Assessing Professional Identity, Skills, and Development at Marriott

This report delves into the significance of professional identity and practice, focusing on its impact on career advancement and competency enhancement within the context of Marriott. It explores the benefits of ongoing professional development for various stakeholders, including employers and employees, highlighting aspects such as improved performance, employee morale, and retention. The report assesses the skills, abilities, and competencies required for a shift supervisor role, including communication, self-management, and problem-solving. It also includes a self-evaluation of the author's skills through a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report further discusses learning theories and approaches relevant to professional development and concludes with the creation of a professional development plan to enhance specific skills. Finally, it addresses the job interview process, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses within the hospitality sector.

PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
AND PRACTICE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Examination of key benefits of on-going professional development for different
stakeholders within Marriott...................................................................................................1
P2 Assess skills, abilities and competencies for a particular role..........................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P3 Evaluate their own ability, skills and competencies for specific job role.........................3
P4. Range of Learning Theories and Approaches..................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P5. Construction of a professional development plan to enhance chosen skills and
competences within a specific work context..........................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
P6. Job interview for hospitality sectors.................................................................................8
P7. Key strengths and weaknesses of the job interview process..........................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Professional Identity and practice is one of the most imperative and effective elements that
is directed towards ensuring professional growth of an individual. Furthermore, it provides
people with opportunity towards enhancing their future career prospects, as well as better and
more effective contribution within enhancing their competencies (Marañón and Pera, 2015).
Therefore, in relation to this, the report below is based on Marriott, which is one of the most
recognised and preferred hotels in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the assignment covers
effective exploration towards the importance of on-going professional development and self-
directed learning to enhance the professional identity and career opportunities. On the other
hand, the report would be assessing one’s own skills, competencies and different learning and
development approaches. In addition, designing a professional development plan would also be
covered in the assignment. Furthermore, the report would be including demonstration of a range
of service industry and transferable skills for a specific job application. In this report the specific
role that has been taken into consideration is Shift supervisor.
TASK 1
P1. Examination of key benefits of on-going professional development for different stakeholders
within Marriott
In context of the service industry organisation, On-going professional development refers
to all the processes and procedures which individuals implement in order to consistently
improvise their skills and attributes (Wald and et. al., 2015). This process directly enhances their
effectiveness and efficiencies in their job role, which is an active requirement of the sector.
However, this element has various benefits for different stakeholders within the sector. Some of
these benefits in context of the organisation are explored below:
Employer Benefits:
 Consistency: One of the key benefits which employers receive in relation to ongoing
professional development is competitive edge and consistency in business. With
continuous improvement in skills and attributes, employees within service sector
improvise their performance standards in relation to customer service. This results in
acquisition of more customers and prominent competitive edge over other companies
within the marketplace with the help of business consistency.
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 Improved employee performance: Another very crucial benefit of ongoing
development in relation with the employer is that they get to work with a highly skilled
workforce. The reason for the same is because with consistency in improvisation and
betterment of competencies like customer service, adherence to law, working with new
technologies and techniques and so forth, workforce appropriately showcases
professional standards and expertise in their duties, which ensures better opportunities for
the employer in future in relation to quality provided by them (Edwards, 2015).
 Improved employee morale and satisfaction: With the help of professional
development employee morale and satisfaction can be boosted which is helpful in getting
high business efficacy and position within marketplace. When employees are highly
satisfied then their working efficacy could be stretched to the maximum level and this is
providing benefits to the employer and the whole organisation.
 Ensures employee retention: With the help of professional development programmes
and employee satisfaction, retention of employee can be enhanced. As employees are
asset of the business and their satisfaction lead them to stay at one job location and
provide maximum working efficacy.
 Strengthened company profile and reputation: When any business is having high job
satisfaction of employee then business may have high heights of marketplace success
which builds up success and high goodwill of them. Company profile can be improvised
when employees are performing in a better way.
Employee Benefits:
 Helps maximize staff potential: In relation to the employees who indulge within
ongoing professional development, it allows them to be more effective in their work,
which ultimately enables them to gather positive responses from their employers and ease
in working. This ensures increase in their personal satisfaction and staff potential in an
appropriate manner.
 Promote staff development: Every employee seeks expertise and control within their
job role, which is one of the key motivators for working effectively. Ongoing
professional development helps these people to increase their competencies and handle
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even complex tasks in a better and professional manner. Hence, this provides them with a
complete ownership of their role within the organisation.
 Improves motivation and retention: Employee is boosted to work along with
motivation and by which retention can be improvised. This is having directly impact on
profitability and productiveness.
P2 Assess skills, abilities and competencies for a particular role
Each organization tends to prefer to hire students with proper skills and skills to fulfill a
given job role at the work environment. Skills are the abilities or traits to accomplish important
component within a person. Marriot international Hotels Company provides several customers
varying kinds of facilities according to their wants, requests or tastes. Getting professional
workers who can manage or provide needed products to consumers is very necessary for that
reason at hotel. Shift supervisors will follow the following expertise coupled with competencies:
Appropriateness of appearance: Businesses may draw consumer interest in relation to
the presentation that is required to provide specific meaning. Having appeared their selves in
front of consumers is a vital attribute that can keep company running. Assistant directors in the
selected hotel are expected to act on certain days in a specific manner. For example, the
supervisors should wear appealing and respectable outfits all through hotel anniversary
celebrations or carnivals (Sutherland and Markauskaite, 2012).
Presentation and appearance: Employers can view or interact with staff and clients in an
acceptable way. We require good social capabilities to show and pose in front of customers. The
Ceo of Marriott International Hotels Group will show their expertise as well as personalities.
Working in ethical as well as responsible manner: These skills are needed for ethically and
professionally completing goals or practices. Specific hotel businesses acquire such power to
persuade staff members, handle complicated matters and also accomplish things. They assign
tasks together with appropriate manner.
In skilled employer these listed skills are required. Along with this, skills and
competencies that candidates to the selected job must have these skills as which are explained as
under:
Communication: For a candidate to be selected on position of restaurant supervisor they are
required to hold effective skills of communication so that they can communicate with employee
and customer in a very easy manner. With the help of effective communication skills customer
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can be catered by restaurant supervisor in a very effective manner as he or she can understand
needs of them in a very prompt manner. This skill is highly beneficial for the company and their
personal development as well.
Self-management and personal wellness: These skills are associated with self-managerial
and personal awareness as candidate is required to have skills of self-management as this
provides them high management over their own skills set and capabilities. This skill is known to
be the most prominent skill which makes a candidate highly distinguishable from others.
Problem solving: This is the skill which is helpful for the candidate to solve their coming
complexities within business. This works as catalyst in performance of the business and personal
as well. This is the skill which provides guidelines and path to solve a complex situation in
business.
Critical thinking: Every applicant is required to possess this skill as this helps the candidate
to provide solution of their problems by which high business and personal benefits can be
attained by them. Critical thinking is the ability which provides a way to solve problems in a
very significant way.
Professional and work ethics: In every business work ethics are required to follow by
employees and other co-worker so as to maintain group harmony and collectiveness. This is the
skill which guides the candidate to execute their functions in such a way that all the working and
operation can be executed in way ethical manner which provides immense opportunities for
individual to grow.
TASK 2
P3 Evaluate their own ability, skills and competencies for specific job role
It is really necessary to evaluate or assess your own talents, competencies or abilities
relevant to a particular job position. A person analyzes himself closely to learn his or her ability
or competences. Self-assessment methods cover technological knowledge, professional SWOT
analyses and much more. Senior managers should follow strategies for determining their own
competencies, skills or talents:
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Personal SWOT Analysis: It is a paradigm that aims to analyze one's own capabilities,
vulnerabilities, risks and opportunities. This is further listed as follows:
Analytical skills: As far I concern I am very good at analytical skills, for the positions like
restaurant supervisor analytical skills are essential to be held. This skill is one of my personal
strength which makes me capable to analyse things in a very effective manner.
Critical thinking skills: This is the skill which makes the person to think in a way beyond
their capability and find out hidden facts. Within this context this is my weakness that I can’t
find latent aspect on some situation by which I always difficulties in situations.
Tech savvy: This skill involves abilities to use technological gadgets. Within this context I
am very strong and adaptive in using new technology and I have a very curious nature which
makes me learn things in a very prominent way. This is the reason that I am very much efficient
to work with latest technology which is required by job role of restaurant supervisor.
Leadership skills: This skill involves leading people in some group or organisation. From
my school time I was very apt in managing team so this makes me an effective leader. Within
this job role leadership skills are one of my strengths by which this job role is appropriate for me.
Interpersonal skills: This skill involves behaviour and attitude of person during making
interaction with others. Within this skill as I far I concern I am a very short tempered person
which makes my behaviour bad for some persons. For improving this I am taking various
sessions of meditation.
SWOT analysis : For analysis of the individual abilities and competence it is crucial to
undertake SWOT analysis with the help of which an individual can identify the strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threat. SWOT analysis for my skills and abilities is given below:
Strengths Weaknesses
My strengths includes my analytical skills,
leadership skills, interpersonal skills as with
the help of all these I can efficiently undertake
my roles and can communicate with others.
Also with the help of better teams can be
My creative skills are weak which are restrict
the ability to think and recommend ways of
doing things differently. Along with this I
could initiate for as level of confidence is not
high.
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developed (Warner, 2014).
Opportunities Threats
As my communication and interpersonal skills
are better I can easily establish channel with
the parters as well as a better and
understanding team can be developed. Also I
have opportunity to improve my technical
skills as the need of improving technical
knowledge has been increasing.
The consistently changing needs and
requirements at the workplace can affect my
ability of managing various issues as well as in
undertaking various challenges (Clark, 2018) .
Technical and soft skill audit: Such a paradigm is focused on both technological and soft
competencies research. Professional skills applicable to assistant managers should not hinder
their position in the job (Warner, 2014). Though at the same time, acquiring information of all
ability forms is really needed to accomplish personal development together with professional
life. Professional expertise of relation of manager assistant, they hold basic understanding of
business theories. It aims people clarify the problems and to talk about leadership decision at
about the same time. For the boss, soft skills include problem-solving abilities, team member,
listening ability and leadership qualities.
S. No. Skill Good Average Bad
1 Creativity - - ✔
2 Interpersonal skills ✔ - -
3 Time management skills - ✔ -
4 Initiation - - ✔
5 Communication skills ✔ - -
6 Delegation - ✔ -
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P4. Range of Learning Theories and Approaches
For the job role such as HR officer within a business, this is highly essential that various
learning theories are applied and reviewed so as to excel their job role and provide high
assistance to the employee. These approaches are helpful in providing high benefits to the
business by which immense benefits can be attained. With the help of these theories personal
benefits are achieved by the business and individual as well. These are the aspects by which
proper development of personal skills can be enumerated by individual that is going to help the
business in enhancing their growth opportunities. Some of the theories are elaborated as under:
Learning Theories: Cognitivism: This is the theory which is based on mental processes and provides high
focus on memory assistance such as recognition and problem solving techniques with
critical thinking. These are the aspect which are providing high speciality to individuals.
This is a significant theory which is admired by business of service industry as this is
providing high positive implications on decision making by which business may get high
results on success with positive sigh (Clark, 2018) .
 Constructivism: As according to this theory this theory is known as constructive process
by which new learning approaches can be received by the business. Within objective
realities self-objective representations are obtained by the business in which constructive
process takes place. Various concepts are learned through this approach as these
techniques so as to provide environment of hypothesis and personal experiences. This
approach is useful in providing personal experiences within concepts and theories.
 Behaviourist: Within this three theories are being examined which are elaborated as
under:
 Classical conditioning: This theory states that behaviour of an individual is
monotonous combination of stimuli and gathered responses. This can be
said that within the job role of restaurant supervisor this approach is making
them understand the outer behaviour and surroundings by analysing
situation and their own stimuli.
 Operant conditioning: This theory states that on the basis of reward and
punishments future actions taken by a person is recognised and executed.
Within the job role of restaurant supervisor this theory is providing ways to
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solve any complexities or difficulties in such a manner that rewards and
punishments can be provided on the basis of actions.
 Social learning: This theory is focused on personal interactions and traits in
which communication is being established. This involves two major aspects
of criticism and behaviourism, in the job role of restaurant supervisor this
theory is having positive implications as this provides immense
opportunities to interact with another person by which thoughts can be
interchanged.
Learning Approaches:
Learning approaches are the aspects in which learning abilities of an individual are taken and
enhanced by applying various theories. These theories provide abilities to understand scenarios
in which personal attributes are taken. Learning abilities improvises personal abilities to grasp
knowledge and skills. Some of the theories are elaborated as under: Kolb’s Learning Cycle: This approach is having four stages of learning which is highly
effective in final results or outcomes. The first stage is providing new experiences and
ways to encounter the same. The second stage is making the learner comfortable to
determine inconsistencies in recognising personal experiences. The third step includes
preparation of abstract approaches and the last step is about applying these generated
ideas in most effective manner. These steps are sum of learning and with the help of these
steps inconsistencies can be eliminated in learning process.
 VARK Learning Style: According to this theory, various ways are categorised in which
learning style can be identified and entails about best suitable approach as well. This
approach is having high emphasise on four learning styles which are fundamentally
known. These styles include audio learning, visual learning, kinetics, questionnaires and
reading or writing abilities. These aspects are helpful in recognising new concepts for
learner and their power of grasping concepts obtained thereon.
From the above learning theories and approaches it has been analysed that these theories are
providing effective learning abilities to individual by which mental capabilities are improvised.
Furthermore for my job role of HR officer, the most suitable theory is Constructivism Theory as
this theory is helpful for me to enhance my knowledge via providing me effective personal
experience. This theory is allowing me to test hypothesis with the help of social negotiations and
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other factors. Within learning approach, VARK learning style is having a meaning which is best
suitable for the business as this is rendering expertise techniques which are helpful in enhancing
my future capacities (Ismail, 2017).
TASK 3
P5. Construction of a professional development plan to enhance chosen skills and competences
within a specific work context
Developmental process: Development process is having 7 stages by which career goals
can be set and success can be inherited. Within this context process in enumerated as under:
Step 1: Defining career goals: I wish to work in a prominent hotel industry company at a higher
level of management position which is operating at global periphery.
Step 2: Setting goals (where are you now?): As I mentioned that my career goal is to work in a
higher managerial level in renowned establishment and my experience in restaurant management
field is helping to enhance my skills of managerial level and interpersonal level as well.
Step 3: Taking inventory (how are you going to get there?): For this I need to work on my
interpersonal skills and time management skills. Along with this I am making short term goals
which are enhancing my career opportunities to grab some more prestigious job roles.
Step 4: Defining your action steps (what support do you want?): Appropriate support is
required by the team which I am going to supervise along with the roles, responsibilities the
power of decision making is required to be possessed so that I can execute plan of actions in a
proper manner.
Step 5: Talking with your manager (how to measure success?): My success would be
measured on the basis of various aspects such as feedbacks received from my team and those
customers whom I have catered and my responses to them as well.
Step 6: Measuring success (key closing steps): Interpersonal skills and managerial skills are
the pre-requisite and continuing factors within job tenure. Moreover these are needed to be
enhancing throughout my professional life so as to fulfil my career goals and objectives.
Step 7: Getting input & visualizing success: From being a restaurant supervisor I would be
managing various departments and teams within hotel industry which is creating path for my
final goal of reaching to the position of higher managerial level.
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PDP plan is defined as the development plan in which various aspects are taken by the
individual in which they are going to follow their development process and enhance some of
their skills for which the plan has been prepared. In this context PDP plan for my skills are
elaborated as under:
Target Action to achieve Evidence of
completion
Target date
To provide effective
management over
customer and
maintaining effective
relations with them so
as to obtain positive
attitude from them.
With the help of using
emerging skills and
related knowledge
within specified time
frame and
implementing them.
Trust of customer and
obtained value of my
words.
Within 60 days
More curiosity in
catching new skills
and new capabilities.
Reading new books,
journals and
publications
By modernising and
keeping my
knowledge regarding
the company up to
date. (Lewis and et.
al., 2016).
Within 80 days
Encouraging my own
capabilities to handle
more work.
The entire tasks which
are assigned by top
level authorities are
completed by me on
timely manner.
Similarly all the
Finishing all the given
tasks and
responsibilities within
given time frame.
Within 100 days
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