Work Based Learning: Reflective Essay on Skills Gained at Hays Travel

This report presents a comprehensive reflection on work based learning experiences, focusing on the development of key skills and competencies. It includes a reflective logbook detailing the objectives, tasks, training, and problem-solving experiences gained during a placement at Hays Travel. The report further evaluates the placement from both the student's and employer's perspectives, outlining an action plan for future career development. Additionally, it features a reflective essay discussing the significance of work based learning in enhancing self-development and employability, emphasizing the acquisition of crucial soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. The report concludes with a curriculum vitae, interview checklist, and covering letter template, providing practical tools for career advancement. Desklib offers more resources like this to aid students in their studies.

Work based learning

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK A...........................................................................................................................................1
Enable the trainees to understand value &benefits of practical work experience for career and
personal development.............................................................................................................1
Design a reflective logbook....................................................................................................3
TASK B.........................................................................................................................................10
Produce a reflective essay....................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
References:.....................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
In this modern and complex global economy, it become very significant for the
individuals to be prepared with technical, social and intellectual skills need in order to compete
& contribute meaningfully to their communities (Bao and et. al., 2022). Hays Travel is
considered as most suitable organisation for this report. Hays Travel is an independent travel
agent chain headquarter within Sunderland, England. Respective company has largest number of
the shops of travel agent in UK. It uses the other tour operators within UK in order to provide
the package holidays to the customers. This report is going to cover individual reflection based
on experience and process of the work based learning. Along with it, this report will also
represent a reflective log of the skills and competencies developed during work placement.
Second part of this report will include a reflective essay, which explains range of the tools,
techniques and skills gained during work placement.
TASK A
Enable the trainees to understand value &benefits of practical work experience for career and
personal development.
In any industry, the work based experience is very essential for the employees as it enable
them in gaining the real life knowledge of the work & ability to deal with critical scenarios of
their respective industry. Nevertheless, it is highly significant that company selected for the
given task of gaining work related knowledge is chosen smartly and carefully, as selecting a right
organisation is very significant to attain maximum benefit & skill improvement task.
In tourism industry, consultant is very significant for the companies as responsibilities of
the consultant are highest among the other task which influences quality of the tourism or travel
plan. It is true because a consultant is generally involved in all part of the travel package. It also
help the people in planning their tour and provide significant information to them (Battour and
et. al., 2022).
In Hays Travel, being a consultant, I had made my trainees to understand benefit and
value of the practical work experience. The practical work experience teaches an individual
valuable soft skill including perseverance, teamwork, discipline, communication skills and many
more. It also encourages a self learning (Bertamini and et. al., 2022). By all these examples, my
trainees clearly understood that how the practical work based experience is beneficial for their
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career and personal development. It encourage them to appreciate benefits of the practical work
experience to gaining the professional skills & career development.
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Design a reflective logbook
Objectives of the work-based learning
opportunity
Main objective of the work based learnings it
to strength key soft skills (Cox, 2022). In
respective organisation, my main aim was to
improve few of my soft skills including
problem solving, teamwork, communication,
networking, critical thinking, professionalism
and enthusiasm. Therefore, it has been find out
by me that I successfully learned many skill,
but could not improve few of my skills. These
strength skill have provided me a competitive
advantages that help me in matting my career
goals.
Tasks (Projects, routine duties) Main duty of the count;ant is to help their
customer or clients to provide expert advice for
their tour, vacation and holidays (Daly and et.
al., 2022). Being a consultant within travel
organisation, my routine duties are mainly
consulting with my client for designing their
holidays which suits their individual
preferences, liaising with the suppliers,
booking travel for the clients and many more.
Formal training conducted
In Hays Travel, various training session were
conducted in which company provide an
opportunity to its employees to learn new skills
and strengthen the existing skills. Therefore,
during this training session, I have learned a lot
regarding how to guide and advice the client so
that they can take a satisfactory decision, how
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to schedule the work activities so that every
function can be done timely and many more.
These trainings enable to pay more attention on
details and perform in a organised manner.
People management & leadership skills
developed
Being a consultant within Hays Travel, I
successfully manage the people ion staff. In
organisation I had solved many problems,
create value and also maximise the business
growth. Whenever company decided to
introduce new changes then I have identified
various solutions for the firm and make several
suggestions for changes to implement within
organisation. It also improve my leadership
skill as by this practices, I become enable to
instruct the employees or other work according
to the requirement so that main target of the
organisation can be attained.
Problem solving skills In travel organisation, consultant faces various
challenges on daily basis and they have to
understand all the challenges & different
environment changes so that they can provide
best solution to the organisation (Desir,
Perreault and Wainberg, 2022). within Hays
Travel, I have faced many challenges when
providing services to client. For instant due to
high demand within travel industry, I had a lot
of the enquired to deal with. Coming from the
the different place and at same time, it was
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quiet challenging for me to organise my
workflow without missing anything.
Sometime I have also made few costly mistake
and many more. But I win over such thing by
scheduling my work timing in an organised
manner so that every activity can be done
without any mistake or faults.
Professional conduct demonstrated It is a form of the etiquette within workplace
which is linked mainly to the respectful &
courteous conduct. In Hays Travel, being a
consultant I have demonstrate the profession
conduct by showing punctuality as it is first
sign of the professionalism. I was always
available on time for staff and client meeting.
It increase my resect within the organisation.
Along with this, I was always loyal to the
organisation and my colleagues as they trust
me a lot that motivate me to stay loyal for my
work and company. Thus, I have demonstrate
the professional conduct within my
organisation.
Evaluation of the placement (student) During my study, as there was a time
consuming and strict study environment, then
option which was more suitable is of part time
job of the vacation time job. It allowed me to
work in a manner that my job did not consume
much time for causing any issues to my study,
by applying for this job, I make sure that I can
fit both the studies & job responsibilities in my
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daily schedule. This opportunity was very
beneficial for me as it help me improve my
time management skill as I enabled in
maintaining time for my study and job
responsibilities as well.
Evaluation of the placement (employer) During my overall experience, it has ben
identified by me that I have successfully met
the objectives. The work based leaning has
been successful as now I am become more
efficient when performing nay activity within
organisation. It bridges a gap between the
learning and doing. This experience provide
me a career awareness, career planning
activities, career exploration opportunities and
also help me in attaining the competencies
such as different employable skills and a
positive attitude towards the work.
Action plan for future career and PDP plan/goals/ opportunities
Skills Action Time Success criteria
Administration skills To improve my
administration skills, I
will take new
challenges and also
participate in the
diverse project to
become more efficient.
5 months It will help me in
effective planning &
priority setting. By
this, I will become
able to work under
pressure.
Technical skills For this, I will join the 7 months By this, I will become
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online learning
platform and get
information regarding
different technological
tools. I will also take
help of my seniors to
get a guidance from
them.
more comfortable &
confident in my job
role. It will also save
my money and time.
Customer service
skills
To improve this skill, I
need to show some
empathy, consistency
and patience to clients.
For this, I need to
communicate very
clearly so that every
doubt of the client can
be cleared efficiently.
It will improve the
organisational image
and me as well within
market. By this, I can
establish a long term
relationship with the
organisation.
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C.V, Interview checklist and Covering Letter Template
Curriculum vitae
Objective: To enhance my skills & capabilities through the work based leaning experience.
Personal details
Name- XYZ
Surname- ABC
Address- …..............
Phone- +xx-xxxxxxxxxxx
Nationality- British
Date of birth- xx, xxx, xxxx
Education
Course School/University Year of Passing Percentage
BBA London School 2014 80.00%
12th International School of London 2012 90.00%
10th International School of London 2010 85.00%
Jobs Professional experience
Company Name- Cosmos Tour Ltd.
Working Period- 5th January, 2019- Present
Job Profile- Consultant
Responsibilities-
 Determining the clients' needs & suggesting suitable travel packages
 Supplying travellers with the pertinent information & useful holiday/travel materials
 Organizing the travels from beginning to end, such as accommodation, tickets &
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transportation
Skills
 Excellent communication skills
 Coordinating skill
 Capable to work under pressure
Hobby
 Exploring new things
 Reading books
 Listening to music
Declaration
I hereby declare that all the above mentioned details are correct to best of my knowledge &
belief in my this Curriculum vitae. Here, I am taking responsibility of any kind of the mistake
and other error in data if occur in the future.
Place: Signature:
Time:
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Interview checklist
I have all the information that I need to present my organisational strategy, structure
and mission.
✓
I have prepared the interview question which reflect skills I am looking for. ✓
I have discusses that who will ask which question with the fellow interviewers. ✓
I have reviewed my interview question for legality ✓
I have read the candidates resumes. ✓
Covering Letter Template
MS. ABC
HR department
XYZ Company
Dear ABC
I was thrilled to see you posting for the position of travel consultant. I am a positive
person and can help your company with ABC's upcoming challenges as I have an
experience of 3 years as a travel consultant and able to attain the target before meet
deadlines. In my current position, I efficiently perform my working practices that a bring
a positive outcome for the organisation.
I would welcome the chance to discuss you company's objective.
Kind regards
abc
P.S.- I would value the opportunity to show you that my e detailing solution great a
combined sales of respective company's service by a record breaking 15 % in one year.
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