Professional Development: Planning Careers and Employability Report

This report, focused on career planning and employability, explores the essential skills needed for success in the job market. It begins with an introduction to employability and the significance of skills audits, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving, communication, and time management. The report then delves into the impact of recruitment marketing and digital recruitment strategies. A SWOT analysis is conducted to assess the student's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, particularly in the context of a Human Resource Manager role at IBM. Social media's role in job searching and professional networking, including LinkedIn, is examined. Insights from an employer interview, including details about the company Mitchells & Butlers, job requirements, and common mistakes made by applicants, are provided. The report also includes company details, a reflection on the interview experience, and an analysis of recruitment processes, graduate schemes, and company culture, offering a comprehensive overview of career development and employability strategies.

Planning Careers and Employability

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Employer interview and research -..................................................................................................8
Answers of each questions..........................................................................................................8
Company details...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Employability refers to the ability to get employment. The skills of
employability refers to those skills that helps to get employment in a good
company. Skills audit helps me to identify my current level of skills and abilities
that employer of IBM requires (Rothwell, 2015). There are various things required
for successful employment. Such as problem solving, communication skill, time
management skill etc. There are various developments in recruitment process that
are performed by companies for recruiting candidates on suitable job positions.
One of the major development is recruitment marketing. It means nowadays
companies are using different tools and strategies for attracting job seekers. It helps
them to appoint skilled employee’s on vacant job position. Another recent
development in recruitment is that companies are using digital ways for recruiting
candidates and minimum use of paperwork.
Further, my initial practice of performing SWOT analysis helps to evaluate
current skills, knowledge and abilities that will help me to get employment on the
post of Human Resource Manager in the company. SWOT analysis helps to
identify my current strengths such as time management skills that will help me to
manage different types of activities during my job. It helps me to analyse that I
possess good communication skills. This skill will help me to communicate
effectively with other peoples during employment (Hooley, Dodd and Shepherd,
2016).
Further, SWOT analysis also helps me to identify my weaknesses such as
problem solving skills. I realized that, my problem solving skills are not effective.
Therefore, I will have to make efforts for improving this skill for getting better job
opportunities. Moreover, it also assist me to analyse that my leadership skills are
not good. It is one of my major weakness on which I have to work on. I also

analysed that there are various opportunities available for getting better job.
Further, SWOT analysis assist me to develop skills audit for determining the skills
that are present in me and skills that are lacking. Moreover, skills audit helps me to
develop personal development plan for improving those skills that I am lacking. It
helps to fill the gap between my current skills and skills that are required for
getting employment in IBM. It also assist to identify the skills and abilities that are
essential for performing the job.
Social media helps me a lot in getting relevant information in respect of
various employment opportunities that are available in the market. Further, it also
helps me to develop my various skills with the help of online courses. Social
networking is also useful regarding the reputation as a potential candidate for the
job available in the company (Gould, 2017). My personal profile on social media
helps to develop positive reputation in front of the employer for getting job on the
post of Human Resource Manager. Social media platforms also assist me to
improve my ability of job search. It helps me to take benefit of social media
websites for gaining information regarding company. On line platforms help me to
advertise my skills and knowledge. Further, it also assist me to develop social
network and brand that leads to real life job opportunities. Moreover, CV also help
to apply for the job.
LinKedIn is a type of social networking website that is mainly designed for
business community. The members are known as connections. It helps me to
develop professional portfolio and also helps to look at available job opportunities.
LinkedIn is an important tool as it is very helpful in searching jobs. It helps me to
connect with employers who are looking for suitable candidates for the job
position that are having suitable skills and knowledge. Further, it has provided
various advantages like identifying job listings where I can apply for the job.
Moreover, the site has help me to endorse my skills and writing recommendations.

It also helps me to promote social connections with employer and enables me to
network within the respective niches. I does not require to hire a professional
resume writer. It is very easy to update relevant information about skills, education
etc. with a click of edit button and entering relevant details. Moreover, it helps to
connect with other businesses (Burnham, 2015).
The interview with employer helps me a lot to collect information in respect
of various things. It helps me to collect details regarding the job specifications
related with the job. It helps to know about the skills, knowledge and abilities that
are required for applying for the post of human resource manager in IBM
company. I asked various questions from interviewer for collecting details related
with company, job, environment etc. I come to know about the day to day
responsibilities that are related with the job role such as operating HR software for
preparing employee’s payroll. Further, I had collected details regarding the values
of IBM, policies, characteristics that employer looks in the employees in order to
represent the values of company etc. The research in respect of company assist me
to collect details in respect of the opportunities that are available for professional
development of candidates. What type of opportunities are available for personal
and professional development of employees such as career development etc. It also
helps me to collect information in respect of people I will have to work with like
my colleagues, who will be my supervisor etc (Asah, Fatoki and Rungani 2015).
I also visited the website of IBM before applying for the job role. It has help
me to know about culture of the firm, products that are offered by firm to target
customer's etc. Further, I am also able to know about the competitors of the
company and details regarding the industry. Moreover, Linked In helps me to
promote social networks with other people. Online websites has help me a lot to
collect relevant details regarding the process used by company to perform various

tasks. It also help me to find out company in which I can apply (Brown, Crookes
and Iverson, 2015).

Employer interview and research -
Answers of each questions
1) Mitchell's & Butlers
2) M&B managed bars, pubs and restaurants in UK, organization provide their best services to
its consumers effectively.
3) Requirement of appropriate and skilled workers is high
4) Monitoring application procedure
5) Expand more knowledge about company, keep up to date about new job opportunities, do not
procrastinate, pay attention in career growth and also focused on goals which they need to
achieve in professional as well as personal career.
6) effective communication skills, leadership, team work, collaboration, and most important
technological skills required in company for doing job.
7) I used social media as job searching platform in which I can get different types of job
opportunities in multinational companies who take care about their employees effectively. Social
media provide current or latest information about trends in market.
8) they do not collect information about organization, show off, less confidence level,
interpretate answer inappropriately and poor dressing are the biggest mistakes that most of the
graduates make applying for new job in company.
9) Interviews is the procedure of identifying the most appropriate and suitable applicants for
specific job role in company.
10) there are 15 people applied for job in organization
11) inbound recruitment and through marketing job vacancy.
12) hiring people is one of the biggest challenge I had experience in my industry because it is
one of the biggest responsibility.
13) Carer development for growth, company culture and work environment around workplace,
strong as well as effective leadership attract applicants towards company.
14) when I graduate I can improve my communication skills which is essential for me.
Company details
1)https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0602404D:US

2) Mitchells and Butlers mission is to provide good quality food and drink services to its
consumers for longer period of time.
3) Local people and visitors in region where they operate uses Mitchell's and Butlers products
and services.
4) They operate their business in England and also operates in Birmingham.
5) Green King, Molson coors, British beer firm, El group, Carlsberg group, Marston's etc. are the
competitors of M&B.
6) UK.
7) Organization spread their business in large area where its turn over increased and they earn
£2,152 million.
8) IBM company work effectively they delivery great quality products or services to people.
REFLECTION
1. What did you gain from talking to potential employers?
It has improved my communication skill and also my confidence has been developed greatly.
2. How did the experience change your perceptions on industry? What surprised
you?
Yes my perception got changed because I was expecting that companies give training to their
employees, but I realized that there is need to have experience in the relevant field then person
can get training to develop professional skills.
3. What skills do you need to think about improving upon?
I need to work on my technical skill surly.
4. What will you now do to build upon your skills to ensure you are more
employable when you graduate?
I will join coaching, by taking guidance of expert I will be able to perform well.
Recruitment
1. job opportunities/graduate programmes
The MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS company offered excellent job opportunity to their
employees , with the best high annual package or many other excellent facilities under there
particular job role.
2. What are the placements and internships offered?

The MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS offered the two types of the placements such as on campus
and off campus this job placement is conducted within the group of institute job is offered as an
off campus placement.
3. Minimum requirements for graduate schemes and placement programmes.
Minimum requirements for the post is to have graduate degree with renowned university.
4. Does the organisation accept applications from applicants needing a work permit?
Yes organization accept application form which help firm in knowing more about applicant.
5. Application deadlines
 20th November 2019
6. Contact details for recruitment team/HR
 0121 498 4747
7. Type of application
 CV
 Online application
 Covering letter
 Company career website
8. Selection process
 Interview test
 Face to face interview
 Assessment centre
 Telephonic interview
 Skype interview
Understanding the culture
1. What are the core values of this organisation?
The core value of the MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS is to be innovative by taking feedback
from customers. It aids to focus on customers by providing them relaxed drinks for any occasion.
2. What does the brand say to me?
3. What are the policies?
MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS complies with flexible working hours policy and equal
opportunity policy.

4. Has the company won any awards related to recruitment in the workplace or its products
and services?
 National Graduate Recruitment Awards
 Best Employer awards
5. What do current graduates/placements say?
In order to target better job opportunities use of external job sites helps graduates to get placed in
company.
6. Is a driving licence required?
Yes, an employee might be eligible for driving work purpose across the city.
7. What training and development are offered?
 On the job training
 Off the job training
8. What benefits are on offered?
 Pay
 holidays
 pension
 private healthcare and nursing facilities
 Provident fund
9. What is your general feeling about the organisation?
IBM is a well reputed company across the globe.
10. Would you like to work for this employer?
Yes, definitely.
11. What could you offer this employer?
The employee can offer its employer by improving the performance of the individual and
perform all the task in the dedicated manner.
12. Skills, knowledge, qualities, experience, attributes.
Employee must have effective communication skills, hard and soft skills, self motivated,
leadership, teamwork capability. He is skilled at performing all the technical task in efficient
manner. He must have effective organizational and leadership skills.
13. 3 questions I will ask at interview.
 What is your greatest professional strength?

 What is the key goal and responsibility of MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS?
 Why do you think you best fit this role?