monitoring the various club activities.
Previous experience
I have a previous experience of working as an intern at a retail company wherein
I was responsible for handling clients on a daily basis. I had to address their concerns
and feedbacks as well as assist them with finding a product within the store. I had to
communicate with the visitors who visited the store daily as well as get in touch with
convenience retailers and encourage them to use the different applications that were
offered by our company. I used to work on basic demos that had to be given to the
customers about informing them about the new products and their features.
Apart from the internship, I also have an experience of working as a volunteer for
an NGO. I worked as a volunteer for women empowerment program and women’s
rights. I got an opportunity to inspire and teach young females basic skills of computer,
speaking English and other skills like self-defense etc. I joined the NGO in order to build
confidence and improve my people skills. Various discussions and activities were held
to uplift their confidence levels (Henderson and Trede, 2017). Both the experiences were
valuable and enriching for me as an individual and helped me develop useful
employability skills that can help me in achieving a high-quality placement.
Discipline and work-related preferences
My major discipline is retail as this is was one of my interest areas as a student
at the university. I prefer working for a company that not only values its personal growth
but the growth of its employees as well. It should have a positive work environment with
motivated and confident employees who put in their best efforts to attain organizational
goals and objectives. I prefer working for a retail company that offers various growth
opportunities to its employees so that they can acquire new skills and enhance that they
already possess. The employees of the company should be high performers who have
a positive influence on their peers as well as subordinates (Kamin and et. al., 2018).