Professional Development & Applied

Ethics

Description
This module provides an overview of the Project’s implementation program including
its focus, goals and intended outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to recall the educational philosophy that underlies the work of Project Core.

Participants will be able to identify the instructional components that support the learning of symbolic
language.

Online Self-Directed Module 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

How to Write a Professional Development Plan (With

Examples)
July 17, 2020

Developing both short- and long-term goals can help guide your decisions
throughout your career, whether you want to complete a complex project or earn
a certain type of job. A professional development plan can guide you toward
reaching those goals by implementing structured steps. In this article, we’ll
explain what a professional development plan is, review how to create one and
provide an example.

What is a professional development plan?

A professional development plan is a list of actionable steps for achieving your
career goals. A professional development plan helps you gain specific insight
into how you can reach your career aspirations, such as earning a new
certification or finding a mentor who can advise you. Drafting a professional
development plan is especially helpful during a job search. By defining your
goals in a PDP, you can have a true understanding of how you want to navigate
the search and interview process.

You can use many different formats to create a PDP. It can be a simple typed
document, or you could create a structured table with rows and columns. Use a
format that can help you methodically think about your professional future and
the goals you need to reach that vision. 

A PDP should be a continual reference or touchstone, and you should update it

every time you reach important milestones. Regularly updating your PDP allows
you to set new goals that help you grow as a professional and individual. 

How to create a professional development plan

Follow these five steps to create a simple, thorough professional development
plan:

1. Self-assessment
2. Goals
3. Strategies
4. Resources
5. Timelines

Self-assessment
A self-assessment is an evaluation of your professional interests, knowledge and
skills. Creating a self-assessment allows you to examine your current position as
it relates to your career goals. When you determine the skills and interests you
currently possess, you can identify areas in which you can improve to obtain
your goals.

It can be helpful to identify your transferable skills. Transferable skills are

marketable personal assets that many employers seek in candidates, such as good
communication, teamwork or leadership. List which software applications or
computer programs you are proficient with. As workplaces become increasingly
dependent on computer programs, having technological skills is valuable in any
industry.

Goals
The goals you set in your professional development plan should be SMART
(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely). Using SMART goals
will make them trackable, which makes it easier to update your PDP when you
complete important milestones.

Structure your goals in a way that makes it easy to achieve them by completing
small steps. It’s helpful to list goals in order of priority with highest first so you
can quickly identify them. It can also help to categorize goals as short-, mid- or
long-term so you can develop more detailed steps to achieve each one:

 Short-term is within the next year.

 Mid-term is within the next one to two years.
 Long-term is within the next three to five years.

Read more: SMART Goals: Definition and Examples

Strategies
Your professional development plan strategies define how you will achieve your
goals. You should list a variety of approaches, including experiential learning
(learning through doing), exposure (learning from others), education and
reflection. 

As a general rule, the majority of your strategies should be experiential. This

gives you valuable hands-on experience when developing new skills. For
example, a person who wants to be a veterinarian could volunteer at an animal
shelter as an experiential strategy for learning more about working with animals.

Here are some things you should consider when developing your strategy: 

 If the goal involves a career change, think about what education or

certifications you need and how long they would take to obtain. Research
possible education and certification courses you can take to work toward
this goal. 

 If you need advice, consider reaching out to a professional contact and

 establishing a mentor-mentee relationship. A mentor could be an
experienced coworker, a previous employer, or a professor or teacher. 

 If you need to build your skillset, you might have some opportunities at
your current job. You can ask your manager for more responsibilities that
will help you gain needed skills. 

Related: What Is a Mentor?

Resources
Resources are places where you can find professional growth. They might
provide workshops or networking opportunities, and they have the potential to
enhance your career path greatly.

Some professional resources include: 

 Continuing education institutions: These institutions offer programs,

conferences and courses that help you learn more about specific topics.
Many continuing education courses you can take lead to a certification or
degree, which will show you have knowledge of a field or can perform a
process. For example, project managers can earn a Project Management
Professional certification that shows they can successfully execute a plan
using different methods. You may be able to attend online courses or go to
a local college or school for classes. 

 Professional associations: You can find both local and national

associations that offer memberships. Having a membership in an
association helps you connect with like-minded individuals and build
your professional network. When you grow your professional network,
you can increase your opportunities to advance within your career. 

 Webinars: Some professionals and businesses host webinars in which

they give presentations on a specific topic, such as evaluating industry
trends or teaching a particular skill. For example, a programmer might
offer a webinar on front-end development foundations. Since webinars are
internet-based, you can attend one from anywhere. You can find a variety
of webinars based on your PDP.

When you’re developing the resources section of your PDP, be specific. These
resources might have tuition, fees or time requirements. It’s important to have a
complete idea of what is available to you. 

Timelines
Your professional development plan should always be a work in progress. It
should grow and change over time and reflect where you currently stand in your
professional life. Some good times to update your professional development plan
are when reaching milestones, updating strategies or changing goals. 
Professional development plan example
Here is a sample professional development plan:

Self-assessment

 Currently a specialist but would like to move into a project management role.
 Currently have good interpersonal and communication skills.
 Need to improve my leadership and time-management skills.

Goals

 Increase my salary by 30%

 Earn a promotion to be a project manager

Strategies

 Find a management mentor

 Accept increased responsibilities in my current job
 Complete a project management seminar
 Complete at least two leadership courses
 Learn specific coaching techniques

Resources

 Project Management Institute

 Videos on different project management methods
 Local project manager association

Timeline

 In one month: ask to lead the team for a small project

 In two months: secure a mentor
 In three months: enroll in project management courses
 In one year: ask for project management promotion

SECTION 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT OF ETHICS

AND
ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

1.1. What are Ethics?

1.2. Value Systems
1.3. A Brief History of Ethics
1.4. Ethics Definitions
1.5. Key Concepts
1.6. Ethics Alarms
1.7. Importance of Ethical Conduct in Business
1.8. Professional Ethics
1.9. Ethical Issues Facing Engineers
1.10. Code of Ethics
1.11. SAIMechE‟s Code of Conduct
INITIAL TEST

SECTION 2: PRACTICAL ETHICAL DECISION MAKING MODEL AS

PER THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

2.1. Introduction
2.2. Steps in Ethical Decision Making
STEP 1: Define the Ethical Problem
STEP 2: Identify Affected Parties
STEP 3: Explore Optional Solutions
STEP 4: Evaluate Solutions
STEP 5: Select and Justify a Solution
PURPOSE
This module provides easy to follow steps to help you define, analyse, understand and solve
ethical problems.

This module is designed to equip you with the basic skills required to:

1. Know the definitions and major concepts in ethics

2. Understand the ethical approach to decision making,

3. Follow the assessment criteria steps when making a decision

4. Understand the SAIMechE Code of Conduct

5. Explain the concept of personal ethics and their relationship to business and
engineering ethics

6. Describe the role of a code of conduct in a work environment, when following

ethical principles

7. Uphold the code of conduct within the work team

8. Identify and solve ethical problems in upholding the code of conduct

9. Communicate effectively, when explaining and describing the concept of ethics and the
application of a code of conduct.

This module introduces the Hoteliers to these ethical responsibilities and concerns. While it may
be impossible and impractical to present in this module all the guidelines pertaining to engineering
practice, certain issues of concern will be highlighted and discussed.

Section 1 : Ethical Issues

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 Describe and define what is meant by the word

“ethically”

 Explain the role of general ethical codes in good

business practice
 Be fully conversant with The Code of Conduct

1.1. What are Ethics?

Ethics is relevant to you in your everyday life as at some point in your professional or personal
life you will have to deal with an ethical question or problem, e.g. what is your level of
responsibility towards protecting another person from threat, or whether or not you should tell
the truth in a particular situation?

EXAMPLES OF POOR ETHICS:

Your fair share is whatever you can get away with
Nobody expects you to be honest when they're not looking
It's not stealing unless they catch you

1.2. Value Systems

Values are the unarticulated beliefs that form the foundation for ethical behavior, i.e. practices
that are viewed by our society as correct behavior. As an Engineer, you should acknowledge the
fundamental importance of the following values both for yourself and your profession:

1. Quality of life - people being satisfied with their whole life experience;

2. Health, human potential, empowerment, growth and excellence - people being healthy,
aware of the fullness of their potential, recognizing their power to bring that potential into
being, growing into it, living it, and, generally, doing the best they can with it, individually
and collectively;

3. Freedom and responsibility - people being free and responsible in choosing how they will
live their lives;

4. Justice - people living lives whose results are fair and right for everyone;

5. Dignity, integrity, worth and fundamental rights of individuals, organizations,

communities, societies, and other human systems;

6. All-win attitudes and cooperation - people caring about one another and about working
together to achieve results that work for everyone, individually and collectively;
 7. Authenticity and openness in relationships;

8. Effectiveness, efficiency and alignment - people achieving the maximum of desired results,
at minimum cost, in ways that coordinate their individual energies and purposes with those
of the system-as-a-whole, the subsystems of which they are parts, and the larger system of
which their system is a part;

9. Holistic, systemic view and affected parties orientation - understanding human behaviour
from the perspective of whole system(s) that influence and are influenced by that behaviour;
recognizing the interests that different people have in the system's results and valuing those
interests fairly and justly;

10. Wide participation in system affairs, confrontation of issues leading to effective problem
solving, and democratic decision making.

1.3. A Brief History of Ethics

1.3.1. Natural Behaviour
Even when observing the animal kingdom, there are clear signs of rules of behaviour. The
young monkey does not mess with the “big daddy” and when lions are feeding off a freshly
killed carcass the hyenas keep a good distance. All of this behaviour appears to be instinctual or
intuitive but it serves the very clear purpose of maintaining order within the animal kingdom.

1.3.2. Human Behavior

Human ethical behavior has been observed from the earliest recorded data and anthropological
and archeological studies have indicated that all primitive tribes have very definite rules of
behavior. Christopher Boehm (1982) has hypothesized that the incremental development of moral
complexity throughout hominid evolution was due to the increasing need to avoid disputes and
injuries in moving to open savannah and developing stone weapons. Human morality, though
sophisticated and complex relative to other animals, is essentially a natural phenomenon that
evolved to restrict excessive individualism and foster human co-operation. Group morality
develops from shared concepts and beliefs and is often codified to regulate behavior within a
culture or community.

1.3.3. Mythology
Perhaps the existence of mythology arose out of the need to regulate society and this was much
easier to do when the stories were fascinating and the members of the community could identify
with the mythological characters. Out of these myths grew rules of behaviour and conduct which
contributed towards controlled and ordered living.
1.3.4. Codes of Conduct

Moral code examples throughout history are: the „Golden Rule‟, the „Five Precepts‟ and the
„Noble Eightfold Path‟ of Buddhism, the Egyptian code of Ma‟at, and the „Ten Commandments‟
of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Among the earliest written codes is the „Code of Hamaurabi‟, the sixth King of Babylon who
lived between 1810 BCE and 1750 BCE. This code was of a more secular nature and was written
up on stone pillars for all the subjects of his kingdom to see and live by. There were very clear, if
somewhat brutal, sanctions for anyone who transgressed them but this led to the orderly
functioning of that ancient society.

1.3.5. From Ancient Greece to the Modern Era

Ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western philosophical ethics, moral precepts from the 7th
and 6th centuries BCE. Names like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle have become household names.
Greece had moved from being a warring group of tribes to a community of people living in city
states where individuals spent time thinking about such things as happiness, the „good life‟ and
the value of being organised.

Ethical principles and practices have become the cement that binds a society together in such a
way that individual citizens may pursue their desires and reach for their goals. Grayling (2005)
states that: „manners are central to true morality; they are the lubricant of social relations, the
sweetener of personal interaction, and the softener of conflict. Without them society itself would
be impossible and out of control. The answers to questions about how a complex, pluralistic
community should cope with the stresses of internal difference and competition have to put
civility at their heart, because nothing else - certainly not the blunt instrument of the law - can do
nearly as well‟.

1.3.6. The Need for Ethics and Codes of Conduct

“On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good,
and not quite all the time”
Therefore, from the early stirrings of functionality in primitive society, through the early codes of
city life and academic philosophizing we arrived at a place where society needs rules of conduct
which, when expressed as simple plain good manners, can provide a framework for the „good
life‟ which is of benefit to both individuals and society.

A 2005 global study of over 1100 managers and executives

identified the top three factors most likely to cause business people
to compromise ethical standards:
 Pressure to meet unrealistic objectives/deadlines
 Desire to further one’s career
 Desire to protect one’s livelihood

1.4. Ethics Definitions

It is useful to have a clear understanding of what is meant by the word ethics.

Definition of Ethics:

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines ethics as:

“Relating to morals, treating of moral questions; morally correct, honourable”.

This begs the question: “What is the definition of MORALS?”

Definition of Morals:

“Concerned with goodness or badness of character or disposition, or with the distinction between
right and wrong; dealing with regulations of conduct”.
Definition of Ethics from the Dictionary of Psychology:

“A branch of philosophy concerned with that which is deemed acceptable in human behaviour,
with what is good or bad, right or wrong in human conduct in pursuit of goals and aims.”

Ethics explores the nature of rights, of moral responsibilities, and of how to go about
addressing an ethical problem.

1.5. Key Concepts

Here are the meanings of some key words and concepts:

The process of determining right and wrong conduct. The

Ethics:
discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty
and obligations

Ethical Behaviour that conforms to accepted standards of conduct

Behaviour

Ethical The process of sorting out the principles that help determine what is
Reasoning ethical when faced with an ethical dilemma

A specific formula for distinguishing right from wron

Ethical System:

Unethical: An action or conduct which violates the principles of one or more

ethical systems, or which is counter to an accepted ethical value, such
as honesty

Non-ethical Powerful human motivations that are not based on right or wrong, but
Considerations: on considerations of survival and well-being, such as health, security,
love, wealth, or self-esteem
Ethical Dilemma: problem in which the ethical choice involves ignoring a powerful
non-ethical consideration. Do the right thing, but lose your job, a
friend, a lover, or an opportunity for advancement. A situation or
This is an problem facing an individual that involves complex and often
ethical conflicting principles of ethical behavior.
1.6 Ethics Alarms

Jack Marshall, director of ProEthics,runs an ethics blog (http://proethics.com/)

and he says:
“Ethics alarms are the feelings in your gut, the twinges in your conscience, and the sense of
caution in your brain when situations involving choices of right and wrong are beginning to
develop, fast approaching, or unavoidable.” The better your ethics alarm is working and the
sooner your alarm goes off the more likely you are to do the right thing, or at least use good
ethical reasoning to decide what to do.

He goes on to say “creating an ethical culture is the shared obligation of everyone, and each of us
needs to think critically about what is right and wrong, make our opinions known, and never
hesitate to communicate those opinions for fear of being „judgmental‟”. We should be judgmental
– civil, fair, open-minded, and also willing to hold ourselves to high standards of conduct. Living
ethically is not always easy, but it becomes easier with thought, debate and practice.

1.7. The Importance of Ethical Conduct in Business

The field of business ethics often overlaps and informs ethical decision making for engineers.

Conducting business ethically is critical to a company‟s success in the marketplace. Customers,

suppliers and employees will not support a company that is involved in fraudulent, dishonest or
unethical practices. Setting high standards of integrity in business relations and promoting their
adherence by employees will enable the company to merit the confidence and support of its
customers and the public at large.

As an employee or consultant you act as an ambassador and represent the organization in your
business dealings. The company‟s reputation is in your hands and it therefore depends on you to
do the right thing in the best interests of the organization. High standards in business conduct will
go a long way to meriting the confidence and support of your clients and employers.

While business practices may change over time, our commitment to the highest standards of
integrity should remain constant and unblemished. Conducting business ethically is critical to
success in the marketplace. It means more than obeying the law; it means that high standards of
integrity must underlie every activity we undertake. It is up to the engineer to apply these
guidelines to the best of their ability in their own individual situation.

Many organizations provide broad principles on expected ethical behavior in the form of a Code
of Conduct. However, the responsibility to apply the guidelines and use sound judgment in
situations that could compromise integrity is up to the individual. It is the individual’s choice not
to commit dishonest destructive or illegal acts – even if instructed by a supervisor, co-worker or
others to act improperly. It is no justification to claim that a higher authority ordered illegal acts.

1.8. Professional Ethics

In life our behavior is governed by different norm systems. The word NORM comes from Latin
“NORMA”= yardstick. Norms dictate what we “ought” or “ought not” to do. The norm systems
governing the behavior of a professional are:

 Individual morality

Refers to individual values of a specific person and what they believe to be right.
Individual morality is influenced by how a person was raised. It is their personal value
system. The sanction for disobeying one‟s individual morality is a guilty conscience.

 Positive morality

This set of norms represents what is considered “right” in society at a particular time. The
sanction for failure to obey positive morality is social sanction.

 Law (Legal Norms)

Laws protect society and prevent anarchy by regulating behavior.

Public Law – also referred to as criminal law: between the state and individual. Private
Law – also referred to as contractual law and focuses on the relationship between persons.
Formal Law and Common Law find expression in the reported judgments of courts.

 Professional Ethics
Professionals are a group of people who earn a living by undertaking a common activity
and who regulate most of this themselves. Firstly they must form a constitution, e.g.
SAIMechE, and secondly they must publish a professional code
of rules or an ethical code of conduct. This code must be in line with the law and is often
more restrictive than the law.
 Ethics in Hospitality Management Introduction to the World of
Hospitality

Business Ethics: Is There Such a Thing?

• Ethics vs. Business
• Can you give examples of unethical business behavior of large companies?
• Is business like game of poker?
• Is honesty always the best policy?
• Follow the Golden Rule principle

Hospitality Case (p.512) Free Wine

• F&B manager recently purchased 20 cases of wine for the hotel from a new beverage supplier. Without
informing the manager, the supplier delivered one free case of wine to your residence. F&B manager
decides to keep the free case for his personal use, since it did not influence the purchase of the 20 cases
for the hotel.
• Do you agree with the manager’s decision? Rate it on the scale of Strongly Agree, Agree, Unsure,
Disagree or Strongly Disagree with the decision.
• Explain your answer to each other in pairs.

Performance Task : Give situational answer and give solutions.

Ethical Issues in Hospitality
1. Environmental Issues
2. Discrimination
3. Sexual Harassment
4. AIDS in the workplace
5. Advertising claims
6. Truth-in-Menu Laws

Divided in groups learn about one issue, write main points on the paper and present it to the rest of the
class.

Must there be a code of Ethics?

In order to check how ethical is your behavior ask yourself:
1. Is it legal? Will I be violating civil laws or company policy?
2. Is it balanced? Is it fair in the short and long term? Is it a win – win situation? What if everyone did it?
3. How will it make me feel about myself? Will it make me proud? Will I feel good if my family knew?
Would I publicize my decision?
Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
• GCET is a set of principles that serve as ethical guide for organizations involved into tourism
development.
Created by UNWTO it consists of 10 articles (principles) that cover the economic, social, cultural and
environmental components of travel and tourism. (UNWTO,

Article 6. Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development (excerpt)

• “Tourism professionals have an obligation to provide tourists with objective and honest information on
their places of destination and on the conditions of travel, hospitality and stays” (UNWTO, n.d.).
• Which ethical issue in the hospitality industry it is related?

References
• UNWTO. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Retrieved from
http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/globalcode-ethics-tourism

Professional Development Guidance from

Hospitality Experts

What are some of the top professional development opportunities for lodging, food & beverage, tourism,
and event planning?

In the food and beverage industry, managers need to be more hands-on and interact with customers in order
to get feedback of the services offered. Many corporations are offering manager-in-training positions to recent
graduates for financial reasons. This can be a win-win situation for both the corporation and the new
graduate who is not sure what area he or she may settle in.
– Paulette Williams, Adjunct Faculty

Take advantage of training and seminars. Many companies offer a large amount of online or on-the-job
training, but there’s also the great option of taking online courses to help move ahead.
– William Oliver Hedgepeth, Jr., Adjunct Faculty
Pursue industry certifications through Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), The
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), or American Culinary Foundation (ACF).
– Corey McNair, Adjunct Faculty
Attend events or conferences that offer educational sessions; they vary so much and are so specific for each
sub-industry that the range is wide, and you should be able to find a conference and specific training that will
meet your needs.
– Marco Albarran, Adjunct Faculty
There are a variety of organizations that students can join to learn more about the hospitality industry.  These
organizations can also provide hands on opportunity for students to work side by side with experienced
industry professional.
– Kimberly Roberts, Adjunct Faculty

What is the importance of continuing education, through certification, within the industry?

Professional certifications show that you are a committed learner of best practices and dedicated to striving
for excellence. Having professional certifications on your résumé can help open doors to promotions or new
opportunities. American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) or the National Restaurant Association are
just two organizations that offer certifications that are widely recognized in the industry.
– Sheri Hernandez, Program Director, Hospitality Management

Continuing education in the industry covers many areas and is always beneficial to participants. The process
of continuing education is beneficial as it allows us to remain current on industry changes that pertain to
standards, eligibility, qualifications, recertification, or research—to name a few. We also get a chance to
speak directly to representatives of the board of directors who are knowledgeable to clarify any
misconceptions we may have regarding changes.
– Williams

Without extra knowledge in the industry, you will continue to use old technology and old cost calculations.
Taking courses and adding tools can help you understand where you are losing money.
– Hedgepeth, Jr.

A key benefit of continuing education within the industry is essentially an expansion of learning from your
mistakes.  In a classroom environment through a curriculum, the student faces a wide variety of scenarios that
they must research and analyze solutions to problems they may experience in a work environment. A wrong
decision or uncertainty in the classroom results in a teachable moment, while the same decision outside of the
classroom will have more serious repercussions. Building on that, the knowledge gained from continuing
education or seeking certification improves the ability to respond to given situations or to be proactive and
preventative.
– Cooke

In an ever-evolving  industry, continuing education helps you stay current with regard to  trends
and practices  currently impacting the industry.
– McNair
What kind of professional development is available through attending conferences?

Aside from the opportunity for networking with like-minded individuals, attending conferences allows
professionals to connect with industry wide trends or developments. Often, we can unintentionally have
blinders on as we look at local or community trends, so a conference helps to see the broader picture of what
is happening in the industry, what to expect, and new perspectives to resolve commonly experienced problems.
In this sense, professional development is defined by increasing awareness of and readiness to react to
changes, trends, and developments.
– Steven Cooke, Fulltime Faculty, Hospitality Management

By attending conferences, we are exposed to people in the industry who will share real life experiences,
industry challenges, industry standards that have evolved over a period of time, or challenges that men and
women experience in certain positions. Breakthroughs in the industry are also discussed. Sometimes there is
an opportunity to connect with others who are living in close proximity or to get information about a job that
is not advertised externally.
– Williams

I have found a lot of value in breakout sessions where you learn about new tools and techniques for loyalty.
– Hedgepeth, Jr.

Several organizations have annual conferences where credit can be earned towards certifications such as
Certified Executive Chef (CEC) or Certified Hospitality Administrator (CHA).
– McNair

At these conferences, you have a chance to learn about the latest and greatest trends that can help create
innovation and of course, see where the industry is moving.
– Albarran

Students can attend industry conferences, participating in various training workshops, seminars, etc. Students
can build on this exposure and further their expertise by obtaining a variety of industry specific certifications.
– Roberts

What kind of action should we take to elevate yourself to a higher role within your industry?

Be actively involved in attending relative meetings, classes, or webinars and show interest in the industry.
Remain connected to professional sites that help elevate your skills; connect to   organizations that will
educate you on how to craft a winning resume; and create professional industry connections. Social media can
help with this networking.
– Williams

I read trade magazines and take the online courses offered to me. I also teach mini-learning sessions at our
monthly meetings to have us share knowledge.
– Hedgepeth, Jr.

As with customer expectations of value, the employer has expectations of employees. By increasing your value,
you are more likely to become a valuable asset within the company. Through continuing education, knowledge
and preparation is increased, thus reducing harmful effects from indecision or simply not knowing. The same
can be said of networking and being exposed to those that work for different companies or in different regions.
Attending conferences and trade shows as well as pursuing continual learning will build a strong foundation
to build a career upon.
– Cooke
1. Share thought leadership in academic and non-academic opportunities  (conference papers, journal
contributions, interviews)
2. Seek out unpaid leadership roles (i.e. Advisory Board, or pro-bono work for a non-profit) 
3.  Make sure you have relevant education  
4. Amass a resume showing broad industry experience;
5.  Network
– McNair

Networking and publishing articles on results and expertise are the best ways to demonstrate your value as a
hospitality professional.
– Albarran

In order to elevate myself to a higher role within the industry, I would earn 1-2 certifications, attend
conferences, and participate in continuing education workshops and seminars.  I would also join various
industry associations and become active within the associations by joining committees, volunteering at events,
and serving other needs.
– Roberts

What is a Hospitality Professional?

Overview of Hospitality Professionals

A hospitality professional isn't a specific job title. Rather, it refers to anyone who works within the
hospitality industry. Hospitality businesses are service-oriented businesses that include lodging,
restaurants, cafes, resorts, clubs, bars, amusement parks, and even zoos. They are considered
hospitality businesses because they rely on creating and maintaining strong relationships with their
customers. The individuals who work for these businesses are known as hospitality professionals.

Benefits of Becoming a Hospitality Professional

Why should you consider becoming a hospitality professional ? Working in the hospitality industry
offers a myriad of perks and benefits. First, it allows you to meet and interact with new people on a
regular basis. If you have an outgoing personality and enjoy operating in social situations, there's no
better industry in which to work. A hospitality job allows you to leverage the power of your "people
skills" to engage customers and foster long-lasting relationships that ultimately increase sales and
promote the business.

Requirements for Becoming a Hospitality Professional

Because hospitality is such a large, broad industry, the requirements for becoming a hospitality
industry vary. If you're applying for a job as a restaurant manager, for example, you may be required
to have two or more years of managerial experience in a restaurant or similar hospitality business.
On the other hand, if you're applying for a job as a travel company sales representative, the position
may require sales experience.

Regardless of which type of hospitality job you are applying for,  earning a hospitality diploma can
significantly increase your chances of getting hired for the position. When given the option of hiring
a candidate with a diploma or a candidate without a diploma, an employer will most likely choose
the former.
It's also worth noting that hospitality professionals with a diploma are typically compensated better
than their counterparts without a diploma. Therefore, anyone who's considering a position as a
hospitality professional should consider earning a hospitality diploma.

The Rising Need for Hospitality Professionals

There's a strong demand for hospitality professionals in the United States -- a trend that isn't
expected to slow anytime soon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than
50,000 new hospitality jobs will be created within the next year.  

With the hospitality industry exhibiting extreme growth and increasing demand for skilled workers,
this may be a perfect time to get started on your career. AHA World Campus offers
various professional development diplomas and certificate programs  to help you get started on your
hospitality career today.

5 Professional Development Tips

Your number one priority is to learn. What you need to realize early on in your college career is that your learning is
not, and should not only be, located in the classroom. LEARN FROM EVERY EXPERIENCE! Better yet, learn
from the successes and failures of others. To do that, you have to be intentional with your experience… and actually
have learning experiences. 

Here are some professional development tips for college students:

1. Understand And Admit Your Weaknesses

The only way to develop both personally and professionally as a college student is to first understand what needs to
be developed in the first place. Self-reflection is so crucial in all of our lives, but especially during your college
years. Taking ownership of what you don’t do well and trying to improve is just as important, if not more important
than understanding what you are good at. College is the time to improve and grow and that will only happen if you
have goals set on what skills you want to enhance. If you have never completed a transferable skills survey before, I
encourage you to give it a shot, as this can really show you where you need more development.

2. Research, Read, Be Aware

All of us have had people we have looked up to in our lives. For those of us who have been in the workforce for a
good while, we probably have had mentors and leaders that we have looked up to along the way. One way you can
take ownership of your own development is to emulate the people that you look up to. By being aware of your
surroundings and understanding what exactly has drawn you to certain people, you can understand what skills you
need to be able to showcase to someday be in that position of leadership. This only happens through reading,
researching, and being intentional with your learning. Having outstanding job specific skills are important, but you
need to have the intangible qualities that employers are looking for to ultimately reach your career goals. To grow in
your development, you must first identify the skills you actually want to develop.

3. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

As a college student, I knew that I was a terrible public speaker and not very good in large social situations, as I
would get extremely nervous. One year, I forced myself out of my comfort zone and attended a Career Fair at the
University of Iowa. At this fair, there were over 100 employers and it was an extremely packed room. While I
accomplished something just by going, I didn’t actually do anything. That’s right; I simply walked around and didn’t
talk to anybody. Many of us are afraid to stray from what is comfortable to us, but you only get better with practice
and experience. I challenge my students to try something new that gets you out of your comfort zone at least once a
month. Obviously, the key to that is you have to actual take action and not just walk around! By getting out of your
comfort zone, you can learn a lot about yourself and develop interests that you never thought were possible. Who
would have thought that 10 years after I walked around doing nothing, I would be teaching students in a classroom
setting. Not me. Own your insecurities.

4. Diversify Your Experiences

There is no better way to take advantage of your own development than by diversifying your experiences while in
school. Think about it. The more involved you are and the more experiences you have, the better your chances of
finding out what your true passion is. For example, I work with a ton of student employees and many of them end up
changing their major because they love what they do within their student job. My current boss was a Biology major,
but she loved her student job in Financial Aid so much that she has now been doing it for 32 years. I implore all
students to diversify your experiences by getting involved in student organizations, volunteering, and being
employed while a student. At the very least, a diversified resume with a lot of experiences looks pretty good to an
employer!

5. Stop Waiting For Things To Happen, Make Them Happen

We have students all the time who come to our student employment office and want help finding a student job. The
first question I ask them is where they want to work. I ask this specifically because if they want to work in the
Library, why are they coming and talking to us? Go talk to somebody at the Library! There is a reason most jobs in
this country are filled without advertising, and that is because they don’t need to advertise. If you want to develop
yourself, get the career you want, and meet the people that you want to meet, then go do it! Take charge and make
things happen for yourself by being PROACTIVE. If you are an employer, what skills does it show you when
someone proactively comes to you looking to learn more? Plus, as a student, you are in a learning phase and can
play the student card, which will probably get you in the door easier than someone my age. Take control of your
own fate and make things happen. So many things that happen in your career and life are going to be out of your
control. Take that control back and take ownership of your own development. Learn from every experience that you
have good or bad. You never know, one day all the failures that you learned from when you were a college student
could lead you to the career you never knew you always wanted. Be a lifelong learner and you never know what you
could be doing next.

How to answer “What is your dream job?” in an interview

These tips will help you answer an interviewer when they ask, “What is your dream job?” 

1. Mention what skills you want to use

2. Describe a job in general
3. Discuss your values
4. Tailor your answer for the job you are interviewing for

1. Mention what skills you want to use

You could begin your answer by discussing your current strengths and skills and how they relate to the job. If you
mentioned this earlier in your interview, you can still go into more detail when asked about your dream job. The
employer will likely not expect you to currently have every skill you need for your ideal job, so this question also
gives you the chance to mention areas in which you would like to grow.

2. Describe a job in general

Instead of discussing a specific job title, discuss the general duties and responsibilities of that position. For example,
you could explain how you would love to have a job that helps people and makes a difference in their lives. You
could also mention that you want to work with the latest technology because you often spend your free time
researching the newest trends and products in the industry.
3. Discuss your values
Discussing your values can help your potential employer assess what motivates you and whether you have the same
goals as the company. Answering this question is most helpful when you can relate it to reasons why the company
should hire you. You could say that it is important to be accountable as an employee so others can depend on you or
that you always keep a positive attitude. If your answer overlaps with the interviewer’s values, it could help you
advance in the hiring process. 

4. Tailor your answer for the job you are interviewing for
While your answer should still reflect your general skills and values, you should also make sure it relates to the
position you are applying for. When you show an overlap between the requirements of the job you want and the
qualities and skills you already possess, you are demonstrating why you would be a great fit for the position. 

Read the job description before your interview so you can include these items in your answer. If you see that you
would be working on a team, mention that you enjoy working with others to complete a project, and list any
previous success you have had in this area. If applying for a leadership position, discuss how your dream job would
include supervisory responsibilities. 

Performance task :
1.Ask for schedule to your teachers for interview simulations.
2.wait for the confirmation.