Employability Skills and Academic Practice: A Placement Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employability skills and academic practice, drawing upon a placement experience at Laxmi Snacks Pvt Ltd/ Real Namkeen. The report explores various aspects, including the background of the placement, linking learning to graduate job descriptions, and critical learning events analyzed through Gibb's reflective cycle. It identifies key employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, innovation, teamwork, and resilience. The report also discusses the importance of professional development, SWOT analysis, and the impact of technological changes on business operations. The student reflects on their experiences as a Human Resource Management Officer, detailing how they enhanced their skills and gained valuable knowledge. The report emphasizes the significance of confidentiality, critical thinking, and the development of essential skills for HR professionals. The student also highlights their learning journey, including formal writing, email communication, and task management strategies. Overall, the report offers insights into the student's growth, skill development, and the application of academic practices in a professional setting. The report concludes with an evaluation of the placement and its impact on the student's career aspirations.

EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS AND
ACADEMIC PRACTICE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
BACKGROUND OF THE PLACEMENT.....................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................5
Linked to learning and graduate job description.........................................................................5
Critical Learning Events according to Gibb’s Model..................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1
APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
Employability skills refer as transferrable skills that are becoming useful in every job
experience. It often referred to an employment skill, work-readiness and other foundational skills
(Cotronei-Baird, 2020). These are basically applicable in the organization to improve the overall
performance of individuals. Different enterprises will give major support for their staff members
where they will improve their employability skills. These type of skills will help to reduce errors,
promote a strong collaboration with different co-workers, enabling to handle the business
effectively and efficiently. On the other hand, Academic practice is define the process of
completing different work independently, honestly and in appropriate academic style. Achieving
the better practices involves developing the own independent evaluation and identify certain kind
of issue or problem in skill improvement. The discussion on the career aspirations as growth and
development. in order to create an appropriate professional development plan include all
essential skills that need to be improved accordingly. Analysing the SWOT analysis for
representing the current strength and weakness of individual people at the time of professional
career enhancement.
In this report, it is mainly focused on the analysis of learning event or program through
placement and identify the development requires in different employability skills. It will describe
about the critical analysis on the various kind of professional learning events which means that
increasing opportunities for professional development. By using Gibbs reflective cycle, it will
discuss the specific professional skills that will develop through placement. Moreover, it will
identify the different employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, innovation,
team work and resilience or well-being. Critically evaluate employability skills and consider as
learning events on the basis of discussion.
BACKGROUND OF THE PLACEMENT
In my background, I have been experienced of “human resource management officer” in
Laxmi Snacks Pvt ltd/ Real Namkeen. I am very passionate about the highest level of experience
and always focused on the career advancement through efforts or enhance my skills or
knowledge through commitment. I have been focused on the commitment, continuous learning
and direction provided by organisation.

Generally, I have been secured as placement through professional development plan team
Laxmi Snacks Pvt ltd/ Real Namkeen. This was becoming a great experience where I will try to
improve my skill and gain more knowledge. Overall professional experience is helping me to
enhance their ability while achieving desirable goal or objective. Afterwards, I will give a major
participation into business operations and functions. Afterwards, I can achieve the appreciation
award from company (Sarkar, Overton and Rayner, 2020).
On the other hand, I have been realised that technological and innovation changes occurs
in the organisation. According to me, it become necessity for any organisation to re-organise
their business accordingly. At the time, I become conscious about own innovative skill and try to
improve themselves. Because improvement of innovation skill will support for me to enhance
career in professional development.
Being a HR manager in manufacturer company, I have been identified the current trends
of business where company has been already adopting cloud based solution. I have found that
improve different operational activities such as marketing, HR, financing & accounting etc.
During placement event, it is great opportunity where I can easily identified own abilities and
improve themselves (Osmani, Weerakkody and Elda, 2019). Sometimes, I believe on the
experience where they always build my confidence level on regular basis. The massive growth of
business is depended on the workforce where how they can manage or handle different business
tasks in proper manner. In recent years, I have already proved a huge market potentially. In order
to examine wide range of professional service from different sectors such as accounting, finance,
tax, legal and auditing services.
When I was started the working as HR officer as full time employment. In starting
month, there is no as such pressure but afterwards I have been working with different team or
groups. I am also handle daily basis tasks in proper manner. I was responsible to learn all kind of
human resource & administrative works and give a support in other activities. Time to time, I
also focused on the training session in HR department and influence other workforce to
particular in training & development Session. This will help for giving opportunity for every
staff members where they can identify their own skills and then putting efforts in business goals.
At the beginning, I have found that there is some need or requirement for individual
people. So as, it is important reason that I was trained for different kind of administrative work
and then establish a strong position in the workplace. As per continued gain a lot of experience

and learn about different HR policies, procedures and strategies. These are providing me as great
deal to handle any kind of complex business task in proper manner (Osmani, Weerakkody and
Elda, 2019). I was so much excited to interact or communicate with different staff members in
regards of their need or requirement. In this way, I have learned the importance of job
responsibilities. Sometimes, it is very hard for me to balance coordination between different
responsibilities because payroll related tasks are based on the deadline. That’s why, I am always
concerned about the different duties and fulfil requirement for staff members in the workplace.
Apart from that I have learnt basic things from placement event such as formal writing,
email sending letter and other strategies planning. Through this way, it would provide me a right
direction where I have taken suitable decision in regards of task management. in most of cases, I
have learnt various kind of new thing which was unknown for me but I can adopt as great
opportunity (Osmani, Weerakkody and Elda, 2019). On the basis of this report, I will provide the
brief information and my learning journey through placement experience. As per analysis, I have
realised that background experience is always influential for me to perform different tasks in step
by step manner. This is becoming so much inspiring or motivating to improve employability
skills.
MAIN BODY
Linked to learning and graduate job description
Critical thinking is might be effective for taking the decision making because this might be
helps in avoiding the misleading assumptions, or questions and inherent basis. Critical thinking
must be important for having the problem solving in the organization. While by having the
critical thinking in the organization this must be seem that communication systems should be
improved and that could be easier for having the better future aspects.
I have learned many things through which I come to know about the things which are
lacking behind and I try to make sure about those skills which are important for me in having the
human resources professional job. The skills such as communication, team working and decision
making which are seem to be important and also help me for having the better job development
(Cagasan, Belonias and Cuadra, 2020). While through also come to know about how I will deal
over any situation while by having the proper decision making and that might be also help me in
making the high level of attraction. Hence, this might be also important for me as being the HR

for keeping the better communication among the various people who are important for having
the some basic as this might be also helpful in having the high level of development.
As I have also learned those things which are important in dealing with any situation and that
could be also important for me in having the better future development. While through which
this might be also more helpful in knowing about the high skills and some knowledge related to
organization. Communication and team working also plays the important from which it comes to
know about how the people can work and how they can manage their work while by having the
proper time table in the organization (Graddy-Reed, Lanahan and D'Agostino, 2021). I have also
learned how to manage the work under the work load so that could also help in developing those
skills which are important for me in having the better skills and development of those skills
which might be seems to be important and also being the helpful in the organization. While this
help me for interview in having HR professional and also led for skills and development. Thus
could keep me helping for growth in such way that having confidence, positive thinking and also
make sire for having the better goals and objective.
I have thought about the developing the communication skill which also help me for
having the better future aspects and that could also help me for having the better profession in
the companies. For this I have learnt those things which are important for having the better skills
and also help me for having the better development of those skills which are required as per the
best HR profession (Riley, 2021). I have also made sure about those skills and knowledge which
seems to be important for me in having the development and also help me for having the better
development. Along with this might be important for developing the skills through which that
could help me in future. I must be required to make sure about those things which are important
for me in making the HR profession job through which I can easily deal in any situation and also
make other for keeping their motivation skills high.
All these skills are important through which this might be help me for having the better
future development and also help me for having the better future development along with this
being as profession I would also make sure about those things which are important for me (Jiang
and et.al., 2020). In addition, I would have those skills which are required and I have also learnt
many things for which I will make sure about the future skills for which the other people
working in the organization will not be have any issues related to my skills and some basic

knowledge. Communication and team working skills play the important and also have linked for
the better future growth and make sure about the development in the organization.
Critical Learning Events according to Gibb’s Model
Figure 1: Gibb's Model of Reflection
1. Business Understanding
Description of the situation: Once a professional person who work as manager in a
company calls me and reconfirms candidate’s personal details who have recently joined
their organization from ours. Generally, it is a usual practice that has been made by most
of the firms in order to recheck the information given by candidates. Only the human
resource professionals have the right to ask for any information related to candidate. The
person confirms that he was calling from ABC Company and coincidently I was well
known about the name of the HR person of that company so, I decided to give him all the
information about the candidate that has been asked from me by that person. The whole
activity was noticed by the director of my company. He was very nice at that moment but
explained serious negative consequences to me of sharing such personal information
from the person who claimed as HR professional of ABC Company. I should always ask
them some questions through which I get to know some details or even surety that the
person is calling from that company only before passing personal information of any
candidate.
At the same time I get to realize that when I was in my student phase, my teachers also
gives me detailed knowledge about the thing that we have to maintain the
confidentiality in order to avoid any kind of breach of data related to someone's
personal information.
Feelings and evaluation: When I was aware about the procedure while sharing some
information with other person, I feel as delighted as it was a new experience for me in the

office premises because I have never been encountered with such kind of situation there
before the day. Just because of the authority that I have received with my job
responsibility I get to know that do not share any kind of personal information of any
candidate is also my primal responsibility as well as my duty. Because of the situation I
was able to learn great lesson about the procedure of doing my task in proper manner.
Although, my director explained the whole procedure to handle such kind of situations in
future, he realized that I was unable to use my own critical understanding regarding any
such type of urgent situations. I was very much aware that the situation or experience left
a bad impression in the mind of my director which is not needed for me. I was thinking
that the situation proved less efficient in the eyes of organization as an employee of any
firm should always have the capacity to complete the expectations of seniors by
providing appropriate services because ultimately an employee is the face of the
company.
Analysis and conclusion: Basically, everyone is aware that personal information of any
candidate should not be transferred to anyone at any cost without properly checking that
the information is passing to the right person. I was unable to utilize my common sense at
that particular point of time. If I could properly realise about the situation that was
explained by my director, I would have able to receive positive response about my
understanding (Laudien, S.M., 2018).
Action Plan: After that day, whenever I found any person asking me about anyone’s
information whether face to face or on phone call, I completely follow the procedure that
has been learned by my director (Weber, B., 2017). And after that I personally feel that it
was critical learning event for me and I will follow the same procedure or understanding
in my any job in my future terms as well.
2. Professional context skills
Situation description: Once I received phone call from the manager from my company i.e.
Laxmi snacks and she asked me for a candidate documents for some urgent requirements. I was
collected the information of that candidate one day before that day but unfortunately I forgot
where did I placed those documents in hurry. I told the manager that I will get back to her after
few minutes with the documents; meanwhile she has to wait for the documents. Unfortunately, I

got to remember that by mistake I put those documents in my personal bag and through which
the documents are placed at my home. I get back to the manager and told her the complete
situation. The manager was very disappointed from my actions and complained to the director
about me and the whole situation. The director of my company along with manager and my
senior had a meeting with me regarding the complaint to warn me to never repeat such kind of
mistakes in future. I was not happy with that complaint as it was done by mistake and I shared
my feeling with another colleague in my department which was heard by the manager who found
it very unprofessional.
With the whole situation I got to remember my college days the same situation had been done
with me in my class room activity as well. That time also I forgot my test papers at my home due
to which my teachers had told me the professionalism that I have to maintain during certain
stages and which will highly beneficial for me at office premises.
Feelings and Evaluation: The day gave me unpleasant memory to remember, as I was always
trying my best to serve my full potential in my job to each and every member of the company.
That was the reason that I was shared my feelings with my colleague in office hours. According
to me sharing my feelings that day lightens my burden but from company perspective that it was
criticising about a senior employee of the firm which is completely unacceptable. Primarily, I
was concerned about my feeling but after proper understanding I get to understand the perception
of my director as well as manager and I realised that I made mistake that day.
Analysis and conclusion: With that situation I got to understand that it was my mistake and I
was not behaving professionally at that particular situation (Sochacka, N.W., 2017). For my first
mistake I realised that I need to prepare to do list in order to properly arrange documents at their
pre defined places and another is taking training of behavioural skills training along with the
practice of that skill.
Action Plan: After that day I never share my personal feelings about anybody in the office
premises with any of my colleague as I have learned that for being professional I need to manage
such kind of emotions in any organization in which I work (Novalija, I., 2017). The practical
event was more realistic to develop behavioural skill to use it in future at any job in order to
handle unwanted situations.
3. Team Work

Description: My major responsibility was related to processing salary and development
of monthly pay slips along with assisting employees of marketing and operations
department. We were four employees in HR department at same position who are
responsible for doing individual tasks. My other two colleagues were responsible for
processing payment of other departments and the remaining one was responsible for
taking interviews of new coming candidates. However, the company had a very limited
use of team work but when any colleague is absent; the remaining members have to deal
with their work as well. Normally, we have our individual tasks but at specific situations
we have to coordinate our work with each other in order to complete our tasks at
particular time. But, I always rush for the situations and wanted to complete the tasks
alone and thus it becomes stressful for me to complete tasks under such situations.
Similar kind of learning I had got during my college days through my tutor that team
work is highly beneficial in order to get success in professional as well as personal life. In
office premises, working in teams enhances the outcome of an individual to get the task
done in most appropriate and successful manner.
Feelings and evaluation: The situation was good and under control when I could finish
my all assigned tasks according to my own planning without anyone’s interruption but
when anything comes up suddenly and urgently, I was getting panicked and worried
about the situation.
Analysis and conclusion: One day, I asked my colleague to assist me with few tasks to
finish by the day end and I was running out of time. She helped me to complete my tasks
and thus I realized that we can help each other when we face load of lots of tasks to be
done within short period of time and I discussed about it with my other colleagues as well
(Salas, E., 2018). As poor usage of team work cause waste of time and ended without any
solution. From that we distributed our work according to the urgency and efficiently
reduced our work load.
Action Plan: From that learning event, I learned that the problem can be easily identified
and resolved with the help of team apart from finding solution solely (Driskell, T., 2018).
I will definitely apply this understanding in my future terms as well.
4. Time Management

Description: In my position, every month I had to produce payment slips as well as
whole salary release procedure in proper manner and some other tasks as well. All the
tasks I had to do by planning them properly so that nothing can miss out from my mind.
It has been evaluated by various researchers that good time management skill can reduce
stress at workplace. Initially I was not good at managing all the tasks efficiently and was
my critical learning month when I learnt to prepare proper to do lists in order to finish
tasks at proper time. At the time of preparing salary for employees, I have to check
various spreadsheets in order to avoid any kind of error. Then my colleague suggests me
assign sheet preparation and cross checking task to individual department managers so
that it would become easy for me to complete my task at proper time. As the monthly
routine tasks required less time and the preparation of spreadsheets requires more time to
complete then, I differentiated the tasks and distribute it among respective managers
which help me to finish all of them on time.
When I was in university, my lecturer had told me about the importance of completion of
task according to the time frame that had been given to complete it. Proper time
management enables us to complete the assignments through proper and appropriate
methods and thus helps us to build an effectual image in front of our managers as well as
co-workers.
Feeling and evaluation: The experience has taught me to manage my time according to
the tasks given to me and the situation in which I have to complete my task. Before
prioritising and distribution of the task, I was stressful to finish the work at proper time
duration but moreover I realised that I can able to manage my time by appropriately using
the time and distribution of my work according to the given time frame so that I will be
able to complete each individual task within proper time frame. From that day I was
completely able to manage my tasks according to the time management ability which I
got to learn after that day.
Analysis and conclusion: From that situation, I have analysed that the day on which I
have get assistance from my colleagues helped me a lot in order to complete my task ijn
most appropriate manner and timely without any disturbances. But that day if my
colleague was not there for me to help me in my task, I was unable to complete that task
within turnaround time (Meiring, A., 2017). In order to enhance my time management

skills that will help me in my future terms regarding managing my work within proper
time frame I will definitely take you tube tutorial sessions which are becomes very
helpful in my future terms as well as bring realistic examples for me that will help me to
enhance my knowledge regarding time management.
Action Plan: Desired outcomes always comes in front along with proper management of
work according to time frame and thus I will use the experiences at the job to prioritize
my tasks and differentiated the short term as well as long duration task which ultimately
affects the organizations decisions to achieve desired goals of the firm along with
individual goal as well. These skills will help me at my workplace as well as for my
future personal use as well in order to complete my tasks efficiently and appropriately. I
learnt how to plan ahead to manage my time completely by discussing tasks with my
colleagues who are already experienced while doing the same task efficiently. At that
point of time with the lack of proper division of work (Thomsen, C., 2017), I was unable
to utilize time to process the salaries as at that point of time I was struggling to finish the
task at the end. But with the help of my colleague, I was able to process all the salary
slips in smooth manner with evolution of time management skill as well as team work
ability. Thus from the next time I feel more managed and organized in order complete my
work in proper time frame.
5. Decision making
Description: I’m working now Laxmi snacks images commonly known as real name
game who are producing cakes and bakery products. There are many problems that occur
during the six year of time and I have experienced various issues where One of the major
situation that take place in last year when sale was declined due to Bad employees
performance. As a senior I was responsible to take decision with the leaders to improve
this company sales (AdeaniFebriani and Syafryadin., 2020.).
Feelings: I was feeling bad because I’m working in a company as a human resource
manager and I was also responsible because I did not do not provide proper training to
the employees. What during this situation I think about it and I decided to provide skill
based training to the employees so they can improve their customer interaction.