The Methods of Professional Development

Professional Development Methods:

• Coaching and Mentoring
• Shadowing
• E-learning
• Graduate Training Scheme
• Job Rotation
• Inductee Training

Coaching and Mentoring - These are development techniques that are used to expand the skills of an employee. This is used so that they can conduct their job with more efficiency. Coaching can last for a short or long time. This depends on the job role. Mentoring is more of a working relationship between employees. This relationship is usually an inexperienced worker who is taken under the wing by an experienced worker. Mentoring usually lasts for a long time.

Shadowing - Shadowing is where an inexperienced worker or young adult usually watches an experienced worker carry out their job. This is so that they can look into work life with more depth. Shadowing is usually only short term and in most cases unpaid. Shadowing usually helps you decide which career path you would want to follow. Shadowing is useful for people who want to find out more information about a career. It can last from one day - a few weeks.

E-Learning - This is where you study through technological devices. For example a computer, tablet or phone. Although it costs a lot to design these devices and software, it is a very useful method of learning. This is because everything is usually always available and it is also easy to access. E-learning is suitable for most people.

Graduate Training Scheme - This is a scheme that is only suitable for people who have just came out of university and are looking to work. This is so that they can gain experience and money while working. The Graduate Training Scheme is a very good development technique. This is because people can gain top training. Graduates will also be allowed to treat the scheme as the first piece of the puzzle for their chosen career. It also allows graduates to learn for a professional qualification which will usually be free of charge. This is because their employer will usually fund it.

Job Rotation - This is a professional development method that is used to develop the skills of an employee. Certain workers will be told to carry out different responsibilities and roles in their jobs. Job Rotation can be used for many reasons. One reason is that a specific department could be short-staffed. Another reason is that the business may want to make the employee more adaptable. For example as a store manager, if you work in Coventry, the business could ask you to handle things in the Leicester store. This could be for many reasons. Job Rotation is normal in almost every organisation.

Inductee Training - This is a professional development method that is used to develop new skills and gain confidence. Induction Training is usually when an employee starts working at a business that is completely fresh to them. They will also be new to the job and overall working environment. Employees are given time to get to grasp with the atmosphere around the organisation and they are also given training which will help them carry out their new job. Inductee Training can take from between a week to six weeks. This will depend on the employee and scale of the job.

From looking at the methods above, I will need to carry out inductee training sometime in the first week of when I start. Inductee training is extremely important for me to carry out because I will be able to get to terms with certain business policies and work practices. Inductee training will usually include a welcome to the organisation and my fellow colleagues, what is required of me in my job role and a tour of where I will be working. These things will allow me to settle into the organisation and my job role easily.

I will also need to use E-learning once a week at least. This is important for me to use because I will be able to learn new skills and develop my existing skills even further. I will also be able to oversee my progress over the week. This is a positive thing as I can find out how to improve my weak areas. Another reason as to why E-learning is important to me is because if I do not know what skills to improve, I won’t ever be able to carry out the responsibilities required of me.

I will also take part in job rotation within the organisation. This is because I will be able to work in many multiple departments within the organisation and I will also be able to take up different positions. I feel like job rotation is essential because I will also gain the ability to work with different people. This will allow to me to pick up and develop skills. I will also gain more confidence.