An Analysis of Professional Identity and Practice at Thomas Cook

This report examines professional identity and practice within the context of the Thomas Cook travel company. It begins with an introduction defining professional identity and practices, then proceeds to analyze the key benefits of ongoing professional development for various stakeholders within the organization, such as increased confidence, easier succession planning, and improved efficiency. The report then explores professional employer expectations regarding competencies and skills, emphasizing the importance of communication, problem-solving, and positive behavior. A self-assessment of skills, abilities, and competencies is provided, along with an analysis of various learning theories and approaches, including cognitive, humanistic, behavioral, and social learning theories, and their application in personal and professional development. The report concludes with the construction of a development plan, a simulated job interview analysis, and a discussion of the interview's strengths and weaknesses.

Professional Identity
and Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Analyse key benefits of on-going professional development for various stakeholders....1
P2 Examine professional employer expectations of competencies and skills........................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P3 Examine own skills, abilities and competencies...............................................................4
P4 Analyse various learning theories and approaches used by developing personal and
professional processes............................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P5 Construct a development plan...........................................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
P6 Undertake a job interview for a service industry..............................................................7
P7 Strengths and Weaknesses of the interview process.........................................................8
CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals ................................................................................................................9
Learning and Teaching: Theories, Approaches and Models. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304119354_Learning_and_Teaching_Theories_Appr
oaches_and_Models>.....................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity refers to the concept which will aid in examining about one self that
what they are understanding or perceiving about themselves in context of job related. It is the
identity developed with the help of person's experience, beliefs, attitudes and values whereas
professional practices means that application of skills, knowledge and capabilities used by
individuals in their profession within their workplace (Barley and Kunda, 2016). Along with this,
it is also accompanied with the manner any individual behave within the organisation. For
understanding this in detailed form, Thomas Cook is chosen as the base company. It is a British
Global Travel Company, which was established in the year 2007 by merging two companies.
These two companies are Thomas Cook AG and MyTravel Group plc. In the present report
various elements related to professional as well as personal identity are going to be discussed. It
includes different key benefits in respect of professional development related to numerous
stakeholders. In addition to this, it includes one's own skills and competencies as well as personal
development plan. At last, undertake a job interview as well as its strengths and weaknesses are
going to be covered in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Analyse key benefits of on-going professional development for various stakeholders.
Company's Overview: Thomas cook is one of the biggest and best known British
company work in Travel and Tourism sector. The company started its operations in the year
1841 in London. Company offer various kinds of services to their customers in Europe and
United Kingdom. Products offered by Thomas Cook includes hotels, charters, holiday packages,
resorts, cruise lines and many more. It is a public limited company with the total revenue of
around £ 9548 million. Thomas cook offer different types of travel and tourism services by
which their customer's can get better relax and also gives better feedback to the company as per
their good experience within the business firm.
Key Benefits of Stakeholder:
CPD is terminology which is commonly known as Continuous Processing Development,
that refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and observations
which an individual perceived through formal and informal ways in their overall development
of performance. This result in attaining market advantage from the competitor's. While taking
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actions giving training session to each members result in effective establishment in the work
culture of any organisation or company. While adapting the essential elements in the
programmes of Thomas Cook company in the travel industries are mentioned briefly:
Build Confidence And Credibility- This factor defines in creating, a confidence and
trust level within an individual for effective productive result in an organisation or company.
The stakeholders of Thomas Cook firm, while introducing this aspect in the working
environment will result in raising motivation level of employee's. It is very important for the
managers to develop the positive, trusted culture with high confidence in their staff members.
Easy Succession Planning- This aspect of processing development includes open mind
with clear vision for the company. In reference to the Thomas Cook company, the stakeholders
have to develop this strategy in the work culture in order to know the skills, abilities and
knowledge at individual level as compared with group efforts and as a result, analyse the
frequency of productivity. Each staff members, have to proactive, with innovative idea
generations.
Increases Retention- The main aim is to retain quality employee's and increase labour
turnover rate in any firm, industry of organisation. In regards with Thomas Cook firm in travel
industries, when the stakeholders tries to motivate their employee's by providing them
incentives and other benefits apart from basic pay grade. This influences in raising the
satisfaction level in staff members which might be beneficial in their work efforts.
Reenergizes Staff- This factors breaks the monotonous culture in the work. The
stakeholder of Thomas Cook, while changing the environment of the company will bring
enthusiastic energy in the employee's which create a positivity nature in the individual and
produce quality efforts in the given task. The employer's should boost their employee's morale
through different activities and engaging them to participate in these practises.
Improved Efficiency- This aspect is based on improving efficiency of staff member in
an company. In context with Thomas Cook , the stakeholders can take step for increment in the
efficiency like developing a two way communication between the employee's which will result
in effective work flow in operations.
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P2 Examine professional employer expectations of competencies and skills.
According to the present world, this can be said that each and every company expected
from their employees that they should work properly towards their achievements in a proper
way. In reference to the Thomas cook they always deals in the travels and tourism sector and
gives better services t their clients and customer's in a proper way (Sims, 2011). For making this
better company has to communicate in a very different ways so that their customer's can get
attracted at higher manner and company successfully able to achieve their target effectively.
With the help of this company is able to enhance their working efficiency and they can satisfied
the customers at proper higher level. Now the selected organisation is needed to have proper
quality of learning and communication skills to enhance the customer's trust properly. So that an
individual can successfully become the good employer at better level. There are few points
followed by the Thomas Cook, listed below:
Poor communication : This is very important skills so that it should be followed by the
customer support executive of Tomas cook in order to grab future opportunities and customer's
satisfaction by their services and goods properly. It will increase the good value of this firm
effectively.
Problem solving skills: This is the another skills by which individual is able to resolve
the issues within the organisation. In reference to the Thomas Cook they are using this skills in
order to increase efficiency in a proper way. There managers and employee's are able to resolved
the issues of their customer's so on the basis of this they get good feedback and achieves their
effective goals properly.
Positive behaviour: This is totally based on the customer's experienced because in this
individual's of an organisation plays an important role and help their clients in a proper way.
While they are communicating with their customer's than manager of an organisation is able to
check their attitude by which they can achieve their goals. In reference to the Thomas Cook,
manager are always ready to look the quality of their employee's behaviour if employee's will
make positive culture with positive attitude that company appreciated them in order to attain
their desir3ed goals effectively.
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TASK 2
P3 Examine own skills, abilities and competencies
According to the above consideration about specific job role which is customer's
executive taken by the Thomas Cook company. Now there is need large range of skills, abilities
as well as competencies. At the same time, I have been realised that I need to go with customer's
executive profile for Thomas Cook so that I can definitely proof myself. But my problems is that
some times I feel weak in the few ways In which I a, not able to define the answer properly. So
that it can affects my skills as well as organisation. For this I need to prefer some books and
newspapers which can improve my skills in a effective way. So that I will be capable to adopt
new things and strategies in a proper way. In order to make proper analysis, I have observed that
I can do better work for the Thomas Cook and it will increase their value in front of the other
people. With the help of this I m also able to increase my working efficiency and I am also
motivating by taking the different aspects of knowledge and joined effective training and
development programmes. Now this can be totally said that this company have large number of
employees who are good in work as well as have capability to face any kind of issues within the
firm. So that they can achieve their goals and objectives in a proper way.
On the other side, at the time of tough competition, This selected company is looking for
the good profile of customer's executive in order to increase their workforce level at good
manner. With the help of this, I am capable to fill this vacant job within the Thomas Cook so that
I need to have good skills for analyse them I requires to become the customer's executive within
the organisation. For this there are some skills are given below:
S No. Capable in: Score Desired ratings to
fulfill requirements
of Thomas Cook
Strength (positive
numbering) & Weakness
(Negative numbering)
1 Problem Solving 7 8 -1 (Weakness)
2 Communication 6 4 2 (Strength)
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3 Presentation 5 6 -1 (Weakness)
4 Time Management 5 8 3 (Strength)
5 Interpersonal Skills 6 9 3 (Strength)
P4 Analyse various learning theories and approaches used by developing personal and
professional processes
Learning approaches and theories are very helpful aspects within the organisation in
which a person can improve their personal and professional skills in a proper way. There are few
professional and personal skill which is mainly required by the Thomas Cook, those are listed
below:
Cognitive Approach: In reference with this psychological theory which is determined
the process of thinking. As per the selected organisation Thomas Cook, manager always adopt
several types of approaches and strategies in order understand consumer's perception so that they
can make easily better services to their customer's by providing better quality of goods and
services in a proper way. According to this employee's of this organisation can easily make good
relation with customer's and also able to offer several aspects like discount offer on ticket,
holiday packages to attain their valuable goals and objectives in an appropriate manner.
Humanistic learning approach: According to this approach or skill people can reduce
their stress level within the organisation. Therefore, selected organisation mainly applies this
strategy to make their employee's capable to identifying their behaviour in a various way. Apart
from this approach also affects the staff members who all are working together within the
organisation. Therefore, employee's are able to make effective skills or things so that they can
implement on their ideas within the company and able to achieve their desired goals.
Behavioural approach: This theory consist large numbers of thoughts which is mainly
needed for the employee's and individual's so that they can learn something within the company
and able to solve the effective problems in a proper way. In reference to the Thomas Cook
people are becoming more and more effective and enthusiastic in order to achieve targets
towards this selected organisation.
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Social learning theory: According to this individual has ability to understand the social
culture of working place so they take decision as per the present requirement of people
effectively. In present context Thomas Cook is applying this approach on their management
system in order to encourage their employee's working efficiency in an appropriate manner. With
the help of this employee's will be able to enhance their working performance within the
organisation as they are providing different types of services and goods to their customer's
properly.
TASK 3
P5 Construct a development plan
Development plan is the process of developing several kind of actions plan which is
mainly based on the several beliefs, values and understanding to create the good culture and
education background effectively (Edward and Dirette, 2010). In order to make effective
developing plan in based on different strategies, goals and objectives as well. In reference to the
Thomas cook can apply this strategy in their functions to develop the proper positive culture in
the company. Here, is my own words the level of profitability in Thomas Cook, for this the
development plan is given below:
Skills Required Activities Resources Time Changes
Required
Communicat
ion Skill
In order to increase
communication skills it
is important for people
to interact with each
other so that I can
improve my speaking
skills in a proper way.
For better
improvement need
few resources like
books, journals, and
novels as well.
resources.
In order to
improve my
communicatio
n skills I need
3 moths of
time properly.
As I am weak in
communication
than I need to
change myself as
well as in required
to increase my
confidence.
Time
Managemen
t Skill
Time management skills
are important and very
much necessary fro me
to fix my target within
To enhance my
skills it is essential
that I have to
manage my work
In order to
increase my
skills so that I
need 4
Changes are good
for the future so
that I have to
change work
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the organization in order
to achieve my goals
within the Thomas Cook
effectively.
properly so that I
can use my learning
skills in a proper
way.
months to
improve
myself in a
proper way.
routine and follow
the managing
work culture in an
appropriate
manner.
TASK 4
P6 Undertake a job interview for a service industry
Interview is the good process in order to communicate with people within the industry or
outside the industry. Some times question are developed by the interviewer and the need answers
instantly. The interview process is mostly related with the multiple stages of hiring applicant in a
proper way. Different stages are involves in the process of customer's executives from the
developing of some description of jobs by hiring particular candidate's within the Thomas Cook
company. According to this, manager of this organisation has been conducted the interview
round for the applicant as well as for me in order to hiring for customer's executive. If I get
selected their than it will the better opportunity for me to increase my skills as per the company's
requirement (Mellin, Hunt, and Nichols, 2011). For this I have carried several business operation
so that I was able to face any type of challenges within the company in reference to the my
education as compare to the other's qualification. If I cleared this process than I will be able to
meet several kinds of issues within the company so it can be tough for me. As I am weak in some
fields so that it can influence my working skills at negative manner in front of the interviewer.
Now on the the basis of next round I got selected in the interview round in the Thomas Cook.
Apart from this, I have been analysed that my strength is past experience and academic
background which will help me to get good result in front of the manager of an organisation as
considering my both strength and it will be the good opportunity for future. Along with this,
before going for interview, I concluded that there are various company's information on their
official websites like job related target, profile, roles and duties, questions which can be asked by
the manager of this organisation, those are listed below:
Interview Questions
Q1. Describe yourself in brief ?
Q2. What attracted you to apply for this job position?
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Q3. What will you do to make company more successful ?
Q4. Describe a situation where you influenced or motivated people in previous organisation?
Q5. Are you having knowledge about HR policies of the organisation ?
Q6. Which factor influenced you to leave your current job ?
Q7. what package of salary are you looking for ?
Q8. How will you face any adverse situation in case of uncertainties ?
Q9. Are you having any future goals ?
Q10. Share some of your best experiences related to your life ?
P7 Strengths and Weaknesses of the interview process
Strength of interview process- One of my biggest strength during the whole interview
session is the confidence level and patience I have. Almost every answer given by me was
correct and this shows that I have enough knowledge about the questions they were asking.
Furthermore, my critical thinking skills aid me in order to face difficult questions asked by the
interviewer. I have applied for the position of customer executives, interviewer might search for
the ability where the candidate can easily accept as well as share the feelings of consumers. In
addition to this, I am a person who makes cordial relationships, which is quite beneficial for this
post. As, I have already faced various interviews, I am very confident and did not face any king
of negative issues while giving my interview.
Weaknesses of interview process- While going for the interview session, I was very
well aware about the fact that interviewer will ask tricky questions which will make the whole
interview process difficult. While giving the interview, I got to know that my knowledge
regarding general awareness, trends and issues are not updated, which will negatively influence
my performance. As a result, this might reduce my confidence level at the time of interview. All
these things can develop frustrations, anger and anxiety, as I am not being able to give answers.
On the other hand one of the major drawback for me is that I frame such ways where I grab lot of
attentions from people. All my weakness make me nervous and develop shivering and hesitation
while answering the questions asked by the interviewer. As a result, it will negatively influence
my impression in their mind.
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CONCLUSIONS
With the help of above mentioned report, it can easily be concluded that with the help of
professional development individuals can easily enhance the capabilities, skills and knowledge.
Programmes which is related to professional development gave various advantages to the
shareholders, in order to improve the performance, productivity and efficiency of the company.
Along with this, all these programmes helps in developing strong professional identity which
will positive affect the efficiency of employees. In addition to this, the present report helps in
learning various theories in order to provide training and development sessions to the staff
members. By adopting these theories in the organisation, managers will be able to attract large
number of customers as well as retain their employees for a longer period of time. At last,
development plan was explained which focuses on enhancing the competencies and skills with
the help of interview process.
REFERENCES
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development of professional identity. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice,
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Crocket, K., 2014. From narrative practice in counselling to narrative practice in research: A
professional identity story. International Journal of Narrative Therapy & Community
Work. 2004(2). p.1.
Edwards, H. and Dirette, D., 2010. The relationship between professional identity and burnout
among occupational therapists. Occupational Therapy in Health Care. 24(2). pp.119-
129.
Elman, N. S., Illfelder-Kaye, J. and Robiner, W. N., 2015. Professional development: training for
professionalism as a foundation for competent practice in psychology. Professional
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Grubenmann, S. and Meckel, M., 2017. Journalists’ Professional Identity: A resource to cope
with change in the industry?. Journalism Studies. 18(6). pp.732-748.
Kram, K. E., Wasserman, I. C. and Yip, J., 2012. Metaphors of identity and professional
practice: Learning from the scholar–practitioner. The Journal of Applied Behavioral
Science. 48(3). pp.304-341.
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Lamote, C. and Engels, N., 2010. The development of student teachers’ professional
identity. European Journal of Teacher Education. 33(1). pp.3-18.
Mellin, E. A., Hunt, B. and Nichols, L. M., 2011. Counselor professional identity: Findings and
implications for counseling and interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Counseling
& Development. 89(2). pp.140-147.
Miller, K., 2018. The evolution of professional identity: The case of osteopathic medicine. Social
Science & Medicine. 47(11). pp.1739-1748.
Oliver, D. A. V. I. D., 2015. Identity work as a strategic practice. Cambridge handbook of
strategy as practice. 2. pp.331-344.
Tarvydas, V. M. and Hartley, M. T. eds., 2017. The professional practice of rehabilitation
counseling. Springer Publishing Company.
Sims, D., 2011. Reconstructing professional identity for professional and interprofessional
practice: A mixed methods study of joint training programmes in learning disability
nursing and social work. Journal of Interprofessional Care. 25(4). pp.265-271.
Online
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<https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/learning-approaches.html>.
Learning and Teaching: Theories, Approaches and Models. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304119354_Learning_and_Teaching_Theori
es_Approaches_and_Models>.
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