Leah Taylor

Unit 12
Assignment 4

Professional development-
Further education and training:
Full-time degrees-
If a course is described as full-time, this could
mean that you are required to be present from
9am to 5pm or equivalent every week-day. This
is possible for some PhDs, particularly in the
sciences. Other full-time courses could provide
a set number of hours teaching or contact time
per week and expect a substantial amount of
self-directed study in addition: this is more
common for master’s programmes.
Typically, postgraduate courses are studied full time by students who are continuing
with study following a first degree, or who have decided to make a specific
investment by giving up work or taking a career break and studying full time in order
to complete the course as quickly as possible via a concentrated period of study.
Part-time degrees-
Part-time study can be ideal if you want to
continue working, but not all part-time
courses are timetabled to be taken in the
evenings or on specific, regular days each
week. For some courses, however, for
example those offering a wide range of
optional modules, it may be possible to
timetable courses in this way.
If you are an international student, unless
you are already living in the UK and are not dependent on your study to continue
doing so, you may find you cannot get a visa to attend a part-time programme where
study takes place for less than a specific number of hours each week.
Foundation degrees-
A foundation degree is a combined academic and vocational qualification in higher
education, equivalent to two thirds of an honours bachelor's degree, introduced by
the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001. Foundation degrees are
available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, offered by universities, by colleges
that have their own foundation degree awarding powers, and by colleges and
employers running courses validated by universities.
Bachelor degrees-
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin baccalaureus) or baccalaureate (from
Modern Latin baccalaureates) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to seven
years (depending on institution and academic discipline).
Post-secondary degree awarded to an individual after completion of undergraduate
course work usually taking eight semesters and 120 credits to complete. Course
work for bachelor's degrees is done at the undergraduate level and is made up of
general studies and major specific classes. Bachelor's degrees are awarded in
specific concentrations and are built on the Bachelor of
Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Fine Arts foundations. Individuals pursue
bachelor's degrees to further their education and career advancement. A bachelor's
degree may also be referred to as a baccalaureate.
Master degrees-
A degree awarded by a graduate school or
department, usually to a person who has completed at
least one year of graduate study.
A master's degree (from Latin magister) is usually a
second-cycle academic degree awarded by
universities or colleges upon completion of a course of
study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview
of a specific field of study or area of professional
practice. A master’s degree usually requires previous
study at the bachelor's level, either as a separate
degree or as part of an integrated course. Within the area studied, master's
graduates are expected to possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of
theoretical and applied topics; high order skills in analysis, critical evaluation, or
professional application; and the ability to solve complex problems and think
rigorously and independently.
Work experience-
Work experience is any experience that
a person gains while working in a
specific field or occupation, but the
expression is widely used to mean a
type of volunteer work that is commonly
intended for young people — often
students — to get a feel for professional
working environments. The American
equivalent term is internship.
Though the placements are usually unpaid, travel and food expenses are sometimes
covered, and at the end of the appointment, a character reference is usually
provided. Trainees usually have the opportunity to network and make contacts
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

among the working personnel and put themselves forward for forthcoming
opportunities for paid work.
Many employers in the more sought-after professions (e.g. TV, politics, journalism)
demand that every new entrant undergo a period of unpaid "work experience" before
being able to get paid work.
Work experience is a far more flexible term but normally refers to some form of
temporary work placement within a company where you will work on junior-level
tasks for the purpose of gaining experience and insight into the industry. The work
can vary hugely, from making the tea to offering administrative support or working on
projects. If you prepare well and are proactive, you may be able to make shape the
placement to suit you and gain fantastic insight into an industry or role and a set of
valuable contacts for the future.
Work experience is far more common in smaller firms, charities, media, marketing
and PR (where it's the accepted first step on the ladder). Placements are often a
short-term, lasting from several days to several weeks, but work is normally full time.
UK law states that employers must pay the national minimum wage for any work
undertaken by students that is not part of your course of study. However, the line
between voluntary placements, which can be unpaid, and work experience can be
difficult to define. If you are in doubt, contact the Careers Service for further advice.
Training on the job-
Employee training at the place of work while he or she is doing the actual job.
Usually a professional trainer (or sometimes an experienced employee) serves as
the course instructor using hands-on training often supported by formal classroom
training.
Skill analysis:
Transferable skills analysis is a set of tests or logic to determine what positions a
person may fill if their previous position(s) no longer exists in the local job market, or
they can no longer perform their last position(s) (e.g., because of an injury). An
informal transferable skills analysis can be performed with the help of a career
counsellor, career portfolio or a career planning article or book. Transferable skills
are determined by analysing past accomplishments or experience. For instance, a
stay-at-home parent and homemaker might find they have skills in budgeting, child
development, food services, property management, and so on.
Personal skills-
A skill is the ability to do something well, a certain competence or proficiency. Skills
are typically acquired or developed through direct experiences and training, and they
can require sustained effort. Therefore, personal skills are simply those skills that
you possess and consider your strengths.
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

Technology skills-
Technical skills are the knowledge and abilities
needed to accomplish mathematical, engineering,
scientific or computer-related duties, as well as other
specific tasks relating to technology. Those with
technical skills are often referred to as technicians,
such as audio technicians, electronics technicians or
engineering technicians. Technical skills can also
refer to the ability of a certain type of stock trader who
uses technical analysis to buy and sell stocks.

Personal development plan-

Personal development planning is the process of
creating an action plan based on awareness, values,
reflection, goal-setting and planning for personal
development within the context of a career,
education, relationship or for self-improvement.
The PDP (personal development plan), also called
an IDP (individual development plan) or a PEP
(personal enterprise plan), usually includes a
statement of one's aspirations, strengths or
competencies, education and training, and stages or
steps to indicate how the plan is to be realized. Personal development plans may
also include a statement of one's career and lifestyle priorities, career positioning,
analysis of opportunities and risks, and alternative plans (Plan B), and a curriculum
vitae (CV).
In higher education, personal development plans typically include a portfolio
containing evidence of the skills gathered over a particular timeframe. It is presumed
in education that undertaking PDPs will assist in creating self-directed independent
learners who are more likely to progress to higher levels of academic attainment.
Human-resource management also uses PDPs.
Personal development plans are often a requirement for employee CVs. Employees
who participate in business training are often asked to complete a personal
development plan.
An individual can often develop a five-year personal development plan to organize
personal goals and to make them achievable within a certain time-period.
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

Sources of information:
Trade unions-
An organization whose membership consists of workers and union leaders, united to
protect and promote their common interests.
The principal purposes of a labour union are to (1) negotiate wages and working
condition terms, (2) regulate relations between workers (its members) and the
employer, (3) take collective action to enforce the terms of collective bargaining, (4)
raise new demands on behalf of its members, and (5) help settle their grievances. A
trade union may be: (a) A company union that represents interests of only one
company and may not have any connection with other unions.

Also called house union, a company union is often a bogus one and generally illegal.
(b) A general union that represents workers from several companies in the same
industry. Also, called industrial union. (c) A craft union that represents skilled workers
in a particular field such as carpentry or welding.
Careers services-
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance across
England to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. The service
offers confidential and impartial advice and is supported by qualified careers
advisers.
Transferable skills:
Transferable skills can be defined as skills developed in one situation which can be
transferred to another situation. They are sometimes called generic, soft or key skills.
They are necessary for effective performance, not only in the workplace and in
postgraduate study, but in life in general. Some examples of such skills include team
working, communication skills, problem solving, planning and time management.
Top important skills:
Team work
Oral communication & Presentation Problem Solving
Time Management
Commercial Awareness
Personal attributes-
An attribute is a quality or characteristic of a person, place or thing. Personal
attributes are character traits or personality traits.
Confidence
Having the right skills and experience for a role is essential – but it isn’t always
enough.
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

Employers also want someone who can prove their abilities, know their worth, and
actually follow through with their claims. After all, if you’re not sure of yourself, how
can they be sure of you?
So, when it comes to an interview, always exert confidence in your expertise –
whether it’s by providing unique examples to prove your skills, maintaining eye
contact and a firm handshake, or putting your abilities into practice in roleplays or
tests.
And remember: it’s not just about what you say, it’s also about how you say it.
So prepare your answers in advance, and think before you speak. After all, nothing
says uncertainty like repetitive ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’.
Proactivity
Do you wait to be told what to do, or do you lead by example?
If you veer towards the latter, you’re probably the proactive worker that most
employers are looking for. After all, they don’t always have the time to monitor their
employees 24/7, so a team of quick thinkers with a high level of initiative is key to a
smooth-running workplace.
Luckily, there are a few ways to demonstrate proactivity in an interview.
Firstly, talk about previous instances that prove you can use your initiative to get
things done – whether it’s taking the lead on a project, noticing a mistake and fixing
it, or prioritising tasks effectively.
Secondly – show an active interest in the role.
Asking about the kind of work you’ll be doing and referring back to the job description
wherever possible is a great way to demonstrate proactivity. It’ll also show you’ve
thoroughly prepared, and are passionate about what the job involves.
Resilience
No matter what the job is, roadblocks will always come up.
This means that employers need someone who’s able to deal with them in an
optimistic, non-defeatist manner. Not only should they be able to solve problems,
they should also be able to learn and grow from failure.
Without employees like this, a business will undoubtedly crumble at the first sign of
trouble.
So how can you demonstrate resilience to an employer? Aside from talking about
any hurdles you’ve overcome in the past, it’s also key to draw attention to your
determination and dedication to doing well.
After all, if you’re passionate about your goals, you’re more likely to do what it takes
to get there.
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

Adaptability
Change is a natural part of business.
Not only will employers be looking for someone who’s open to that, they’ll also want
someone who can be flexible and adaptable in their work.
Whether this means you help out in different departments (for example, in retail),
prioritise your workloads according to the most up and coming projects, or take on
extra duties – adaptability is vital in almost every workplace.
This doesn’t mean you have to be totally against routine and familiarity. It just means
you need to show you’re open to new things and willing to expand on your
knowledge.
Positivity
Let’s face it, your attitude matters.
Even if you’re fully qualified for a job, a negative approach to work can put you at the
bottom of the candidate list. Not only will you come across unenthusiastic, you could
also imply that you’d rather focus on the bad than the good.
And even if you don’t think you’re being negative – anything from the way you talk
about previous mistakes or problems to how you answer competency questions can
imply a pessimistic attitude.
So be careful with your wording, and make sure you focus on the positives in every
situation – even if the outcome wasn’t easy to obtain.
Knowledge and skills-
A KSA, or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, is a series of narrative statements that
are required when applying to United States Federal government job openings.
KSAs are used to determine, along with résumés, who the best applicants are when
several candidates qualify for a job.
Skills are most often developed through training such as a training course. The other
way people learn skills is through experience on the job. Over time they just learn
what to do and how to do things most efficiently. Skills are usually something that
has been learned which means skills can be taught through the transfer of
knowledge.
Commitment-
When companies are looking to hire people, they are
looking if the person they are going to hire will be committed
to the job. To be committed to something you have to be
willing to give up your energy and your time to do something
that you have promised or you believe in. For example,
when you take a job you are making a commitment to your
boss that you will shop up every day and do your job, and
the employer is also making a commitment to you and this is to pay you. A
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

commitment is something for everything, weather it is a small or a big commitment, a

small commitment would be telling a friend that you are going to meet them at a
certain time, this is a commitment that you will show up at that time, being on time is
also a commitment when you are working as you have said that you will get to work
at a certain time, for example, 9am every day Monday to Friday.
Efficiency-
Efficiency is the (often measurable) ability to
avoid wasting materials, energy, efforts,
money, and time in doing something or in
producing a desired result. In a more general
sense, it is the ability to do things well,
successfully, and without waste.
Efficiency signifies a level of performance that
describes using the least amount of input to
achieve the highest amount of output. Efficiency refers to the use of all inputs in
producing any given output, including personal time and energy. It is a measurable
concept that can be determined using the ratio of useful output to total input. It
minimizes the waste of resources such as physical materials, energy and time while
accomplishing the desired output.
Reliability-
Being reliable is more than just showing up to work every day
although that is a crucial component. It's also being trustworthy. If
you say you're going to do something, you do it. it means being
someone who will make every effort to do a task, project or job
completely and as thoroughly as possible. There are other
components but I think these are essential.
In the work place you need to be reliable because your boss and
the people who you work with will need to trust you to do what you
have been hired to do and be able to work as a team but also be
ok to work independently.
Attendance and punctuality-
Reliable, consistent attendance is a requirement and essential
function of all staff positions. Employees are expected to be
punctual and dependable in order to meet the needs of their
department and the College. When employees are absent or tardy,
work and service are interrupted and an additional burden is placed
on colleagues. Attendance and reliability are important factors in
evaluating individual performance and continued employment.
Even if you don’t like your job, your good attendance and
punctuality may give you a ladder to get a better position. Poor
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

attendance puts pressure on co-workers and managers when they must take on your
responsibilities in addition to their own. When you show up for work on time every
day with a happy, positive attitude, you help raise morale and increase productivity.
When bonuses or raises are possible, your ethical attendance record can be worth
hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars, either as wages and salary or in
the form of a new, better-paying job.
Say if you have a job which is not in walking distance, then you will have to plan how
you are going to get to work because you will need to set off to give you enough time
to get there, and if you don’t drive then you will have to see which train/busses you
will have to get in order to get there on time.
Self-presentation-
Self-presentation, is how someone dresses, and
makes themselves look. This is an important
aspect in the work space because you want to
make your boss and the people you work with
think that you are professional, because a lot of
people still judge others on the way they look
because if someone showed up to an office job
in sweat pants and a hoodie that wouldn’t be
very professional as usually for jobs like that you would have to wear a suit unless
your employer says different. Also, self-presentation is important when looking for a
job because first impressions can change what a person thinks of you, as a lot of
people say when you are going for a job interview that you should wear formal
clothes and speak formally, as if you dress in formal clothes you are more likely to
get the job than if you wear a T-shirt and shorts.
Functional skills-
Functional Skills are practical skills in English,
Maths and ICT for all learners aged 14 and above.
Functional Skills provide an individual with essential
knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable
them to operate confidently, effectively and
independently in life and work.
When looking for a job a lot of the employees say
that you need to have functional skills for maths,
English and ICT because in a lot of the jobs today
you will need to have basic English skills for maybe writing something and also basic
ICT skills because most jobs now are going paperless where they use computers
more than using papers, as this saves the company having to use as much paper as
they would have had to because they might of not of had access to computers.
Also, if you are going into a media job then you will need the ICT knowledge, you will
need more than just basic ICT skills for a job in the media you will either have to of
Leah Taylor
Unit 12
Assignment 4

carried on with ICT and media as what you have chosen to do, or you will have to be
someone who learns very fast and will be able to pick up on the skills quickly.