Professional Identity and Practices Report: Thomas Cook Analysis

This report examines professional identity and practices within the context of Thomas Cook, a multinational travel and tourism company. It explores the concept of professional identity, emphasizing the importance of continuous professional development and individual learning for career advancement. The report analyzes Thomas Cook's operations, entry modes, and its focus on employee development. It includes a self-assessment of the author's skills and competencies, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, particularly in conflict management and decision-making. Furthermore, the report outlines various learning theories relevant to professional development and presents a detailed development plan with objectives, activities, and target dates to enhance skills and achieve career goals, specifically focusing on addressing weaknesses to excel in the role of an assistant manager. The report also explores the expectations of employers, such as communication and decision-making skills, and provides a comprehensive overview of the skills and knowledge needed in the hospitality sector.

Professional identity
and practices

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.......................................................................................................................................3
P1 ...........................................................................................................................................3
P2............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 2.......................................................................................................................................5
P3 ...........................................................................................................................................5
P4............................................................................................................................................6
TASK 3.......................................................................................................................................7
P5 ...........................................................................................................................................7
TASK 4.......................................................................................................................................8
P6 ...........................................................................................................................................8
P7 ...........................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................10
REFRENCES...........................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity creates one’s belief, value, attitude, motives and experiences by
which particular person can specify themselves in their actual or anticipated occupational
group life (Baker and et. al., 2015). For better future and taking good position in competitive
business environment there is requirement of professional skills and knowledge related to
specification area. This assignment is based on Thomas Cook, that deals in global market for
providing services in hospitality sector in terms of travel and tourism. This mainly focus in
providing of holiday tours and packages to their users. This report will going to discuss
continuous professed development and individual oriented learning for enhancing vocation
recognition as well as business possibility. This report also highlights about personal skills,
competencies and various learning or development conceptualization. In addition to this
professional development plan will be designed and demonstrate skills required for job
applying in service industry.
TASK 1
P1
Thomas Cook is a multinational company of travel and tourism sector. Respective
organisation is specialised in doing their activities, function and operation in hospitality
sector such as travel and tourism for providing high quality services to their users in order to
make them satisfied and happy. It have their headquartered in London, United Kingdom and
presently they are operating in approx. 70 nation. In order to grow, sustain, develop,
respective organisation has chosen various entry mode method such as strategic alliance with
other organisation for achievement of goal and objectives. Offerings of respective
organisation are different range holiday packages as well as also operating within airline
industry. In addition to this, Thomas Cook is focusing to work with various milestones for
creating job possibilities for young people and making positive change in their career growth
and success.
On-going professional development is also known as regular professed improvement
(Basturkmen, 2014). It is related to the process of following as well as documenting skills,
knowledge as well as experience which gain in both formal and informal manner. Thomas
Cook provides preparation and improvement session to their worker so they can develop their
ability and knowledge according to the requirement as well as compete in competitive

business environment. There are several welfare of on-going development from the position
of different stakeholders. Explanation of these are as follows :-
 On-going development skills make sure as well as enhance skills and knowledge in
such manner that staff members of Thomas Cook can deliver professional services to
customers and make them satisfy.
 It also helps each and every individual personnel to make meaningful contribution in
the working of team. Thus, it will result in generating more and more revenue by
satisfying customers.
 Along with this, on-going professional development builds confidence level in
employees through which they can easily handle customers, investors, suppliers and
so on.
Thus, in such manner on-going professional skills are beneficial in perspective of
different stake holders. Along with this, it also results in generating revenue for Thomas
Cook and making customers satisfy.
P2
Employers are the one who give job opportunity to individual according to the vacant
position in organisation and capabilities of candidate. While hiring employees there are some
expectations of employers in term of skills and knowledge (Cruess and et. al., 2015). In
relation of Thomas Cook, employers expectation from the candidate applying for the position
of assistance manager are as follows :-
 Communication skills are required in assistance manager so they can transfer valuable
or important information to employees through appropriate source. Because it will
result in accomplishing goals and objective of Thomas Cook in effective manner by
meeting daily basis targets.
 Motivation and encouragement skills are needed in assistance manager which is
necessary because sometimes employees get demotivated from their daily basis
activity or any other issues. This tool helps in employee’s retention also.
 Assistance manager is called to take both types of decisions minors and major within
working area. For being effective in this role there is requirement of decision making
capabilities. Although, good assistance manager is able to rapidly assess any situation
and make decision according to that.
 Along with all this, there is requirement of ability to follow directions because

assistance manager generally work under the direction of superiors as well as have to
operate in the manner the head manager has requested.
These are some expected skills required by the employers in the candidate applying for
position of assistance manager within Thomas Cook (Cruess, Cruess and Steinert, 2016). So
that, he/she can perform their duty in effective manner as well as help in accomplishing goals
and objectives of company.
TASK 2
P3
It is very important for me to analyse my own abilities, skills and competence for
performing work in an organisation. With help of skills, knowledge and ability, individual can
achieve goal and objectives in an effective and efficient manner. After completion of higher
education, training and studies, I have joined Thomas Cook for my career opportunities. The
job role assigned to me is assistant manager where I am very much interested in performing
my roles and responsibilities. My role is to manage each and every activities and operations
of respective organisation (Wald and et. al., 2015). When I applied for such job at Thomas
Cook, I gave interview and received call from human resource management then I decided
for pursuing role of assistant manager having mission, vision and strategic objectives I order
to build my career at high and huge platform. I possess good skills, knowledge and academic
credentials which assist me in building my career at good place. The HR manager of Thomas
Cook was impressed through my skills, professionalism, personality, credentials that helped
me to got better job as assistant manager at initial level which assist me in enhancing my
career and growth opportunities. When I was in responding period for specified job role, I
was very much keen and excited for performing such job role having look over pre planning
phase in order to evaluate self screening of possessed skills, abilities, competencies and so on
that has gained by me during my education or college time period. In order to make my
career in any sector or area, I have to take training and development session for improving
myself in effective and efficient manner so that I can achieve both organisational and self
goal and objectives. After taking training, I have to evaluate my own talent, skills, capabilities
and experience for drawing positive outcomes in order to know about requirements of skills
for developing myself for assigned job role.
S. no Skills/competencies Rating #1 Rating #2 Rating #3 Rating #4
1 Interpersonal skills

a. Listening ability X
b. Negotiation power X
c. Problem-solving skill X
d. Decision making X
e. Verbal communication mode X
2 Intervention skills
a. Counselling skills X
b. Education/training work X
c. Group facilitation skill X
d. Conflict management X
e. Empathic relationship X
What find positive for me: From the tabular representation of self evaluation it has
been analyzed that, building relation is one of my positive point which is required in
hospitality industry. Because it is service sector and maintaining relation with customer is
necessary. Along with this, I possess great knowledge over dialogue as well as difficulty
resolution ability or potentiality. Moreover, my guidance quality is very much suitable for job
position of assistant director.
What is required to be improved: After going through preceding individual rating
process, it has been evaluated that I have deficiency of struggle direction as well as judgment
management skills. These are my prima failing area which need to develop so that I can work
as an assistance manager within Thomas Cook. Also, it has been founded by me that I have
great dictation over providing teaching and grooming session but this much is not adequate. I
have to work on these skills so that I can do daily basis activities in effective manner.
To overcome with this weakness there is requirement of developing professional
development plan (Valentino and Reardon, 2015). Because it is the tool which involves
proper steps by which I will be able to come out with all shortcoming. For performing my job
role as an assistance manager in Thomas Cook because decision making and conflict
management is most important tool for required while working in an organization. In
addition to this, knowing of acquisition explanation is needed to realize as well as have
advice over learnedness manner.

P4
There are some type of learnedness explanation for individual and professed
improvement process (Flores, Kleyn and Menken, 2015). In context of Thomas Cook
explanation of these are as follows :-
 Behaviourism – It is also known as behaviour psychology as well as such kind of
learnedness explanation is supported on behaviour acquired within entire process. In
addition to this, staff member working with in Thomas Cook develop their
professional and personal skill through condition occur within working environment.
This also discuss about behavioristic believing in that outcome to environment which
stimuli form act of worker.
 Social constructivism - It is also known as sociological theory of knowledge as per
this theory human construction through interaction with others is been developed in
socially situated (Marañón and Pera, 2015). Thus, in simple terms staff members
working within Thomas Cook develop their personal and professional skills by
interacting with other members socially.
TASK 3
P5
Development plan is the procedure through that assist personnel for doing preparation
of their weakness that how he/she can overcome with it (Luft and Roughley, 2016). It is
developed by the manager working closely with personnel’s to analyse essential skills as well
as resources for supporting their careers goals and organisations needs.
What are my
development
objectives?
What human
action do I want
to attempt to
achieve my
goals?
What
activity/origin do
I want to achieve
my goals?
Target dates for
attaining my
goals
Effective dates
of attaining my
objectives
Conflict
management
To overcome
with this there is
requirement of
taking
participation
within group
activities.
Because there
are most
chances of
conflict if I am
able to manage
There is
requirement of
support from
superiors to get
me engage in
small team
activities. So that
I can manage
their work as
well as conflict.
This is important
to resolve issues
There is
requirement of
much time. So
this process is
on-going.
Accomplish till
25 July 2019.

issue of single
team then it will
become easy for
me to manage
conflict related
to entire
association.
and manage
conflict for
building healthy
relation within
employees
working in
Thomas Cook.
Decision
making
I have to take
participation in
activities
conducted
within Thomas
Cook so that I
can take
decision as per
the requirement.
Because as an
assistance
manager
decision making
is most
important skill
required in me.
Coaching job is
regarded as the
high-grade
resources to
increasing
decision making
skills. Because in
this situations
will be created
according to
which decisions
have to be
making. In such
classes training
as well as
development
sessions will be
provided to each
and every
individual so
they can make
decision in every
circumstance.
There is
requirement of 1
– 2 months for
learning
decision making
skills.
Thus, it will be
accomplished
till 30th June
2019.
Thus, through respective professional development plan I will be able to enhance my
skills which will required for working as an assistance manager within Thomas Cook.
TASK 4
P6
I had gone through the interview which was taken by Human Resource manager of
the Thomas Cook. Below mention is the overall conversation taken within interview
process:-
Interviewee: May I come in sir, good morning
Interviewer: Yes come in, good morning have your seat.
Interviewee: Thank You sir.
Interviewer: Can you me hand me your CV to check your credential?
Interviewee: Sure sir.

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself ?
Interviewee: My name is ABCD
Interviewer: Do you have any kind of working experience?
Interviewee: Yes. I was working with Travelodge for two years
Interviewer: Are you able to handle this job profile?
Interviewee: Yes sir I am very much capable to handle this job profile
Interviewer: OK ABCD, please wait outside we will let you know about the results. If you
will selected then documentation will be done right now.
Thomas Cook
Job Description
Job code: XXXXX
Job role: Assistant manager
Report to: General manager
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date: 6 May, 2019
Summary: Candidate require to have proper exposure in relation to their perform so that roles and
responsibilities can be fulfill in effective manner and required outcomes within duration will be gained.
In addition to this, candidate should have motivation and encouragement skills according to the job role
of assistance manager. Because this will enhance performance of overall organization and result in
more customer satisfaction. Also, the person must have enough capabilities to define their roles as well
as responsibilities with power of co-ordination among others.
Duties & Responsibilities:
 Candidate should be responsible for effectual co-ordination within staff members along with
provide valuable information to everyone within required time period. So that, company can
generates more revenue.
 Candidate must have to co-ordinate with other administrative manager. So that, company
generation higher revenue and gain more customer loyalty.
 Manage daily basis activity in effective manner without any conflict within employees.
P7
Interview conducted with Thomas Cook have their strength and weakness both.
Explanation of these are as follows :-
Strength Weakness
Major strength of this interview was its The major drawback of interview process

transparency as well as formality, due to
which interview has been conducted within
increased efforts. Moreover, interviewee was
confident and lots of positive vibe is coming
from him. In addition to this, duration and
timing of interview was perfect to crack it in
appropriate manner.
was lack of adequate information with an
interviewee which was interviewed by
Human Resource manager of the Thomas
Cook.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it has been concluded that, individual require both
personal and professional skills in them so that better position will be taken by them within
competitive environment. Along with this, every person have some strength and weakness
which will identify by doing personal audit. So that, individual can work on their strength and
take it as a future opportunity. Moreover, interview process also has some strength and
weakness as well as employers wants some skill in candidate which also discuss within
respective procedure.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
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Basturkmen, H., 2014. Ideas and options in English for specific purposes. Routledge.
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Cruess, R. L., Cruess, S. R. and Steinert, Y., 2016. Amending Miller’s pyramid to include
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Flores, N., Kleyn, T. and Menken, K., 2015. Looking holistically in a climate of partiality:
Identities of students labeled long-term English language learners. Journal of Language,
Identity & Education. 14(2). pp.113-132.
Luft, T. and Roughley, R., 2016. Engaging the Reflexive Self: The role of Reflective Practice
for Supporting Professional Identity Development in Graduate Students.
In Supporting the Success of Adult and Online Students. CreateSpace.
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designed to serve English learners: Variation by ethnicity and initial English proficiency.
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 37(4). pp.612-637.
Wald, H. S. and et. al., 2015. Professional identity formation in medical education for
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Online
Professional Development, 2018. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.inc.com/joel-
trammell/10-ways-to-maximize-your-professional-development.html >