Professional Identity and Practices for Retail Travel Advisor Role

This report delves into the realm of professional identity and personal development, specifically within the context of TUI. It begins by defining these concepts and emphasizing their significance for both employees and the organization. The report outlines the skills and competencies expected by TUI for various roles, including retail travel advisors, retail managers, and holiday representatives. It then presents a self-evaluation using skill questionnaires and explores different learning approaches and theories, such as Kolb's learning styles and Honey and Mumford's learning theory, to enhance professional growth. A professional development plan is formulated to improve skills relevant to a retail travel advisor role at TUI. Furthermore, the report includes reflections on an interview process, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and overall abilities. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of ongoing professional development within the travel and tourism industry.

PROFESSIONAL
IDENTITY AND
PRACTICES

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................2
PART A.................................................................................................................................................3
Definition of professional and personal development................................................................3
Importance and benefits of ongoing development for workers and TUI....................................3
Competences and skills expected by TUI for many roles...........................................................4
Part 2.....................................................................................................................................................5
Two self evaluation skill questionnaire.......................................................................................5
Range of different learning approaches and theories used for professional and personal
development................................................................................................................................5
Professional development plan to enhance current skills related to Retail travel advisor role at
TUI..............................................................................................................................................8
PART 3..................................................................................................................................................9
Interview and application for retail travel advisor role at TUI...................................................9
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity can be defined as one professional self concept based on beliefs,
experiences, attributes, motives and values. It has been created through one's attitudes and belief's
through which person define themselves in their anticipated or current professional life (Chouhan
and Srivastava, 2014). This report is based on personal and professional development, it explain the
skills and abilities expected by TUI for three different roles in company. Define the importance and
advantages of ongoing development for workers and firm and also explain own skills, abilities and
competences required for performing specific job role in firm. This study aim is to clarifies the best
development approaches and theories to enhance own personal and professional development and
justifies development plan. Furthermore, this report explain reflection based on interview procedure
and define own abilities during overall process, define weaknesses and strength experienced in
interview process.
PART A
Overview of company
TUI is one of the leading travel and tourism organization in the world, they owns hotels,
retail stores, travel agencies, cruise ships and airlines. TUI Group is an Anglo German travel and
tourism firm, they owns biggest holiday fleet in Europe and six European airlines. TUI group
operate both airlines like charter and scheduled flights to more than 150 destinations across the
world that depart from 60 airports in 9 European nations successfully. Company provide the best
and exclusive international holiday tour packages to customers.
Definition of professional and personal development
Personal development is the procedure of developing and improving skills through such
activities as increasing consciousness and enhancing employment competences. It covers all the
activities that improve identity and awareness, build human capital, develop talents and facilitate
employability, it takes place over course of an individual whole life. Personal development is the
best way for an individual to assess their qualities and abilities, consider aims and set goals in life in
order to increase and realize its potential.
Professional development is the process of increasing and improving abilities of workers
through access to training opportunities in company. It refer to wide variety of specialized training
and advanced professional learning that indented to help staff improve their professional skills,
competence, effectiveness and knowledge.

Importance and benefits of ongoing development for workers and TUI
Ongoing development is very essential for employees as well as organization, because it
help to increase confidence among staff and make them able to achieve business objectives and
goals. Ongoing professional development refers to the procedure of documenting and tracking
skills, experience and knowledge that applicant gain both informally and formally as they work,
beyond any initial development and training. Ongoing development provide many benefits to
workers as it helps them to enhancing productivity and increasing knowledge rather than before.
Through this development company can boost candidates morale and motivate them to perform
better than the others. It support to increased job satisfaction of new candidates (King, 2014).
Ongoing personal and professional development is significant for staff as well as company, through
this program they can improve current skills and abilities that help an individual in further career
growth. Training is considered as one of the best ongoing development strategy or activity that help
in development and growth of workers, specially those who are true assets of the TUI. Ongoing
development within company is significant for staff to improve their current skills and upgrade
existing knowledge in order to perform or work better at workplace. Through development
activities organization build a strong team that contribute to beat their competitors within travel and
tourism sector effectively.
Competences and skills expected by TUI for many roles
Candidate applying for the job of Retail travel advisor, retail manager and holiday
representatives in company, they must have good communication skill, decision making,
organizational, empathetic as well as technical skills as expected by organization (Glaister, 2014).
With the help of an effective communication, Retail travel advisor is able to communicate with
everyone in workplace and provide appropriate information to customers. Communication skill is
essential for this job role as it helps in facilitating interaction effectively with employees,
outsourcing providers as well as colleagues. They are accountable for advising people about
suitable travel and holiday packages according to their needs, capabilities and wants. Through good
communication skills applicant do their job well. Competence- Retail travel advisor must able to
plan and sell accommodations, transportations and other travel services of TUI to customers.
Critical and analytical thinking is considered as one of the required competences for Retail
manager. The applicant who are applying for Retail manager job position in TUI must have
Decision making skill which will help to work effectively and efficiently within organization.
Candidate must have the ability to examine situations and view implications of decisions from the
critical perspectives. TUI expected from applicant who apply for job of retail manager in company
must have good decision making skill that help to decide and evaluate which thing is important for

success of store. Motivation is the core competence of retail manager that support to motivate other
in workplace.
Holiday representative is the person who is accountable for assuring consumer holiday is
better and best for ever. Good communication skill both written and oral is required by TUI for job
role of holiday rep in organization. They must be able to provide good services to consumers and
able to cater appropriate information. Candidate who apply for job role of holiday representative in
firm must have flexibility, they need to be able to work at late night and after working hours some
times. It is their competence to greet and meet visitors and answer their questions within effective
manner.
Part 2
Two self evaluation skill questionnaire
Communication skill- Very skilled Moderate Need of training
I can pass information
to other people in
workplace.
Due to lack of
communication skill, I
cannot be able to share
information with other
workers, I need training
in order to improve this
skill.
Decision making skill
I can take better
decision to solve issue.
Yes, I am able to take
appropriate decision
and solve problems in
work place.
Retail travel advisor role in TUI is to help people to plan their trips for international or
domestic destinations. They need to give customers appropriate information about holiday
packages, communication skills help travel advisor to communicate with visitors and other people
effectively. They also responsible to promote services related to business, with the help of having
good communication skills retail travel advisor do their job perfectly. Decision making skills is also
required for retail travel advisor role at TUI, in order to take better decisions for business.

Range of different learning approaches and theories used for professional and personal development
Kolb's learning styles is one of the best learning theory which has been used for personal
and professional development in organization. Kolb's experiential learning theory is base on two
levels, first is four stage cycle of learning and second is four separate styles of learning.
Four stages of Kolb's experiential learning cycle-
Concrete experience-
According to this stage, person learn new things and experience when they do it own self at
workplace, it help to increase their skills and knowledge (Chen and Chiou, 2014). Person who learn
and experience things by doing work themselves can be able to perform better.
Reflective observation-
It is the second element of this learning cycle which usually occurs after having new
experience. With the help of learning analysing and new things in company, an individual is able to
solve new challenges which is quite beneficial for professional development as well as personal. It
is essential for person to consistently reflect its experience and adjust approaches for working and
solving new issues.
Abstract conceptualization-
Abstract conceptualization takes reflective procedure the phase further by centring on
channelling those observations into theoretical approach and set game plan. For example, retail
travel advisor who has negative experience interacting and communicating with customers, form
idea that individual is unresponsive or unapproachable.
Active experimentation-
This stage of learning cycle deals with procedure of testing current ideas by creating new
experiences. According to this stage, person try to find out what they have learned through doing
practical things for example, an individual with the help of analysing work place environment
create different strategies in order to enhance performance of workers.
Four phases of Kolb's learining styles-
Diverging (Watching and feeling)-
Most of the people in company are able to learn things through watching and feeling, they
like to watch activity rather than do, tend to collect information and use to solve problems
effectively.
Assimilating (Thinking and Watching)-

Worker with assimilating style of learning, is less focused on other people and interested in
abstracting of ideas or concepts, they learn through watching (Kolb, 2014). Applicants with this
learning style prefer attending training, readings and having time to think things through.
Converging (Doing and Thinking)-
Through training worker develop their professional as well as personal skills, they use their
learning to find out the best solutions and also use to perform better.
Accommodating (Doing and feeling)-
This stage is relied on feeling more than logic, some people learn and develop professional
and personal skills through analysing others in workplace and then do work in order to achieve
goals and objectives.
Honey and Mumford learning theory-
This theory define four distinct preferences or style that used for personal as well as
professional development by people while learning.
Activist-
Some people learn things by doing it own self rather than watching others. With the help of
doing activity they can improve and develop knowledge and skills use for solving problem.
Theorist-
Applicants with theorist learning style prefer to understand the situations and then take
action. They like to understand and analyse things and draw new information into logical and
systematic manner.
Pragmatist-
People with pragmatist learning style prefer to think about how to apply learning and
experience practically or in reality. These people like to try out new techniques, ideas and other
things to see they work effectively.
Reflector-
Some people prefer to learn things by thinking and self observation about what happened
around work place. For example, an individual learn about the conflict situation through self
analysis which help to solve conflict in TUI.
Development approaches to enhance personal and professional development-
Time management training is considered as one of the best development approaches which
has been used to enhance professional and personal development. With the help of time

management training I can manage my time and complete work on time effectively (Avidov-Ungar,
2016). Through this approach I can provide better quality of work, it support to increase my
working efficiency and productivity rather than before. Time management training make me able to
accomplish my work in short time period which lets me take advantage of learning new things as
well as opportunities and leads to more free time. For example, if I know that I need to always
accomplish my task on time, it lead way for more promotional advantages at work.
Professional development plan to enhance current skills related to Retail travel advisor role at TUI
SWOT analysis-
It considered as one of the self evaluation model that help to understand abilities,
competences and skills for one job role in company that is Retail travel advisor.
Strength-
I created SWOT framework, thinking about my soft and hard skills that help to develop my
professional and personal career growth. My colleges says, one of my greatest strength is time
management. When I will go for business meeting with my colleagues, the first thing I do is
planning before meeting, planning help to save time and complete work on time efficiently.
Weakness-
One of my biggest weakness is that I do not communicate with others effectively, if I have to
do group work I always realise ineffective communication between me and my team members that
impact on my performance as well as group.
Opportunity-
I have good decision making skills which is considered as one of the soft skill that help me
to take better decision based on situational analysis.
Threat-
Due to lack of flexibility I feel difficulty in adjusting my self within new working
environment and work structure, it effect on my performance.
Personal Development plan-
With the help of development plan, person will be able to develop their skills, through
learning, watching and thinking they can improve current skills and develop effectively the new
one's (Folayan and et.al., 2016). Development plan contain 5 important elements that is specific,
measurable, actionable, realistic and time based. All these elements has been applied for

professional and personal development and learning new things.
Achievable target- Need to Improve communication skills
Strategies- Advice from seniors, Training and development session.
Outcomes- increase productivity and enhance performance in TUI.
Skills Why I need to
improve skills
Activities
undertaken to
develop skill
Time frame Assessment
criteria
Communication
skill
I need to improve
communication
skill, that help to
share information
effectively in
workplace and
also with
customers related
to services of tour
and holiday
packages. With the
help of improving
this skill I can be
able to work better
than before related
to my job role in
company that is
Retail travel
advisor.
Via training I can
improve this skill
easily and
efficiently.
Participation in
group discussion
is the best activity
which I need to
be undertaken in
order to develop
communication
skills for job role
of retail travel
advisor at TUI. By
thinking and
watching other
people in
workplace
effectively
communicate with
other people, I can
learn how to talk
and build
connections.
7 days If customers
understood
information given
by me they like to
visit again in
company, so it
help me to know
that I achieve
desired
improvement in
my
communication
skills because due
to lack of
communication
skills I cannot be
able to provide
appropriate
information and
satisfy people.

PART 3
Interview and application for retail travel advisor role at TUI
Step 1
CV based on experience and skills plain to retail travel advisor role-
CV
Name- Kylie Williams
Address- 3516 W Peoria Ave, London
Mobile no- 03658556547
Email ID- [e-mail]
Summary-
I am hard working and experienced travel manager able to focus on exceptional consumer services
and effectively multitask in challenging situations. I am organized and have good background in
consumer services. I have excellent communication and decision making skills.
Objective-
To obtain the position as Retail travel advisor in well recognised and oriented travel and tourism
company.
Skills-
 Excellent oral communication skill
 Team work abilities
 Leadership skills
 Decision making skills
 Multi task management
 Computer skills
Experience-
 2 Year experience as travel agency manager
Education-
 Diploma in business administration
 High school diploma
Hobbies

 Reading books
 Listening music
 Travelling
Cover letter-
I am interested in applying for role of Retail travel advisor in TUI, I am travel manager who brings
an unrivalled stage of experience having the very successfully career with company for last 2
years. As the results of my past records, I am credited with being the best customers services
expert.
My Cv is enclosed which provide details about my ability to provide better services in company.
Kind regards
Step 2
Currently, I am appointed as an Retail Travel advisor in TUI and I am satisfied with my job.
I applied for this job when I coincidently came across the job offer and it was extremely attractive
as my job role was quite similar and salary plus other incentives offered were quite attractive
(Høffding and Martiny, 2016). I found this an apt opportunity as no additional skills would be
required and yet the income would increase.
I need to make preparation for and attend an interview, before attending interview procedure
I have asked my friend to conduct as short interview which help to identify my strength and
weakness and that I would like to improve before going for interview. I am shortlisted for Retail
travel advisor in TUI and now I have to make some preparation for interview.
Firstly, I conduct research based on Company and gather more information about their
employee relations and market position. After that I have to collect all my academic certificate and
diploma degree, then prepare notes for answering interview questions effectively. I conduct research
for further information about job position and expectation of TUI related to skills and abilities for
vacancy that is Retail travel advisor.
The entire interview process was in a phased manner and at each phase what I was expected
to do, what I actually did and what I experienced have been detailed below.
First Stage:- The first stage of the interview process was a simple stage where I was
interviewed on Skype. In this stage after I applied online for the position. I received a Skype chat
invitation form my mentor acting as a mock HR of the company. He asked me various questions

about my personality type and various other aspects. I was also sent a link to an online quiz about
different personalities that I might have to handle while dealing with different types of employees or
even clients in some cases as service industry basically focuses on providing excellent service to
consumers.
I was not very comfortable while during the Skype call as I kept worrying about the non-
consequential things like what if internet connection is lost, what if the voice is not very clear,what
if he does not understands me and might not consider me etc. i.e. there were too many what-ifs
which were making me loose my confidence however, I was able to present my views in a concise
and relevant manner without loosing my ability to reason.
Second Stage:- After clearing first stage, the second stage involved a written test where I
was told to write-up the best solution for different situations which I might face during the job
process (Hohman, Pierce and Barnett, 2015). This was an easier round for me as my comprehensive
and language skills are extremely strong and being a practising Retail travel advisor, I had
knowledge about different laws and legislations, various technicalities etc. and since there was no
direct pressure, I was able to ace this round. However, there was the pressure of completing all the
question on time and write what is relevant was there but I could overcome it extremely effectively.
I think the purpose of this round was to determine whether the candidate can convey in an
effective manner what needs to be said without wasting time of everyone and making them loose
interest.
Third Stage:- This was the final round where I was called for a face to face interview with
the manager himself. My mentor who acted as manager presented a tough character with loud voice
and I was extremely apprehensive and began stuttering. When asked to describe myself apart form
what was written in my resume, I became a bit flustered while describing myself.
Later on, when I was asked to detail some of the key experiences that I had in my previous
jobs, I was not able to speak coherently but I quickly controlled myself and thought of a single thing
that this interview is not on life. This boosted my confidence and I perceived the manager as a
fellow human being which made me communicate more effectively. I lost that stiffness and spoke in
a relaxed yet confident manner which helped me in completing my interview successfully and
answer all the questions that were asked.
Step 3
Based on my experience of my interview along with my mentor's feedback, I can categorize
my different skills and abilities as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
STRENGTHS
 I have good comprehensive skills
where I can identify what the other
WEAKNESSES
 I get nervous very quickly and this
often makes me weak and flustered