Professional Placements: A Detailed Reflective Diary

This document presents a reflective diary of a student's professional placement experiences, covering a placement launch and on-site placement at Amazon. The diary entries detail weekly learning experiences, challenges, and achievements. The student reflects on the development of employability skills such as time management, communication, and critical thinking. The entries also discuss the impact of the placement on personal development, including increased confidence and a better understanding of workplace dynamics. The student highlights the importance of teamwork, cultural diversity, and continuous learning in a professional environment, noting the support received from colleagues, supervisors, and placement tutors. The diary also touches upon the challenges faced during the pandemic and the adoption of new technologies, emphasizing the student's adaptability and commitment to personal and professional growth.

Professional
Placements Reflective
Diary

Table of Contents
Reflective diary..........................................................................................................................3
Placement launch...................................................................................................................3
On site placement...................................................................................................................5

Reflective diary
Placement launch
Week one
Learning experience: What did you do? What did you learn from the sessions? How
will do you think you participated?
By attending the sessions of the placement launch, I got to know about many organisations
that provide me with an opportunity. I think I participated in the sessions as I got many
options.
What went well? What went not so well? How can you assess this?
I think everything went well as in the sessions I felt I was very engaged. One thing in which I
was not engaged was the teachers' feedback questions where I was not giving any queries. I
assess this by comparing my performance with another one.
What did you learn/achieve? Which employee take criteria does this event impact
upon? Have you changed how you feel about your placement? If so how? How do you
want to perceive on placement?
I learned many academic as well as employability skills which include time management,
communication, critical thinking, etc. Now, I was not changed about the feeling of placement
because I already know many things about placement and but there are some things which I
changed. I thought that placements are not providing good opportunities to the students but
this feeling was changed after attending the sessions. Now my perception of placement
getting very different.
Reflection: How will this experience be used for your personal development? What do
you need to do or know before you start? What practical actions can you take before
your placement?
This experience will be very useful for my personal development because it provides me with
many opportunities for learning academically as well as employability skills. To make my
future brighter I need to focus on the development of some important skills and for that
purpose, I will make an action plan with the timetable.
Week two

Learning experience: What did you do? Have you enjoyed working in mixed groups?
I was very excited because I got a chance to work with people who were very talented. Yes, I
enjoyed working in mixed groups.
What went well? What went not so well? Why? How can you assess this? Do you feel
more confident about starting your placement?
Everything went well except for my time management as I found that I was late for taking
sessions. I checked my timings as well as I also identify that people are present at sessions
before me. Yes with the help of the sessions I felt very confident now about my placement.
What did you learn/achieve? Which employability criteria does this event impact upon?
What have you learned about your personality preferences? What attitude should
behaviours will help or hinder your placement and how?
I learned many things from the sessions such as I learnt about the criteria of selection for the
placement. I also learnt what are the qualities found by the organisations in placements. I
learnt that it is very important for me to go for a placement with the professional uniform
because it provides a first good impression on the interviewer. It is very important for me to
become always be positive in the placement as it helps to achieve my goals and objectives.
Reflection: How will this experience be used for your personal development? What do
you expect of the employer? What support will you need? What do you want to achieve
from your placement?
I found that my experience was very useful because it provides an opportunity to develop my
personality for the purpose of the placement activity. Placement requires an individual who
has a great sense of professionalism and that's why this experience will be definitely useful
for my personal development. After the experience, I really expect from the employed that
they will definitely appoint me because due to the sessions I am now able to show my
professionalism and also have a presence of employability skills. I required the support of my
teachers so that they are guiding me on what additional requirements are necessary in order to
get the placement. I want to achieve a good and reputed position in a reputed organisation.

On site placement
Week one
Learning experience: Tell us a bit about your placement. What is the organisation, what
does it do? Where is it based, with how many staff? Are you clear on your
role/project/targets?
My experience was very good about the placement. I was please at Amazon which is now
one of the biggest organisations that run their business worldwide. They have a chain of
online shopping and deliver to the home of an individual. Amazon includes thousands of
employees worldwide. The company very clearly defined my role in the classroom and that's
why I felt very confident in my duty.
What went well? What went not so well? Why? How can you assess this? How did you
approach your first week? What impression do you think you made? What are you
excited/confident/nervous/worried about?
Everything went well in my job. In the first week, I tried to get introduced to each and every
individual of the organisation so that I will be able to work with each and every people. I
think I made a good impression on the organisation as I did all the things required by the
organisation and that's why I was excited and confident about it.
What did you learn/achieve? Which employability criteria does this event impact upon?
What my you have done differently? How confident do you feel? What could help you?
Do you know where to go for support? Have you contact your placement tutor?
I learned about many activities that are specially related to my duty. I learned about the
different cultures and backgrounds which increases my diversity skills. I think my behaviour
and view of walking are different from the others which makes me special and that's why I
feel very confident. Yes, I know where I go for support if any problem comes. Yes, I
contacted my placement tutor so that I can share my experience.
Reflection: How will this experience be used for your personal development? What is
your action plan? What could you do get more out of your placement?
This experience will be definitely useful for my personal development because the real job
activity provides many knowledge and information which is not understood by me. I will take
care of my duties.

Week two
Learning experience: What are you enjoying? What have you met? Who do you work
well with and why? Do you like the working environment you are in? Why?
Currently, I am enjoying my job. I met all the targets provided by Amazon. My colleagues
and my manager and other team members are working well with me. This is the reason that I
like the walking and environment where I work because they provided me with an
opportunity to speak about any topic free of mind.
What went well? What went not so well? Why? How can you assess this? Do you have a
review meeting scheduled in with the employer? Do you fill underworked/overworked
or is this work just right? Could you meet with your supervisor to ask questions, ask for
more support, clarify workloads and set realistic deadlines?
I felt that everything was going well and yes I have reviewed the meeting schedule with the
employers. No, I did not feel any underworked or overworked. I also don't realise too much
workload. Yes, I met with my supervisors so that I was able to take support and I was also
able to ask questions about future work and deadlines.
What did you learn/achieve? Which employability criteria does this event impact upon?
What might you have done differently? What skills are you developing? What are you
doing for the first time? What are you noting about yourself?
I learnt about the way of working taught by the trainer of Amazon. My way of working is
different from others. I am currently developing some important skills which include
problem-solving, decision-making, etc. Apart from this, I do a virtual problem-solving
activity for the first time. I noted about myself that whenever I got a challenge then my body
reacts accordingly and I will be able to definitely achieve my goals and objectives.
Reflection: How will this experience be used for your personal development? What is
your action plan? What could you do get more out of your placement?
This experience will help me to develop confidence which overall and hands my personal
development. For that purpose, I make an action plan in order to make effective decision-
making skills.
Week three

Learning experience: You are almost halfway! What are you enjoying? Do you feel part
of the team? Do you think you are you vocal enough? Have you brought any new ideas
to the organisation? What are your key achievements so far?
Now I am very enjoying working with Amazon because Amazon understands me and I
understand the organisation. This understanding makes my job happier and more stressless.
This is also the reason that I felt I am part of the team and now I am able to be vocal enough
in front of the manager. Currently, I am not brought any new ideas to the organisation. My
achievement at Amazon is to create a good relationship with the employees of the company.
What went well? What went not so well? Why? How can you assess this? What are you
most proud of? How you think you are perceived at work? What have you found
difficult? Is it different to how you thought it would be?
Everything is going well and I am proud of my attitude and behaviour. Sometimes task
becomes very difficult and after a pandemic, the job becomes more difficult. It is very
different from expectation.
What did you learn/achieve? Which employability criteria does this event impact upon?
What my you have done differently? Are you more confident now? How? Have you met
everyone you want to meet?
I learnt about new technology because Amazon introduce much new software in order to do
business online during the period of a pandemic. Yes, I found that I met everyone I want to
meet.
Reflection: How will this experience be used for your personal development? Is this the
kind of work you would like to do when you graduate? Why? Are you at your best in
this environment? Are you ready to progress a level in your work?
This experience will provides me a positivity in my personality which enhance my overall
development and also ability to work in the worst situation as well. After graduating I like to
work with Amazon again because they provide me with an environment of confidence and
relaxation. I thought I am the best in this environment. And yes I am ready to progress at a
level in my work.
Week four

Learning experience: What are you enjoying? Are you getting feedback from the
employer on your progress? How are your energy and stress levels? Have you spoken to
your placement tutor?
I am mostly enjoying the feedback of clients as they are liking my job. I also get feedback
from the employer. After getting the employer's feedback my energy is increasing and my
stress level is decreasing. Yes, I have spoken to my placement tutor because I thought that it
is my privilege to share this.
What went well? What went not so well? Why? How can you assess this? How any
different groups of people have you work with? Have you groom personally and
professionally?
There are many different groups of people that are provided by Amazon every week. After
working with Amazon I found that they really help me to groom my personality personally as
well as professionally.
What did you learn/achieve? What might you have done differently? What skills and
competencies have you really developed? Which achievements will you update your CV
with?
I learnt about the requirements of an organisation because there are many situations come
where the organisation is not able to work and at that time they require employees who have
the confidence and creativity to work with some new ideas. So that's why I need to develop
creativity skills and competencies. I will be able to update my CV with the achievements of
the software developer.
Reflection: will you continue working with the organisation in some capacity following
your placement? How many LinkedIn connections will you make before you leave?
Yes, I am continuing to work with the organisation. I made many LinkedIn connections
before I leave.
Week Five
Looking back to the areas of development you identify what activities have you done
relating to each of these? Have you progressed? Any digital skills you acquired?

If I look back to areas of development so I found that there are many activities which I need
to focus on which include time management skills, creativity skills, adaptability skills, etc.
Yes, I progressed and I also developed some digital skills.
What feedback have you received from your supervisor at work? What is your
reflection on this feedback? Is it what you hoped for?
I received positive feedback from a supervisor and they guide me that how I will be able to
work on my additional improvement areas. I feel that this feedback is very helpful for me as
it guides me on where I need to focus and concentrate on the positions. Yes, it is what I
hoped.
How has this placement changed your career aspirations? What would you like to do
for the level 5 placement?
Placement with Amazon was very helpful for me because it change my career respirations
and provides me with a wide scope to look forward to for my career options. I want to
improve my skills and knowledge for the level 5 placement.
How will you update your CV with this experience?
I will update my CV by including some important skills and certificates which I got from this
placement.