Employability Skills Report: Career, Sector, and Networking

This report delves into the crucial aspects of employability skills, focusing on career development and sector analysis within the food retail industry. It begins by defining employability skills and their importance, then explores the Clifton Gallup strengths theory and Johari's window theory to assess personal strengths and their application to career aspirations. The report then compares two major companies in the food retail sector, Tesco and Sainsbury's, analyzing their ethics, values, job descriptions, and person specifications. A curriculum vitae (CV) is included to showcase the candidate's qualifications and experience. Furthermore, the report identifies professional qualifications that can be acquired to enhance career prospects, such as the National Retail Federation program. Finally, it emphasizes the significance of networking in the retail sector for increasing awareness and expanding business opportunities, highlighting its role in finding suppliers and partners.

Employability skills

INTRODUCTION
Employability skills are the transferable skills that are essential and needed by an
individuals in order to make them employable. Some employability skills helps individuals in
achieving their goals such as communication, positive attitude and team work. This study will
cover and shows about Clifton Gallup strengths and Johari's window theory that tell about some
skills that ply an important role in the company. This report will also analyse the comparison of
two companies of the same sector in order to analyse professional qualifications and also the
importance of networking in companies.
Know yourself
Brief overview of career aspirations
Employability skills play an important role in any type of company because that skills
helps the company in achieving their determined goals in effective way. Career aspiration is the
path of goals what the employees and peoples are want to do and follow. The skills are come
through study of business management and its is important for run the businesses and reach out it
success. Setting goals and objective of business, there are important to have information and
knowledge of business management (Jackson, 2015).
Appraisal of Clifton Gallup strengths and Johari's window theory in order to career development
Appraisal of Clifton Gallup strengths: Clifton strengths theory is very helpful and effective as
it helps individuals in order to understand, identify and also maximize their strengths. This
theory says about personal character that every people posses some qualities and attributes that
helps them in their success. Some strengths are as follows:
Adaptability: Adaptability means flexibility and to adapt to things in order to work in all
type of situations. For this attribute and skills the [person need to be calm and patient in all type
of situations.
Empathy: This skill is also very important for career development. It helps in
understanding the feeling and opinion of others in very effective manner. When people
understand the feelings of other than it becomes easy to work with them and it also decreases the
labour turnover (Park and Hill, 2016).
1

Harmony: Harmony is another main skill and strength of Clifton Gallup. This strength
helps in reducing conflicts at workplace and satisfy employees related job and needs. It also
helps in improving the relationship with colleagues.
Consistency: Consistency is all about to treat and behave people equally. By avoiding
changes a person can improve their skill as it is very important in career development.
Johari's window theory: Johari's window theory is method that supports and helps people in
order to understand their relationship with others and themselves or in another words it helps in
improving self awareness. This theory has 4 main elements such as:
Open space: This open space element is all about the person behaviour which is known
by themselves and also known by others.
Blind spot: This type of behaviour becomes difficult to handle and manage. This is blind
as it is unknown to themselves but known to others.
Hidden area: It is just opposite to blind spot. In this type people keep information which
is only known to themselves and do not share with others or in another words it is only known to
themselves and unknown to others.
Unknown area: In this type there is no communication mode exists. It is unknown to
others as well as unknown to themselves (Park and Hil, 2016).
Identification of key strengths of own in my career based on theories
According to Clifton Gallup strengths, the most important and essential strengths that are
very important in order to carry out my business and career development adaptability and
empathy. Adaptability will helps me out in adapt all type of situations and will also improve my
other skills like patience and calmness. Patience play a very important role in career
development and business growth.
Empathy and harmony at workplace will also help me in understanding the feelings of
my employees. By understanding their feeling I can try to fulfil their needs which will satisfy
them and also will, increase their loyalty towards my business. It will help me in achieving
determined goals in very effective manner (Guilbert and et.al., 2016).
As per Johari's window theory, the most important strength which can help me in the
success of my business is hidden area. In this strength the skills and things will only known to
me and unknown to others. It will help me in order to being in a competition as competitors will
not be able to understand my skills and things.
2

Application of theses elements of theories for career aspirations
In order to application of adaptability skill, I will try to observe all the things carefully
and develop my skills and willingness to adapt. I will identify and understand the importance of
having this skill and then try to focus on being calm and patient.
For applying hidden area element and skills I will try to become introvert person and will
try to not share my skills and feelings with another. This will help me out in taking decision by
effectively (Di Gregorio and et.al., 2019).
KNOW YOUR SECTOR
Comparison of two companies in same sector
I want to start my business in food retail sector. The two famous organisations in this
sector are Tesco and Sainsburry.
Basis Sainsburry Tesco
History This company was founded and established
150 years ago in 1869. It is the 2Nd largest
chain of supermarket in UK. This company
initially started as a retailer of fresh and good
quality food at affordable price. In 1922, it
was incorporated as a private company and at
that time each shop had their different
departments like dairy, cooked meats and
fresh meats. With the changing time and also
after the death of John James Sainsburry in
1928, the company kept expanding (Guilbert
and et.al., 2016).
This company was founded
and established in 100 years
ago and in 1919. The first
brand of Tesco was appeared
after five years in 1924. This
company and brand continued
its rise in the 1930s when Mr.
Jack Cohen the founder of the
company, built a headquarter
in North London. Tesco
became a private limited
company in 1932. It raised as
it bough 70 William stores and
200 Harrow stores in 1960.
Ethics There are some ethical steps which was taken
by Sainsburry that the company used the
fresh products and raw materials in order to
manufacture their products and also for
The ethical step which was
taken by Tesco is that it
launched its first program and
campaign in which it talked
3

satisfying their customers needs. In addition
it also charged fair and affordable price
(Sharif, 2017).
about handling and tackling
food wastes. It also believes in
sustainable business by
providing the higher quality
products at fair price and also
by providing fair conditions to
its employees.
Values The main value and purpose of Sainsburry is
to become the most trusted retailer where
people can enjoy and love to shop and work.
The main purpose and value
of Tesco is to provide the
better quality products and
services to its customers in
order to help them to enjoy a
better quality of life.
Extent to which these company's ethics and values align with my company's elements
My values and purpose is as same as Sainsburry and Tesco and to provide the best and
healthy food products to customers at affordable price. I will not choose the cheap ingredients
and want to focus on choosing the best and fresh raw materials in order to manufacture my
products. I also want to focus on reducing food waste in terms of ethics same as Tesco. It will
help in building the positive image of my brand in the mind of customers. In order to expand my
business I want to concentrate on becoming the trusted retailer by increasing loyalty of
customers towards my company and my products and by satisfying environmental factors.
Job description and person specification
Job description: Job description is made for outlining the roles and responsibilities
which are essential for specific job. Job description for retail manager is as follows:
Job title Retail store manager
Roles The main role which is important as an
manager of retail store is pricing, motivating to
4

employees, stock control.
Responsibilities The important responsibilities of a manager of
retail store is to ensure about effective
customer services, appraising and controlling
to the staff members and also maintain staff
members by selecting, recruiting and training
employees.
Person specification: A person specification is a description that involves experience,
skills and qualifications that is required for the person in order to perform job.
Basis of specification Essential Desirable
Qualification:
For performing specific job
there is a requirement of
bachelor degree in business
management
Yes
Yes
Experience:
2 year of experience in the
retail sector. Yes
Yes
Attributes and Skills:
Time management skills, hard-
5

working, cooperative,
multitasking, effective
communication skills.
Skills to manage efficiency
and Skills to improve
relationship.
Yes
Yes
Curriculum vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Career objectives
Seeking for the challenging job position in which ambiance knowledge can be gain and also the
improve my personality and also where my qualification can be use in the effective way to
achieve the organisation goals as well my individual goal.
Education and qualification
BSc (Hons) in Marketing and higher national diploma in retail sector.
Experience
Freshers
Skills
 Leadership quality
 Ability to motivate the team
 Positive attitude
 Ability to do smart work
 Fully dedicated towards the work
 Good communication skills
6

Personal details
Name : John Jones
Gender : male
Identification and analysis of professional qualification that could be acquired along the degree.
For developing my career there are many training courses which are available to advance and
polish my kills the one is National Retail Federation would be great assistance which help to
design to bridge the gap between the job seeker and job providers by polishing individual to
perform well in the retail industry. This course has great impact on individual as it helps to
groom the skills and also develop the individual personality to work in the retail sector which
will help them to rising in the long run. The course offer a national certificate program, access to
the latest retail research new and networking opportunities. Also, help the individual to give
guidance about sales curriculum and also sales training.
LET THEM KNOW YOU
Importance of networking in increasing awareness in retail sector.
Nowadays networking is on of the essential element which help to grow and rise in the
retail industry in order to find out potential suppliers or partners It is basically the opportunity to
grow the business and help helps in expansion and diversification. Good networking would help
to find that number of suppliers of retail sector who are willing to supply the material which are
of high quality and also of the low price as compare to the other supplier in the retail industry .
This will help to increase the profit margin of the company and also help to grow and sustain the
sector for the long term bases. Also, networking help to find the partner which helps to share the
financial burden and risks so that it help both the partners and it benefits both the parties to the
contract. And help them to run the business for the long term bases which help to achieve the
gaols of the company (Devambatla and Nalla, 2015).
Networking has many roles to play the first major role is it gives deep awareness of the
competitor in the retail market. It is very important to know the competitor so to gain
competitive advantages and also work in the better direction as compare to the competitor and
attract many customers. To know the competitor well the first step will be to analyses the
strategies which are formulated by the competitor and also to know the pricing strategies so that
7

to fix prices accordingly. Thus networking is very important in running the smooth business and
also help to attain the goals and the objective of the business.
And also networking help to build strong relationship with politicians so that they will not
interfere in the business and also them to run the business in the smooth way and also it helps the
business to know the new policies and help them to gain knowledge about it. This will help to
decrease the confusion and complication in the working of the business and thus networking help
in increasing awareness (Cottrell, 2015).
Reflection on the networking events
I had a great experience in the networking event because I got the opportunity to meet the
great professional experts of the retail industry as they share there experience and also there story
and journey to become the great expert and also it helps to gain the knowledge while taking to
them about the current happening in the sector . At happy hour networking meet I interact with
the professional in a better way and advance my knowledge also by the help of this event it gave
me the opportunity to improve my communication skill's and also develop my confidence.
The second networking event attended by me way was round table . Even this networking
gave me wonderful experience as it was very good session and involving every one by its
question answer round . It gave opportunity to interact with people . Thus, when people interact
share information which help in improving my knowledge about this industry.
Reflection of performance in mock interview based STAR method.
STAR method in which those question are asked in the interview which analyses the
behaviour of the respondent. In these task element certain challenges and the situation are asked
to the respondent and applicant has to answer that what need to be done in that particular
situation and also possible outcome need to be given by the resplendent which satisfy the
interviewer.
I need to develop various skills which help to polish my career such as communication
skills which help to build my confidence and help me to interact with people and also time
management skills in which it helps me to manage the work on time. I want to adopt the certain
quality which help to become more responsible person and work hard so that to achieve the
desire goals (Collet, Hine and Plessis, 2015).
8

CONCLUSION
The above study summarized with that the employability skills which plays a important
role in the individual life while performing the job. As eduction and experience make eligible
person to apply for the effective job and also with the various skills as communication skills ,
time management skills so to polish the individual . Employability skills become significant
factor that help employers to hire the proper candidate for the company . As the success of every
company depend upon the employees of the organisation as they work hard to achieve the desire
result and getting right people with right place help the success of the organisation (Pouratashi,
2018).
9

Cottrell, S., 2015REFERENCES
Books and journals
Collet, C., Hine, D. and Du Plessis, K., 2015. Employability skills: perspectives from a
knowledge-intensive industry. Education+ Training. 57(5). pp.532-559.
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Devambatla, L. and Nalla, D., 2015. An Approach to Improve Employability Skills: eBridge.
Journal of Engineering Education Transformations. 28(2 & 3). pp.131-138.
Di Gregorio and et.al., 2019. Employability skills for future marketing professionals. European
Management Journal.
Guilbert and et.al., 2016. Employability: review and research prospects. International Journal
for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 16(1). pp.69-89.
Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education. 40(2). pp.350-367.
Park, H. and Hill, R. B., 2016. Employability skills assessment: Measuring work ethic for
research and learning. Career and Technical Education Research. 41(3). pp.175-192.
Pouratashi, M., 2018. Higher education and activities to improve students' employability skills.
Journal of Education for Business. pp.1-7.
Sharif, A., 2017, June. Perceptions, pedagogy, employability: from survey indicators to
improving skills. In 14th Enhancement Themes Conference.
10