Professional Identity and Practice: Skills and Development Plan

This report delves into the concept of professional identity and its practical application within a professional context, focusing on the Intercontinental Hotel as a case study. It examines the key benefits of ongoing professional development for various stakeholders, including employers and employees, highlighting the importance of a skilled workforce, up-to-date knowledge, and employee engagement. The report further analyzes professional employer expectations regarding skills and competencies, such as personal presentation, ethical conduct, and business acumen. A self-assessment section evaluates the author's abilities, skills, and competencies for a specific job role, utilizing techniques like SWOT analysis and skill audits. Additionally, it explores various learning theories and approaches relevant to personal and professional development, offering insights into how individuals can enhance their capabilities. The report concludes with a development plan designed to enhance chosen skills and competencies and a simulated job interview analysis, providing valuable perspectives on career advancement within the service industry.

Professional
Identity And
Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Key benefits of ongoing professional development for different stakeholders.....................1
P2 Examine professional employer expectations regarding their skills and competencies........3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P3 Evaluate their own ability, skills and competencies for specific job role .............................4
P4 Learning theories and approaches for personal and professional development process........5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P5 Development plan to enhance chosen skills and competencies within the specific work.....7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P6 Job Interview for services industry for a suitable role ..........................................................9
P7. Strengths and weakness of applied interview process........................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
A professional identity is the set of meanings that individuals use to define how they
perceive themselves in a professional context (Salifu and Agbenyega, 2016) . It is a form of
concept of individual beliefs, values, motivation and experiences in its current professional life.
The practice relates to an individual person to analysis self in order to understand professional
role. The aim of the report to identify employment opportunities and career progression at
competitive environment. It is vital that new employees appreciate the value of the correct skills
and competences which is expected by employers. To understand the concept of the report
selected organisation Inter Continental hotel, it is a British multinational hospitality company
and headquarter in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. Such as report focused on importance
of ongoing professional development and career opportunities as well as assessment of own
skills. Along with also designed professional development plan to manage skills in proper
manner.
TASK 1
P1 Key benefits of ongoing professional development for different stakeholders
Company Overview – Intercontinental hotel is a British multinational hospitality
company and the headquarter of the hotel in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. The hotel can
provide luxury rooms. Food facility and accommodation services to their customers. They have
about 842749 guests rooms and 5656 hotels across nearly 100 countries. The hotel have various
brands like intercontinental, Regent hotels, six sense hotels and many others.
Key Benefits of professional development – The professional development is
presenting as continuous process to help an individual to improve their skills and capabilities.
For this they are attending various seminars, complete course and take workshops etc. While,
ongoing professional development helps create and maintain morale of staff members and is
thought attract higher quality staff to an organization (Tseng and Kuo, 2014). There are defined
benefits of ongoing profession development in reference to stakeholders such as employer and
employee -
Benefits to the employer - Skilled workforce – On the basis of ongoing professional development, employer will be
capable to acquire skilled workforce in an organisation. The workforce can help to
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operate various functions in effective manner. As per the Intercontinental hotel use
effective skills of employee through professional development plan. Up to date knowledge – To know about their employees, employer can use professional
development plan and it will provide up to date information. The Intercontinental hotel
apply professional skills of employees to increase productivity and utilise for employee
development.
 Employee engagement through development opportunities – The employees can be
connected to organisational tasks when company provide appropriate development
opportunities. Through ongoing professional development employer can provide it to
employee and Intercontinental hotel use to find out market activities in effective manner
(Hayward and Li, 2014) .
Benefits to employee - Intrinsic motivation – The professional development help to employees regarding their
work because it will work as motivation way. The development plan increase their skills
and abilities so as reflect increase their confidence. Like in Intercontinental hotel,
professional development plan provide advantage to employee to be motivated regarding
their work. Personal Satisfaction – In any organisation personal satisfaction important to every
employee because without expiation they can not work in effective manner. Through
personal development plan analysis the needs and wants of employee then fulfil as per
the requirement. For example Intercontinental hotel take feedback from employees
regarding their work. If any issue will be created so sort out on time.
 Increased Employability – With the help of professional development company satisfy to
their employees so as a result they become loyal towards the company. The main reason
of increase employability that they have sufficient skills and capabilities regarding to
their responsibility. Same as in Intercontinental hotel, its employees will be loyal towards
the company due to professional development.
So these are the main advantage of the ongoing professional development for several
stakeholders.
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P2 Examine professional employer expectations regarding their skills and competencies
It is essential for the companies that employees have sufficient skills and abilities
regarding to their tasks. In the context to Intercontinental hotel provide different types services to
their customer as per their demand so for this need to employees have skills to maintain related
with customers (Brooks, 2016) . If they wants to assist manager regarding several tasks and
activities then need to focus following skills and competencies - Personal presentation and appearance – It is commonly said that “first impression is the
last impression” so it is essential for the employer to present in effective manner in front
of employees and customers. To present in front of customer need to effective
communication skills. In reference to Intercontinental hotel for assistant manager need to
present their skills with good personality. Appropriateness of appearance in special context – In order to appearance need to
present in special context of employers which can help to attract customer attention. It is
considering as important skill in order to maintain business by employer. Like in
Intercontinental hotel required to assistant manager to appear in special way on special
occasion. For example – festival , events and parties. Working responsibly and ethically – It is form of skills which is related to accomplished
a task with full of responsibility in an ethical manner. If an employer have these skills so
influence to employees in effective manner. If employer have not effective skills so it
will be difficult handle other employees and complete task. In the Intercontinental hotel,
it is important for manager to work with full responsibility and given their best.
 Maintaining professional standards – The professional standards consider as important
standard which can related to determination, level of care and skills according to job role
of specific person. In the Intercontinental hotel, this is essential for assistant manager
that they should try to maintain the professional standard of working (Prosek and Hurt,
2014) .
There are mentioned skills which are expected in professional employer. Therefore,
feature of Intercontinental hotel required for assistant manager to have above skills. Along with,
an assistant manager should have below skills - Business Skills – The particular skills related to business where have knowledge about
the business operations and different role. Herein, for Intercontinental hotel it is
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important to assistant manager to know about business activities in detailed way like
about different departments of hotel, room services etc. Professional Skills – These type skills connected to specific job role for employer and
employees. Such as Intercontinental hotel, it is important to manager to have knowledge
of management and related activities. For example – Ethics, punctuality etc. Soft Skills – The particular skills can influence to other people through communication
regarding to specific job. For assistant manager it is required to have soft skills in their
work like confidence, creativity and innovation.
 Hard skills – It is opposite of soft skills because hard skills can be utilised for done any
difficult work in well manner. For assistant manager it is required to handle employees
with few hard skills like some knowledge of management theories, new techniques etc.
(Dang, 2013)
TASK 2
P3 Evaluate their own ability, skills and competencies for specific job role
It is more essential to examine the own abilities, skills and competencies regarding to
specific job role. An individual can able to analysis himself to know about him. There are several
type of techniques for self assessment such as technical skill, soft skill audit, personal SWOT
analysis etc. There are defined features regarding to assistant manager to analysis himself which
is mentioned below -
Personal Swot Analysis – The particular technique related to examine own ability and
weakness like strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. Therefore defined my personal SWOT
analysis - Strength – It can show as positive feature which is inside me and beneficial for progress
in effective manner. As a role of assistant manager my strength is that I have good
communication skills, good presentation skills as well as good in interpersonal skills. Weakness – It will show negative feature of an employer and there is required to
overcome from these aspects as soon as possible otherwise it will become barrier for
performance development. As a role of assistant manager my weakness to lack of
management skills, problem solving skills as well as time management skill.
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 Opportunity – It is considering as positive possibility which can help to get growth in
future and I have opportunity to promote myself to become senior manager from assistant
manager (Bleach, 2014) .
 Threat – There are considering negative issues which will become reason of growth of an
individual person. On the basis of me threat is increasing competition in the corporate
sector so it will create barriers and face various types of problems.
Technical and soft skill audit – The particular audit related to analysis of technical and
soft skill. In reference to assistant manager technical skill does not matter too much. In present
time as an individual person have all type skills can help to get growth easily so as an assistant
manager I have some technical skills like theoretical knowledge of management theories. It can
help to understand technical issues and take appropriate decision as well as soft skills also
essential for assistant manager. I have some soft skills like presentation skills, communication
skills, polite nature etc. Apart from these skills I have not some significant skills like self
confidence, delegation etc. In addition, I am little average in some fields such as creativity,
essential decision and initiation.
There are presented evaluation of over all skills which is related to me, these are as follows -
S.NO. Skill Good Average Bad
1 Communication skills ✔ - -
2 Presentation skills ✔ - -
3 Interpersonal skills ✔ - -
4 Managerial skills - - ✔
5 Time management skills - - ✔
6 Problem solving skills - - ✔
7 Creativity - ✔ -
8 Confidence - ✔ -
9 Delegation - - ✔
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P4 Learning theories and approaches for personal and professional development process
There are defined different types of theories and approaches which can related to
personal development and these are helping to improve skills and capabilities in effective
manner. Therefore, presented some learning theories and approaches which is mentioned below
in reference to Intercontinental hotel -
Learning approaches – It is considering as theory which will help to students to
understand various approach to how they study, depending upon the perceived objectives. There
are defined three basic learning approaches which are as follows -
 Behaviourist Approach – The particular approach connected to employees approach
towards solving the issues or problems (Hammond, Cross and Moore, 2016) . In simple
terms, it is related to learners response towards the stimulus. The advantage of the
specific approach to making capable to the employees to solve the issues speedily as soon
as possible. In the context to Intercontinental hotel can use particular approach top
intensify the abilities to staff members regarding to sort out of conflicts.
 Cognitive Approach – According to this approach applied psychological concept which
can use to study of mind and thinking process of an individuals. As per the approach
Intercontinental hotel analysis the ability of staff members then if recognise any issues
that time provide training to them for improvement.
 Humanist Approach – In the approach defined about the experience of individual person.
In other words, this approach destruct the stress or negative element from the individual
behaviour. The Intercontinental hotel applied following approach in order to reduce stress
from employees mind and try to reduce their work load and perform very well.
Learning theory – There are defined learning theory based on the Gagne's model which is as
follows -
The Gagne's model form of learning theory that will help to provide direction step by step
to leaders, managers and trainers to direct the learners in effective manner. There are classified
the theory into nine steps that is used to direction, which are as follows -
 Gaining attention – It is considering as first step of the theory where leader focus on the
learners.
 Information learners about objectives – In the second step provide guidance and all
detailed information regarding to organisation like mission, vision and objectives.
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 Stimulation recall for prior learning – In the step compare previous learning concept from
new learning concept so as a result leader know that which type concept help to gain
progress (Chee, Mehrotra and Ong, 2015) .
 Presenting the stimulus – As per the step provide new information to the learners.
 Provide learning guidance – The leader guide to new learners to continue on new
information.
 Raise the performance – In the step a leader focus on the performance of learners and
highlighted.
 Providing feedback – After focus on the performance provide feedback in positive and
negative manner.
 Evaluation the performance – There are measuring performance of learners which is
based on reality.
 Retention and transfer – After measure the performance, the leader take decision
regarding to learners that retention and transfer of learners.
So on the basis of Gagne's learning theory intercontinental hotel can be applied as learning tool.
Due to this, their employees learning capability will be improved (Moss, Gibson and Dollarhide,
2014) .
TASK 3
P5 Development plan to enhance chosen skills and competencies within the specific work
Performance Development Plan – It is considering as flexible tool that is used to
improving performance of employees. The plan will be used as strongest performers to
determine new ways in which they can contribute with staff members who are not meeting
expectations. For this plan I can improve my skills as a role of assistant manager (Liddell and
et.al, 2014). Therefore, the development plan mentioned below to use SMART target approach -
Current skills
and
competencies
Professional
development plan
(Using SMART target)
Evaluation of
progress
Evaluation of
effectiveness of personal
development plan
Managerial skills Specific - Through
particular skill increase
management skills in
To determination of
progress managing
room services and
Through analysis check
out improvement in
managerial skills and give
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effective manner.
Measurable – To
measure particular skill
focus on managerial
activities.
Achievable – The goal
and managerial skills
should be achievable.
Relevant - It is connected
to job of assistant
manager
Time - The estimated
time to increase
particular skills need to
about 3 months.
catering in hotel own
responsibility.
different task to learner.
Problem solving
skills
Specific - To improve
skill of problem solving.
Measurable - It is
measure through
different situation
analysis and check
ability.
Achievable – To analysis
different types task and
situation in an
organisation
Relevant - It can help to
sort out issues of
assistant manager.
Time – for this skill
For this analysis the
real world problem
which is related to
specific organisation
(Hamilton, 2013) .
The development plan can
be done by appraisal
whether the learner is
capable to sort out issues
on the basis of self
confidence.
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required about 6 months
Creativity skills Specific – To improve
creativity in their work.
Measurable - To
measure skill making
different ideas and apply
creativity regarding
decision making.
Achievable – To solve
any issues apply creative
and innovative ideas.
Relevant – It is important
for assistant manager
(Frankel and Austin,
2013) .
Time – It is improve in 1
year.
The progression
analysis of the skill
through innovative
ideas and make
essential decisions.
After applying personal
development plan improve
criteria of innovation and
effectively apply ideas to
solve problem in critical
situations.
TASK 4
P6 Job Interview for services industry for a suitable role
Interview – It is a formal communication between two people where one person asked
questions and another person given answer. Question asked by the interviewer and answer given
by interviewee.
There are many type of interview processes which is conducted by interviewer as per the
position and company policies - Formal Interview – According to this type of interview conducted by interviewer in
systematic manner and already set questions. There are asking approx 5 to 12 questions
by interviewee.
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 Informal Interview – It is different from formal interview because there are not set any
structure for interview. There is not set any specific questions regarding to position of job
(Khalili and et.al, 2013)
There are presenting scenario for the job role of hospitality manager and the formal
interview process is taken. There are defined job interview regarding to selected job role -
Formal interview for the post of “Hospitality Manager”
1.
Interviewer- Give me your brief introduction?
Interviewee- Myself John Margaret and I am from Manchester. I have done graduation in hotel
management and I have completed my post graduation in commerce stream.
2.
Interviewer - Do you have any job experience?
Interviewee - No, I am fresher.
3.
Interviewer - Why is your long term goal in hotel management field?
Interviewee – My short term goal to become hotel manager and get growth in hospitality sector.
To apply new innovative techniques to satisfy customers.
4.
Interviewer - Why should I hire you?
Interviewee - You should hire me because of my potential skills and capabilities. You may find
any other candidate who have some experience but you can not find a candidate who have skills
and capabilities such as me.
P7. Strengths and weakness of applied interview process.
In the task defined about the strength and weakness of interview process in order to know
where is need to improvement - Strength – There are some benefits of formal interview process hat how can interviewee
face all questions in effective manner and easily judge their knowledge power. For this
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