Personal and Professional Development Reflective Essay - LBU

This essay reflects on the author's personal and professional development, particularly focusing on experiences related to security roles at the University of Manchester and previous roles at Mitie Security and KFC. The author discusses the development of key skills such as the ability to engage, continuous learning, and empowering others, using Gibbs' reflective cycle to analyze these experiences. Educational qualifications, including AAT Level 2 and a degree from Leeds Beckett University, are highlighted as foundational to their career aspirations. The essay emphasizes the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and lifelong learning, culminating in a commitment to becoming a teacher, leveraging past experiences and skills to foster student growth and development. The inclusion of a CV further supports the author's qualifications and career trajectory towards teaching.

Running head: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal and Professional Development
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Notes

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
My career path diverted to a new direction when I got a contract to look after student
security at the University of Manchester. I was employed as a security officer at a security
solutions company called Mitie security. My role revolved around ensuring authentication of
access rights, organize and carry out patrols in different locations on different medium, taking
care of security threatening incidents, education people about safety regulations and
procedures and various other security related operations. My job was to ensure safety and
security of my clients and the company I worked for. Additionally I had to prepare reports
which showcased my observations while carrying out business as usual. I boast quite a few
educational qualifications that make be the suitable for taking up the responsibility of
teaching the students. I have successfully qualified AAT Level 2 which makes me competent
to screen, understand and implement all accounting and financial activities. Before starting to
work in the security industry, I pursued a business and finance course form GNVQ before
which I graduated the GCSE high school. My educational qualification include a degree from
the Leeds Becket University with financial studies, advanced book keeping, indirect tax and
costing. All the array of skills that I developed along with the collaborative efforts from my
peers across various timelines, I have been able to become the person I am today.
Furthermore the role of teachers in my career has been one of the most crucial in my life.
They have guided and helped me to develop and improve my cognitive skills over the years.
Without help from my teachers I would not find myself in a position form where I would
want to impart knowledge to others. However I discovered my passion for teaching later on.
It was when I was working in the University of Manchester for ABC security that I had to
work to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the students of the university. That is when I
developed an interest of becoming a teacher. In the following section I have elaborated about
some of my skills which played crucial roles in my career. The skills that I have discussed

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about in the following section have been used and developed by me over the year. The same
helped me in dealing with tricky situations. The first skill is the ability engage which I
developed and used when we were given a task while pursuing MMUBS. Continuous
learning and the ability to engage where skills that were used and developed be me during my
days at Mittie Security and KFC respectively. I developed and used the ability to inflicts and
understand the importance of continuous learning while working on a project to educate
senior citizens about updated security peripheral and I used the ability empower others while
working at KFC. My job during the latter was to help the trainees develop the skill of dealing
with customer grievances. All the three skills have been enumerated using Gibbs reflective
cycle.
Ability to Engage
The ability to engage is skill that differentiates an individual from the rest (Seregina
2018). The idea is to incorporate team work at all level.
Description
Working in teams might sound easy although I have found out that it is not. During
the course that I was pursuing last year we were introduced about the 4 P’s of the marketing
mix. The main aim of the video was to educate the student pursuing MMUBS about the
Marketing mix with the help of a group coordinated video.
Feeling
At that point I was feeling pretty knowledgeable as the topic of marketing mix was
highly interesting to me and I was ready to apply the same if needed in the future. Even
though in the back of my mind I was fearful about the fact that I would have to work in teams
with my peers who were mostly younger than me. I was feeling embarrassed until ii realised

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that I can use my previous job knowledge to engage my group into carrying out the task
productively.
Evaluation
I anticipated that the working with younger peers would lead to breakdown of
communication and improper functioning within the team. However, it did not turn out to be
as dysfunctional as I anticipated it to be and the project turned out to be successful.
Analysis
I found out that overcoming embarrassment and personal differences can lead to
smooth operations. Furthermore I was able to engage my team into creation of a successful
presentation.
Conclusion
I realised the importance of being a team player and have decided that I will apply the
same in team projects that I will be a part of in the future.
Action plan
If a similar scenario arose in the future I would be ready to engage myself into the
activity as I have now realised the importance of the same.
Continuous learning
The importance of learning has been identified as a core component of enhanced
understanding (Moussa 2014).
Description

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There was a case that I was presented with in my time at Mittie Security that focused
on the imparting knowledge to the older section of the district I was placed in. they had to be
educated about the use of new house security systems.
Feeling
As I was assigned with the task I was feeling irksome as I had some pretty bad
experiences with handling old people in the past. However I realised that I will also be in a
similar position one day and would not expect similar behaviour.
Evaluation
The overall experience was favourable. I had some great conversation with some of
the clients. I was truly moved by the story told by a war veteran. I had developed lot of
respect for the service of the soldiers to our community. However there was also an instance
when I was overwhelmed by the sickness of an old lady who happened to expire next to me.
Analysis
I realised that people wish to stay up to date. The old people who I was responsible to
were much over sixty years of age, yet they displayed tremendous amounts of curiosity in
wanting to gain knowledge about what they did not know. I vowed to myself that I would do
the same regarding whatever field I am in.
Conclusion
On a concluding note it can be said that I grew as a person with the experience. Apart
from gaining knowledge from research I had to conduct before the program I was greatly
moved by some of the stories that I learnt from my clients.
Action plan

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On the advent of a similar situation in the future I would gladly accept the opportunity
as I wish to have similar experiences. I also learnt that I am able to update myself with time.
Ability to empower
Even though the concept of teaching sounds simple, it a complex process (Davis,
Sumara and Kapler 2013).
Description
In my days at KFC, I was assigned with a task in which I needed to help the trainees
with grievance redressal. My task was to educate the trainees about how not to crack under
pressure and how to effectively deal with tricky situations.
Feelings
I was feeling confident about the task as I was confident about my leadership and
technical capabilities. I was energised to impart knowledge and thus was ready to take on the
task. I was feeling pretty happy since I was assigned a task that was revolving around my
repertoire.
Evaluation
The overall experience was good as the trainees who I was working with were active
listener. Furthermore they followed my instructions and implemented the same while dealing
with unsatisfied customers. However I had a tough time motivating some trainees who would
break down after facing angry customers.
Analysis
I learnt that I have the ability to empower people and was overjoyed with the success
of the program. The trainees who were breaking down time and again were now being able to

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handle customer grievances with ease. Thus I felt a sense of achievement after being
successful in the task that I was responsible for.
Conclusion
On a concluding note I have realised my potential to empower other as I had been
successful in carrying it out on the situation. Furthermore this has contributed to mu decision
of becoming a teacher which would involve great deal the same.
Action plan
If a similar situation were to be faced by me in the future I would be sure that I would
be accepting the same in the manner I did this time. I would find myself ready to collaborate
all my efforts to help empower others.
Action plan
On a concluding note I can stated that , the importance of the goals that have been
highlighted above will play a crucial role in developing and further enhancing my
competency as a teacher. I have not given this a second thought and have enrolled myself as
BA (Hons) student with major in accounting and finance in the Leeds Becket University.
Apart from my existing skills of effective management, communication and leadership, I
realized that my role would require me to engage the students, incorporate constant learning
and the ability of empowering myself and my students. In order to be successful in pursuing
my passion, I would need to use my ability to engage, ensure continuous learning and also
use the ability to constantly empower my students. If the above mentioned factors are taken
care of effectively, I am sure that I will see myself successfully developing relations with
students in the university I am working in.

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CV
Zafar Iqbal
408 Burley Road
Leeds Mobile: [phone]
LS4 2SN E-mail Address: [e-mail]
I am an ambitious and personable individual with experience in customer service and security
services. I am currently doing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and aspire to
become a teacher.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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Leeds Beckett University
BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance (2018- Present)
Subjects
Financial Accounting
First (Expected)
Financial Decision Making
First (Expected)
Financial Sector Responsibilities and Ethics
First (Expected)
Economics
First (Expected)

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Personal and Professional Development
First (Expected)
Leeds Beckett University
Foundation Year Accounting and Finance- Pass (2017- 2018)
Subjects
Accounting, Finance and Economics for Business
Pass
Academic Skills for Higher Education
Pass
Business Intelligence
Pass
Introduction to Business

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Pass
Learn Direct
Functional Skills Level 2
Subjects Studied
English
Pass
Maths
Pass
Leeds City College
Advance Diploma in Accounting (Level 3), (2016 – 2017)
Subject Studied
Final Accounts Preparation

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80%
Advance Bookkeeping
71%
Indirect Tax
80%
Management Accounting: Costing
78%
Advance Diploma Synoptic Assessment
63%
Leeds City College
AAT Level 2- Competent (2015 – 2016)
Subject Studied