professional development essay introduction

Why is Professional Development Important?

Learn the role of professional development in advancing your career.

Lian Parsons

Professional development is an important aspect of continuing your career growth and striving to reach your goals.

This blog post will explain what professional development is, its benefits to both employers and their employees, and how to seek different opportunities out to reach your full potential.

What is Professional Development?

Professional development is gaining new skills through continuing education and career training after entering the workforce. It can include taking classes or workshops, attending professional or industry conferences, or earning a certificate to expand your knowledge in your chosen field.

Some companies offer in-house opportunities for professional development, such as training sessions or mentoring programs, but many professional development programs are done independently. 

Professional development is important because it has the potential to open opportunities for career advancement, such as promotions. It can assist you in honing existing skills and in learning new ones. 

It can also help you stand out in a pool of applicants; showing that you have completed professional development programs or additional industry certifications on your resume can go a long way in showing your expertise in your field.

Employees who show initiative in independent learning can signal to employers that you are open to new experiences and are enthusiastic about continuing to grow. 

Benefits of Professional Development for Employers

Professional development can be instrumental in growing a stronger team.

Employers who encourage their employees to seek out professional development opportunities are in turn encouraging higher productivity and job satisfaction. 

Higher Retention Rates

According to a Business News Daily article, businesses should offer professional development opportunities to their employees to improve potential turnover.

Professional development can help to bolster employees’ confidence in their work. Greater confidence can, in turn, translate into higher overall job satisfaction, employee performance, productivity, and overall morale. 

Investing in professional development training programs also shows employees that their company is invested in their success and interested in cultivating their advancement.

Attract Better Talent

It can be challenging to find — and retain — talented employees. Offering professional development opportunities can help employers fill open positions by attracting and retaining skilled employees.

According to talent management platform Clear Company, 74 percent of employees say that a lack of professional development opportunities are preventing them from reaching their full potential. Additionally, 94 percent of employees would stay longer at a company if it invested in staff development.

Employers offering these benefits are more likely to attract potential employees who are interested in striving for excellence and pursuing advancement. 

Investing in professional development for employees can grow an existing team’s skills and entice new talent to join with the incentive of a clear learning and development plan. 

Help Employees Stay Up to Date With Industry Trends to Keep Skills Sharp

Industry trends move rapidly, and it’s important for companies to keep pace with the times. Ongoing professional development can prevent potential stagnation by maintaining — and improving — employee skills. 

Look for programs that will help you stay up to date, such as those for agile leadership for hybrid work, or for innovation strategy .

Employees engaged in professional development are also more likely to stay engaged in their work and to be enthusiastic about pursuing their goals. 

Get started on your professional development journey today.

Benefits of Professional Development for Employees

From gaining confidence in your abilities to building potential for advancement, professional development offers employees many benefits for not only your career, but your personal goals as well. 

Learn new skills

Through professional development, you may hone both hard and soft skills in your work. Hard skills pertain to job-specific knowledge you can obtain through formal training or education. Soft skills are personal competencies, such as effective communication or the skills that contribute to emotional intelligence . 

Developing both types of skills is important to reaching your professional goals — and even some of your personal ones.

Boost Confidence and Credibility

Adding additional skills or certification from a professional development program to your resume is one way to boost your confidence in your skills and show your credibility to employers.

Professional development opportunities can expose both new and experienced professionals to new ideas and expertise. Seeking out these opportunities shows ambition and the space to practice those new competencies. 

Develop Leadership Skills

A confident employee is also likely an enthusiastic employee. If you take the step to grow and develop your skills, the incentive to seek out additional opportunities can continue to expand along with it. 

If you are an employee who wants to advance your career but isn’t sure how to do so, professional development can encourage you to put your hand up for leadership opportunities you may not have sought out otherwise. 

This blog post offers helpful tips on how to choose a leadership development program.

Build Your Network

Professional development can provide many opportunities for networking. Workshops, conferences, classes, and webinars are all spaces in which professionals can meet new people within their industry and make new connections.

These connections can lead to new opportunities, mentorship, and support which may provide the next stepping stone in your career. 

Advance in your career

A well-qualified employee attracts employer attention. Employees who are invested in professional development display commitment to their work and an interest in continuing to improve.

Professional development can also boost your earning potential by increasing your value through obtaining credentials, certifications, and designations. 

Where to Take Professional Development Courses

There are a broad range of professional development opportunities. 

Harvard Division of Continuing Education’s Professional & Executive Development offers dozens of courses spanning multiple industries. Your employer may even help you pay for these opportunities if you effectively show their worth.  

There are both in-person and online options available, so choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle.

Seek out programs, workshops, seminars, mentorship programs, and more within your industry. Investing in yourself is just the first step.

Take the next step to advance your career. Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse all Professional & Executive Development programs.

About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

Strategic Leadership

Senior level managers must tackle complex problems using creative problem-solving and a portfolio of skills and styles. Here’s a look at how being a strategic leader can move an organization—and your career—forward.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Life Experiences — Personal Growth and Development

Essay Examples on Personal Growth and Development

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Cultivating a Fruitful Life: Dimensions and Pathways

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The Concept of Self and Development of Identity

The 9th of april, my defining moment, from childhood to adulthood: emotional and physical changes, my perseverance through the difficulties in my education and life, self-confidence: how to become self-confident, personal narrative example about life and future aspirations, my experience of learning a new language, my personal core values: performance task, critical reflection of my productivity during studying, a personal experience of a course of multicultural education, the usefulness of self-assessment tools for personal development, why i want to join internal medicine residency, the impact of social media on productivity, why a college degree is important, personal development skills and planning, a role of society in life, the ladder of sustainable development and its steps, methods of improving personal skills, personal development and self-assessment exercises, the attributes that complement professional growth, relevant topics.

• Childhood Memories
• Personal Experience
• Overcoming Obstacles
• Professionalism
• Law of Life
• Life Changing Experience
• Overcoming Challenges
• Helping Others

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• If you are writing in a new discipline, you should always make sure to ask about conventions and expectations for introductions, just as you would for any other aspect of the essay. For example, while it may be acceptable to write a two-paragraph (or longer) introduction for your papers in some courses, instructors in other disciplines, such as those in some Government courses, may expect a shorter introduction that includes a preview of the argument that will follow.  
• In some disciplines (Government, Economics, and others), it’s common to offer an overview in the introduction of what points you will make in your essay. In other disciplines, you will not be expected to provide this overview in your introduction.  
• Avoid writing a very general opening sentence. While it may be true that “Since the dawn of time, people have been telling love stories,” it won’t help you explain what’s interesting about your topic.  
• Avoid writing a “funnel” introduction in which you begin with a very broad statement about a topic and move to a narrow statement about that topic. Broad generalizations about a topic will not add to your readers’ understanding of your specific essay topic.  
• Avoid beginning with a dictionary definition of a term or concept you will be writing about. If the concept is complicated or unfamiliar to your readers, you will need to define it in detail later in your essay. If it’s not complicated, you can assume your readers already know the definition.  
• Avoid offering too much detail in your introduction that a reader could better understand later in the paper.
• picture_as_pdf Introductions

Awesome Guide on How to Write an Essay Introduction

'I'd like to recall the day I nearly burned myself in flames in my automobile while going 250 mph and escaping the police'. – Thankfully, we don't have a story like that to relate to, but we bet we piqued your interest.

That's what we refer to as an efficient hook. Fundamentally, it's an attention-grabbing first sentence that piques an audience's interest and encourages them to keep reading. While writing an essay, a strong hook in essay introductions is essential.

Delve into the article if you're wondering how to start an essay with a strong introduction. This is the ultimate guide for writing the parts of a introduction paragraph from our custom dissertation writing service to engage your readers.

Introduction Definition

The introduction paragraph, to put it simply, is the first section of an essay. Thus, when reading your essay, the reader will notice it right away. What is the goal of an opening paragraph? There are two things that an excellent introduction achieves. It initially informs the reader on the subject of your work; in other words, it should describe the essay's topic and provide some background information for its main point. It must also spark readers' interest and persuade them to read the remainder of your article.

To provide you with essay writing services , we only need your paper requirements to create a plagiarism-free paper on time.

How Long Should an Introduction Be

Typically, there are no strict restrictions on how long an opening paragraph should be. Professional essay writers often shape the size of it with the paper's total length in mind. For instance, if you wonder how to make introduction in essay with five paragraphs, keep your introductory sentence brief and fit it inside a single section. But, if you're writing a longer paper, let's say one that's 40 pages, your introduction could need many paragraphs or even be pages long.

Although there are no specific requirements, seasoned writers advise that your introduction paragraph should account for 8% to 9% of your essay's overall word length.

And, if you place an order on our coursework writing services , we will certainly comply with your introduction length requirements.

What Makes a Good Introduction

All of the following criteria should be fulfilled by a strong opening sentence:

• Start your introduction on an essay with a catchy sentence that draws the reader in.
• It needs to include baseline information about your subject.
• This should give readers a sense of the main argument(s) that your essay will address.
• It must include all necessary information on the setting, locations, and chronological events.
• By the end of your introduction, make a precise remark that serves as your essay's thesis.

What Are the 3 Parts of an Introduction Paragraph

So, what should be in a introduction paragraph? The introduction format essay has three sections: a hook, connections, and a thesis statement. Let's examine each component in more depth.

Part 1: Essay Hook

A hook is among the most effective parts of a introduction paragraph to start an essay. A strong hook will always engage the reader in only one sentence. In other words, it is a selling point.

Let's now address the query, 'how to make an essay introduction hook interesting?'. Well, to create a powerful hook, you can employ a variety of techniques:

• A shocking fact
• An anecdote 
• A short summary

And here is what to avoid when using a hook:

• Dictionary definitions
• Generalizations
• Sweeping statements that include words like 'everywhere,' 'always,' etc.

Once you've established a strong hook, you should give a general outline of your major point and some background information on the subject of your paper. If you're unsure how to write an introduction opening, the ideal approach is to describe your issue briefly before directing readers to particular areas. Simply put, you need to give some context before gradually getting more specific with your opinions.

The 5 Types of Hooks for Writing

Apart from the strategies mentioned above, there are even more types of hooks that can be used:

• A Common Misconception — a good trick, to begin with, to claim that something your readers believe in is false.

Example: 'Although many falsely believe that people working from home are less productive – employees who get such work-life benefits generally work harder.'

• Statistics — Statistical facts may provide a great hook for argumentative essays and serious subjects focusing on statistics.

Example: 'A recent study showed that people who are satisfied with their work-life balance work 21% harder and are 33% more likely to stay at the same company.'

• Personal Story — sometimes, personal stories can be an appropriate hook, but only if they fit into a few brief sentences (for example, in narrative essays).

Example: 'When I had my first work-from-home experience, I suddenly realized the importance of having a good work-life balance; I saw plenty of the benefits it can provide.'

• Scenes — this type of hook requires making the readers imagine the things you are writing about. It is most suitable when used in descriptive and narrative essays.

Example: 'Imagine you could have as much free time as you wish by working or studying from home—and spend more time with your loved ones.'

• Thesis Statement — when unsure how to do an essay introduction, some writers start directly with their thesis statement. The main trick here is that there is no trick.

Example: 'I strongly believe there is a direct correlation between a healthy work-life balance and productivity in school or at work.'

Part 2: Connections

Give readers a clearer sense of what you will discuss throughout your article once you have given a hook and relevant background information about your essay topic. Briefly mentioning your main points in the same sequence in which you will address them in your body paragraphs can help your readers progressively arrive at your thesis statement.

In this section of your introduction, you should primarily address the following questions:

You may make sure that you are giving your readers all the information they need to understand the subject of your essay by responding to each of these questions in two to three lines. Be careful to make these statements brief and to the point, though.

Your main goal is gradually moving from general to specific facts about your subject or thesis statement. Visualize your introduction as an upside-down triangle to simplify the essay writing process. The attention-grabbing element is at the top of this triangle, followed by a more detailed description of the subject and concluding with a highly precise claim. Here is some quick advice on how to use the 'upside-down triangle' structure to compose an essay introduction:

• Ensure that each subsequent line in your introduction is more focused and precise. This simple method will help you progressively introduce the main material of your piece to your audience.
• Consider that you are writing a paper on the value of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In this situation, you may start with a query like, 'Have you ever considered how a healthy work-life balance can affect other areas of your life?' or a similar hook. Next, you could proceed by giving broad factual information. Finally, you could focus your topic on fitting your thesis statement.

Part 3: The Thesis Statement

If you're unsure of the ideal method to create an introduction, you should be particularly attentive to how you phrase your thesis statement.

The thesis of your work is, without a doubt, the most crucial section. Given that the thesis statement of your piece serves as the foundation for the entire essay, it must be presented in the introduction. A thesis statement provides readers with a brief summary of the article's key point. Your main assertion is what you'll be defending or disputing in the body of your essay. An effective thesis statement is often one sentence long, accurate, exact, unambiguous, and focused. Your thesis should often be provided at the end of your introduction.

Here is an example thesis statement for an essay about the value of a proper work-life balance to help you gain a better understanding of what a good thesis should be:

Thesis Statement Example: 'Creating flexible and pleasant work schedules for employees can help them have a better work-life balance while also increasing overall performance.'

Catchy Introductions for Different Essay Types

Although opening paragraphs typically have a fixed form, their language may vary. In terms of academic essays, students are often expected to produce four primary intro to essay examples. They include articles that are analytical, argumentative, personal, and narrative. It is assumed that different information should appear in these beginning paragraphs since the goals of each sort of essay change. A thorough overview of the various paper kinds is provided below, along with some good essay introduction samples from our argumentative essay writers:

Narrative Introduction

• The writer of a narrative essay must convey a story in this style of writing. Such essays communicate a story, which distinguishes them from other essay types in a big way.
• Such a paper's hook will often be an enticing glimpse into a specific scene that only loosely links to the thesis statement. Additionally, when writing such an essay, a writer should ensure that every claim included in the introduction relates to some important moments that have significantly impacted the story's outcome.
• The thesis in narrative writing is usually the theme or main lesson learned from the story.

Narrative introduction example: 'My phone rang, and my mother told me that Dad had suffered a heart attack. I suddenly experienced a sense of being lifted out from under me by this immaculately carpeted flooring. After making it through, Dad left me with a sizable collection of lessons. Here are three principles that I know dad would have wanted me to uphold...'

Still Can't Think of a Perfect Intro?

When assigned to write an essay, students end up with a ton of questions, including 'How to structure an essay?', 'How to choose a good topic?'. Here at EssayPro, we employ only the best essay writers who are committed to students’ success.

Analytical Introduction

• Analytical essay introduction format is another popular type. In contrast to a narrative paper, an analytical paper seeks to explore an idea and educate the reader about a topic.
• Three important facts that support the analytical premise should be included in the middle section of the introduction.
• A well-researched and well-thought-out claim will form a wonderful thesis because the main goal of this paper is to study the topic and educate readers. It's crucial to remember that this assertion shouldn't initially have any real weight. Although it will still be theoretical, it has to be articulated practically.

Analytical introduction example: “... Hence even though presidents, CEOs, and generals still have their daily schedules full of economic crises and military conflicts, on the cosmic scale of history humankind can lift its eyes up and start looking towards new horizons. If we bring famine, plague, and war under control, what will replace them at the top of the human agenda? Like firefighters in a world without fire, so humankind in the twenty-first century needs to ask itself an unprecedented question: what are we going to do with ourselves? What will demand our attention and ingenuity in a healthy, prosperous, and harmonious world? In a healthy, prosperous, and harmonious world, what will demand our attention and ingenuity? This question becomes doubly urgent given the immense new powers that biotechnology and information technology are providing us with. What will we do with all that power? ...” Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, Yuval Noah Harari

Persuasive Introduction

• To persuade readers of anything is the sole goal of persuasive essay writing. This may be accomplished using persuasive strategies like ethos, pathos, and logos.
• A hook statement for this paper may be anything from a fascinating fact to even comedy. You can use whatever technique you choose. The most crucial advice is to ensure your hook is in line with your thesis and that it can bolster further justifications.
• Generally speaking, a persuasive essay must include three supporting facts. Hence, to gradually lead readers to the major topic of your paper, add a quick summary of your three arguments in your introduction.
• Last, the thesis statement should be the main claim you will be disputing in this paper. It should be a brief, carefully thought-out, and confident statement of your essay's major argument.

Persuasive introduction example: 'Recycling waste helps to protect the climate. Besides cleaning the environment, it uses waste materials to create valuable items. Recycling initiatives must be running all around the world. ...'

Personal Introduction

• The final sort of academic writing that students frequently encounter is a personal essay. In principle, this essay style is creative nonfiction and requires the author to reflect on personal experiences. The goals of such a paper may be to convey a story, discuss the lessons that certain incidents have taught you, etc. This type of writing is unique since it is the most personal.
• Whatever topic you choose can serve as the hook for such an essay. A pertinent remark, query, joke, or fact about the primary plot or anything else will be acceptable. The backdrop of your narrative should then be briefly explained after that. Lastly, a thesis statement can describe the impact of particular experiences on you and what you learned.

Personal introduction example: 'My parents always pushed me to excel in school and pursue new interests like playing the saxophone and other instruments. I felt obligated to lead my life in a way that met their standards. Success was always expected on the route they had set out for me. Yet eight years after my parents' separation, this course was diverted when my dad relocated to California...'

Tips for Writing a Winning Introduction Paragraph

You now understand how to do introduction and have specific intro example for essays to help you get going. Let's quickly examine what you should and shouldn't do during the writing process.

• Keep the assignment's purpose in mind when you write your introduction, and ensure it complies with your instructor's requirements.
• Use a compelling and relevant hook to grab the reader's attention immediately.
• Make sure your readers understand your perspective to make it apparent.
• If necessary, establish key terms related to your subject.
• Show off your expertise on the subject.
• Provide a symbolic road map to help readers understand what you discuss throughout the post.
• Be brief; it's recommended that your introduction make up no more than 8 to 9 percent of the entire text (for example, 200 words for a 2500 words essay).
• Construct a strong thesis statement.
• Create some intrigue.
• Make sure there is a clear and smooth transition from your introduction to the body of your piece.
• If you're looking for a custom writer , request assistance from the EssayPro team. We know how to write a term paper along with many other types of essays.

Don'ts

• Provide too much background information.
• Use sentences that are off-topic or unnecessary.
• Make your opening paragraph excessively long.
• Keep some information a secret and reveal it later in conclusion.
• Employ overused phrases or generalizations.
• Using quotation marks excessively

Now that you know what is in the introduction of an essay, we recommend reading the information on how to critique an article to gain more academic insight.

If you are still struggling with that, keep in mind that you can always send us your request to get professional assistance from our law essay writing service .

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Personal, Professional, and Career Development Reflective Essay

Personal and career purpose, career decision.

The ideal development of a person follows a unique route directing resources, facilities, capabilities, abilities, potentials, and interest among other in a line of presumed achievement. Most researchers argue that there are intuitive characters and motivations that shape how an individual grows and becomes prevalent in a community.

Essentially, these developments are associated with personalities, professionalism, career and career paths. There are processes and tactical handling of issues that must be conjoined to direct growth and development on these four aspects. In this regard, it is apparent that the fundamentality of managing and planning these attributes is beyond reproach.

An individual needs to set a line of interests to ensure that his or her working path has objectives and goals. In this manner, the person can develop personality, career and become a professional in his or her area. This paper evaluates a case of development in various aspects and comparisons. In a bid to perform this task, I have evaluated my strategy while striving to develop into a career warranting me a sustainable future.

The presence of a goal or a future aspiration allows me to plan and change my attitudes and characters. Primarily, individual characters determine the people I can interact with and set my social class into a disclosed discourse. The most tactical strategies may involve developing skills and experiences through employment and education.

First, education has allowed me to gain skills and attain credential for employment with reputable and well paying firms. Several personalities like patience and persistence have developed subconsciously and through training systems. Such personalities have significant outcomes in the real life. They make me competitive while searching for employment or any other work related issue.

These situations revealed that I knew how to outline my plan in creating meaning to every situation. At several instances I have managed to create and organize peoples into groups handling various issues as well as lead them tactically pursuant of my leadership dreams. Furthermore, I had managed to identify opportunity where I could develop my talents as I proceeded with further studies.

I have become an experienced and competitive artisan in a way that I can use it to earn a living. Furthermore, it is apparent that people are convinced by my inspirational encouragements, which attract them towards personal development. Therefore, I have become a person to encourage and motivate others.

These aspects are part of a plan developing my skills and experiences to facilitate the integration of huger ideas and knowledge. They have allowed me to attain insight into various levels of my career. Tactically, there have been adequate concerns regarding the credibility of ideas.

Motivation is an aspect that can be implemented to improve the performance of employees and boosting their tactical approaches in attaining customer satisfaction. Essentially, maintaining the workforce of a business in a critical tool for ensuring that secrets and skills are retained within the business. This aspect implies that a business must be conscious about the working conditions of its esteems employees.

In fact, most of the employees working in such a business as the Luxury Hotel undertake shores within a career path where they improve their skills. The employees become the managers and end up becoming significant operators for business proceedings. In this regard, it is vital to create a system that allows employees to show their competitiveness and abilities.

The management may formulate model involving increment in salaries, elevating the working class, and initiating competition plan involving winning prizes among others. All these aspects do not only improve the overall business performance, but also isolate the dedicated employees to work and become future managerial workforce.

The employee would view this process of reward as an opportunity to earn extra income and attain better-working conditions within the business. In essence, some issues related to authoritative management may be transformed to situations where employees work under minimal supervision since they have set goals at a personal level.

This research presents these incentives and shows how they are applied to become beneficial to an organization. In so doing, it reaches the managerial and non-managerial workforce to attain all diverse incentives that may assist businesses to become productive and inspiring.

In essence, the process of making this decision was consistent to some of the theories of decision making. It is an indication that people make decisions in ways that can be generalized to apply to majority. Evidently, the process was characterized by some aspects envisaged in bounded rationality.

The theory of bounded rationality reveals that there are two systems of thoughts, including emotional and rational approaches to decision making (Schiavone 2011). When the parents were making this decision, the mother had taken an emotional approach while the father was rational. Clearly, the mother feared that the financial and moral destructions were beyond repair.

She felt that the family might become financially incapacitated if they bought the private school. However, she did not have the actual figures to support the fact that the current financial capability of the family could not handle the destructions. In essence, it was a decision that was based merely on the outward perception of the school rather than facts.

On the other hand, the father argued that the mismanagement prevailing in the school wasted the lives of many pupils. As a result, it was important to offer a solution to the problem. In his case, he stated that there were two options that included building another school or acquiring the existing one. However, he argued that building another school was more costly that acquisition.

Further, he pointed out that the family cannot make a conclusion on whether the investment was too taxing without getting all the facts first. He also indicated that the family would invest despite financial incapability because he was confident that the school could bring good returns if it were managed correctly.

The theory of common biases was also evident in this entire scenario and the holistic process of making the decision. In this regard, the misconception of chance was the most evident bias. The theory states that people have a tendency to misconceive that the probability of getting a certain outcome is less than another one (Adair 2010). This perception is informed by emotions and past experiences (Choi 2011).

However, present and future events are not necessarily consistent with the past ones (Xu 2011). In this case, the mother had a misconceived perception that the chances of succeeding in an attempt to renovate and improve the school were minimal. However, this perspective was not informed by factual financial figures that could provide a rationale. In essence, it can be considered as a perfect case of misconceived chance.

In a broader perspective, it cannot be disputed resolutely that people are more pessimistic about success (Dolton 2011). Only a few people who have strong will, passion, and determination envisage optimism. As such, the mother was a victim of this general condition since she did not find a good chance of success.

Besides the two theories of decision making, the process also envisaged clear indications of heuristics. In theoretical understanding, heuristics purports that people have certain ways of simplifying information and factor of decision making (Missier 2011). These simplifications create a situation in which the decision maker does not consider the factors with due diligence.

Further, the theory asserts that simplifying the aspects of decision making might lead to a misconception of the reality (Nooraie 2011). Such misconceptions are informed by concentrating on the wrong focus and disregarding the real one (Su 2011). For example, the father asserted that acquiring a constructed school is less costly than building a new one.

However, it is evident that the school, which was in question, had gained a bad reputation among parents and was in a financial crisis. As a result, the cost of acquisition was not the only factor in decision making. Instead, it was important to consider other crucial factors such as reputation and precedence. Whereas these two aspects were important to the investment decision, the father overlooked them.

This ignorance and assumption were caused by the simplification of the scenario in a manner that considered cost as the only important variable.

As a result, it can be concluded that bounded rationality, common biases, and heuristics were among the critical decision-making theories that characterized the entire process of purchasing the school. Indeed, this process contained two parties and hence the analysis is based on both of them.

Having reflected on the event that took place when the decision was being made by the parents, there were critical undertaking that were crucial to notice. First, rationality is a better approach to making a decision that emotional perspective. When a decision makers embrace rationality, they can conceptualize issues from a sober position. In that regard, their decisions are not hasty.

Instead, they are procedural and sequential in nature. Therefore, the approach allows the decision maker to pass through the necessary steps when making a determination. For example, the father’s rationality enabled him to wait and assess the financial requirements before dismissing the acquisition.

On the other hand, an emotional approach is a fundamentally flawed method of making decisions. In this regard, decision makers who used this method rush to determine the way forward without deep and profound considerations. For example, the mother had already dismissed the acquisition of the schools just because of the fear that the family was going to run short of funds.

Whereas this was the core determining factor of her decision, she did not have any convincing figures to show that the family would become incapacitates if they purchased the school. Biases are also important when it comes to the decision-making process. In fact, it is evident that people become biased even without noticing.

Lastly, I would have made this decision in a pretty different manner than how it was done in this case. Personally, I would have talked to some able parents and friends about the challenges facing the school and the community. In the discussion, the issue of poor management and quality of the education provided in the school could be the core agendas.

Afterwards, I would propose to join hands with those colleagues and acquire the school as a group. This decision could have been better than the latter because the potential financial risk would be shared. Additionally, acquiring the school as a group would eliminate the notion of private school and bring a picture of a community-based school.

In essence, this would be an appropriate strategy for removing the bad reputation that had been painted by the previous management. Further, managing the school as a group would allow the availability of diverse intellectual ideas of improving it.

The management of virtual teams may depict various fundamental challenges. The researchers laying arguments in the literature depict the need and effectiveness of virtual teams. They are identified as prevailing businesses effective in reaching the final outcomes of the researchers. The developments of the virtual teams are improving continuously as the information technology proceeds to attain integration across the globe.

The review indicates the proper management allows the teams to attain clients and loyalty for the services they offer. The use of internet in reaching their target members depict the impending quorum required. Presently, the teams have managed to penetrate and unity many people across the globe making the accessibility of services such as marketing easy. The virtual teams have allowed globalization to take place easily.

In fact, such social companies do make not only huge profits due to the prevalence of members and common interests, but also creates global civilization and understanding of cultural differences. Such interactions are similar to the application of virtual teams in handling issues throughout the globe. They bring the human resources at one point where they may be accessed and exploited by firms or business easily.

The most fundamental achievement of the development is attaining a workforce striving the meet the company goals in a willing manner. In businesses that do not consider motivating the employees, their work is usually directed by the salary earning the get from the business.

However, the motivation oriented workforce does not target the salaries solely. The workforce works hard to attain salaries among other benefits being offered. In fact, businesses managed through authoritative systems fail the employees in working effectively due to lack of peaceful and free mind. In this regard, there must be proper developmental capabilities to deal with issues personally and organizationally.

Adair, J 2010, Decision making and problem solving strategies , Kogan Page, London.

Choi, A 2011, Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Based On Probabilistic Estimation with Contextual Information For Physiological Signal Monitoring, International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making , vol. 10 no. 1, pp. 109.

Dolton, T 2011, Medical Decision Making: Supplement Policy. Medical Decision Making , vol. 31 no. 3, pp. 376-377.

Missier, F 2011, Decision-making Competence, Executive Functioning, and General Cognitive Abilities, Journal of Behavioral Decision Making , vol. 7, 127-129.

Nooraie, M 2011, Decision’s familiarity and strategic decision-making process output: the mediating impact of rationality of the decision-making process, International Journal of Applied Decision Sciences , vol. 4 no. 4, pp. 385.

Schiavone, F 2011, Strategic reactions to technology competition: A decision-making model, Management Decision , vol. 49 no. 5, pp. 801-809.

Su, Z 2011, A Hybrid Fuzzy Approach to Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Group Decision-Making. International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making , vol. 10 no. 4, pp. 695.

Xu, Z 2011, Approaches to Multi-Stage Multi-Attribute Group Decision Making, International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making , vol. 10 no. 1, pp. 121.

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IvyPanda. (2019, December 24). Personal, Professional, and Career Development. https://ivypanda.com/essays/personal-professional-and-career-development/

"Personal, Professional, and Career Development." IvyPanda , 24 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/personal-professional-and-career-development/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Personal, Professional, and Career Development'. 24 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Personal, Professional, and Career Development." December 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/personal-professional-and-career-development/.

1. IvyPanda . "Personal, Professional, and Career Development." December 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/personal-professional-and-career-development/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Personal, Professional, and Career Development." December 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/personal-professional-and-career-development/.

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Employability and Professional Development

Introduction, employability, professional development, reference list.

A thorough understanding of the level we are in our career development, and an analysis of the capacities we have allows us to construct a professional development path that will catapult us to the desired position of our career goal. In our assessment, we recognize what we have already achieved and this motivates us to achieve more. The employability of an individual is determined by the degree of the employability of other individuals in the same job category.

Therefore, the employability of a graduate entering the job market for the first time depends on the existing employability of the current workers in the job applied. Additionally, the employability of other similar job seekers is also a factor.

Moreover, the current economic situation and the capacity of the specific organization to increase its workforce play a role. To remain in the race for a job the individual has to match the qualification of other applicants. In order to stand a chance of being appointed, the individual has to demonstrate a significant advantage over others on their ability to perform in the workplace in addition to costing within the allocated expense threshold of the organization (Little 2011).

While the employability evaluation task mostly lies with the employer, who devises several mechanisms and programs to determine and evaluate each worker, an individual is required to voluntarily conduct a personal assessment and present in an appropriate manner their employability to potential employers. The workplace environment is evolving and workers no longer have to rely on one employer to achieve their career objective.

Instead, an individual can rapidly climb the career ladder using different employers by increasing their employability and being aggressive in demonstrating the benefits of their employment to the organization. As a result, many people in their thirties now have senior management positions that could not be earned if the individuals depended on the single organization career progression through promotions (Little 2011).

Economic power in the global environment is evolving thanks to technological progress. In line with the technological progress, more emphasis is put on the knowledge of the worker and their ability to manipulate the knowledge creatively to create more value. Information and knowledge are now the most important inputs of economic development; the two inputs have surpassed the key role of goods and labor (Romaniuk & Snart 2000).

Organizations are moving from permanent employment to temporary employment of workers and this has meant that no worker is guaranteed job security anymore. Employment now depends on the ability to deliver on the tasks assigned and in case of employment; one has to demonstrate this ability through their credentials and experience as well, as to how they would tackle hypothetical challenges (Drucker 1993).

Work has now become more intellectual in that other than involving redundant transactional activities, it now involves dynamic roles of identifying and solving problems by having the knowledge and applying it appropriately. This has led to the combination of work previously designed for a single specialist or generalist. Higher education is becoming more important for workers, however, a key qualification is lifelong learning that maintains a person’s flexibility and makes the person capable of staying relevant in the changing environment. The success of a worker or a potential worker is now recognized as the ability of the worker to demonstrate their competency at adapting to the changing organizational environment (Romaniuk & Snart 2000).

Higher education and specifically foundation degrees give students an opportunity and an enhanced understanding of employability and knowledge. Students learn that they possess knowledge about the expected work in their careers and this raises their self-esteem. The knowledge of their professional development allowed students to examine their various work activities in relation to the positions they would like to occupy when they are eventually employed. Therefore, students apply specific techniques like financial planning and marketing in their daily work practices so that they can demonstrate to employers their competencies and do so in a confident way.

Employers care more about how well a worker performs in the workplace than what the qualifications of the worker demonstrate what the worker can do. However, without prior experience of working with a new worker, employers have to rely on the qualifications of the potential worker to determine their employability. In cases where workers are studying while already employed, very few employers acknowledge workers’ efforts to improve their skills by enrolling in further studies.

If the additional knowledge increases worker productivity and their employability then the employer is likely to acknowledge the worker’s work based on their employability and not their improved academic qualification. Therefore, further education training while working as an indirect effect on increasing workers’ employability but does not guarantee this increase in employability. Workers and students alike must review their intentions to pursue further education carefully to evaluate if further training will be appropriate in appropriating them the necessary knowledge to boost their employability (Romaniuk & Snart 2000).

The lack of a direct acknowledgment of the employability of a worker in the work place after undergoing further training implies that more needs to be done by employers in allocating tasks to make use of the increased knowledge of their workers. However, even without the employers’ recognition, further training boosts the employees’ confidence and allows them to perform efficiently and faster their day-to-day tasks of the workplace. This self-confidence does not guarantee an improvement in the overall organizational productivity and performance. To be able to make use of the on-going increase in the employability of their workers, organizations are resorting to in-work regular assessments.

Professional development is now more than just adding to the range of skills of a workforce. Instead, it entails a review of the workplace practice and the structures in place to make use of the employee skills and knowledge more efficiently and effectively. Higher education and organizations are collaborating more to ensure that academic and work-based learning are blended to benefit from the employer’s understanding of workplace practices and organizational culture.

This improves the employees’ confidence and prompts them to advocate for appropriate work practices that will utilize their knowledge best, employees also become more aware of the relevancy of their skills according to the objectives of the organization. To maintain their employability even in recessions, employees learn the importance of their knowledge and align it to the employer’s approach to workforce development. This indicates that employees, both current and potential, are devoting more efforts to the selective targeting of their training needs (Verhaar & Smulders 1999).

The increased need to remain employable and the increased influx of new people to the workforce yearly has propelled an increase in the use of various in-house training. In addition, workers prefer to minimize their learning costs by using public subsidies for training, opting to go for training that takes a shorter time. Training institutions such as universities also recognizing this need and have programs that deliver learning units in bite-sized chunks to accommodate the busy schedule of employees and that of employers. The degree of success of the chunked training is affecting career confidence has yet to be verified.

The knowledge of the importance of professional development in increasing one’s employability will greatly influence my positioning of various personal development initiatives so that I fit the desired profile for my target career. I understand the role my current involvement plays in building my professional profile, therefore am more active in my involvement in relevant activities that show the strength of my knowledge and qualities.

For example, I take note of each incident in my daily routines that highlight my team skills and demonstrate my leadership so that later I can come up with a personal portfolio presentable to employers that highlight my employability. I am aware of the relevancy of my knowledge in comparison with the competition and I constantly seek to upgrade my knowledge and experience to be at par with the required industry standard so that I am not redundant in the employment marketplace.

In addition to the current degree am studying, I intend to acquire additional qualifications and qualities to increase my employability by taking short courses relevant to my career that are offered by organizations in the industry. I am also cautious that I do not become overly employable on a specific position in my career and completely unemployable in other positions. Such an eventuality is not desirable because it renders one completely redundant should change in the economy render the ideal career position obsolete. The strategy I use is to be relevant without compromising my career safety position.

Drucker, P 1993, Post-Capitalist Society , HarperCollins, London.

Little, BM 2011, ‘Employability for the workers – what does it mean?’, Education and Training , vol 53, no. 1, pp. 57-66.

Romaniuk, K & Snart, F 2000, ‘Enhancing employability: the role of prior learning assessment and poortfolios’, Career Development International , vol 5, no. 6, pp. 318-322.

Verhaar, CHA & Smulders, HRM 1999, ‘Emplyability in practice’, Journal of European Industrian Training , vol 23, no. 6, pp. 268-274.

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StudyCorgi. (2021, January 27). Employability and Professional Development. https://studycorgi.com/employability-and-professional-development-essay/

"Employability and Professional Development." StudyCorgi , 27 Jan. 2021, studycorgi.com/employability-and-professional-development-essay/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) 'Employability and Professional Development'. 27 January.

1. StudyCorgi . "Employability and Professional Development." January 27, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/employability-and-professional-development-essay/.

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StudyCorgi . "Employability and Professional Development." January 27, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/employability-and-professional-development-essay/.

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Professional Development at Work, Essay Example

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Introduction and Thesis Statement Development

Providing people with career and professional development opportunities is an effective way of employee motivation. According to Stone et al. (2008), autonomous motivation has a great positive impact on employee satisfaction, retention, performance, and motivation. The below report will examine what the most successful ways of motivating and empowering workers are in an international organization.

The thesis statement the author would like to examine is as follows:

Employees who are provided with a personal professional development plan are more likely to participate in process improvement projects within the organization, and will feel a stronger connection with the company than those who are not given the opportunity to pursue their professional goals within the organization.

Literature Review and Research Development

Several authors talk about empowering employees through providing them with professional development opportunities. The Cornerstone project (2010) created an overview on the impact of employee empowerment. According to the authors, an empowered employee would be provided with the opportunity to do what they do best every day, while the workplace encourages their development, talks about their progress, and provides them with growth and learning opportunities.

The benefits of empowering employees through training and lifelong learning projects are evident for employees, but they can also provide several advantages for companies. The Cornerstone project (2010) lists some of the major competitive advantages gained by companies encouraging professional development of employees. First, a workplace where employees are empowered is more engaged. Quoting related statistics, the authors state that “companies with higher-than-average employee engagement also had 27 percent higher profits, 50 percent higher sales and 50 percent higher customer loyalty” (Cornerstone, 2010, p. 5). Further, studies show that workplaces where employees are encouraged to grow and learn have a higher overall performance and productivity level. Finally, at empowered workplaces, employees’ personal goals are more aligned with the organization’s vision and mission, and companies achieve a 144 percent increase in their ability to plan for future talent needs.

From the theoretical point of view, several frameworks can be applied to investigate the relationship between employee development and engagement. The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) states that people are more encouraged to do better if they feel like their values and goals are understood by the organization (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Therefore, instead of using the “carrot and stick” type of motivation, companies should start listening to employees, understanding their preferences, values, and aspirations, in order to support them in personal and professional growth. This approach can also lead to intrinsic motivation, described as a type of engagement between the company and the employee where “employees work for passion, pleasure, and interest. In contrast, integrated regulation occurs when people fully endorse the importance of the work even though they may not find it interesting” (Stone et al., 2008).

Goodall et al. (2005)  evaluated the impact of continuing professional development in schools on performance and motivation. Based on the results of the large scale survey carried out in the United Kingdom, the authors created some important recommendations for professionals creating professional development plans on an individual basis. First of all, evaluation of performance and training needs is crucial to delivering the most appropriate training schedule and materials. The impact of learning on motivation and job performance should also be measured by employers. Finally, the authors found that there was a need for differentiating learning and development programs, based on roles, personal needs, and background.

Literature Evaluation and Suggestions

Based on the above review of literature, it is evident that creating personal professional development plans for employees would have a positive impact on their motivation and engagement level. It is recommended by the sources analyzed that it is important to match the training provided to the needs of individuals, and listen to workers. Therefore, the best practices of creating a professional development plan at work should focus on collaboration, discussion, monitoring, and evaluation.

Several frameworks for motivating employees through training and career development opportunities have been created by researchers and HR professionals in the past few years. Zahra et al. (2014) found that “ongoing training of current employees is as important as of new employees; it helps them to adapt their daily routine work according to rapidly changing job requirements and to improve their performance on current job and prepares them for an intended job”. Reviewing several frameworks related to professional development, the most customizable and democratic model was found to be Bramley’s Individual Model of Training. This framework’s strength lies in its complexity and the individual consideration. Suitable training is offered on an individual basis, after assessing experience, competencies, and training needs. Through enhancing individual performance of employees, companies can benefit from a relevant and motivated talent pool that they can turn into organizational competencies and competitive advantages.

The main steps of professional development frameworks at the workplace, however, are similar. The process starts with the training needs analysis (including training gap analysis), followed by designing the different phases of training and setting clear objectives. All models also emphasize the need for evaluating the program’s effectiveness, completing employee interviews, and monitoring progress.

It is recommended that companies planning to design professional development programs create individual plans based on the following elements of design: gap identification, training needs assessment, goal and objective setting based on discussions with employees, creating a training program design, hiring trainers or purchasing programs, creating methods of motivation, and providing ongoing support. It is also important to reward trainee employees based on their achievement, and monitor the effectiveness in order to initiate changes that would make the professional development plan more rewarding for both the company and the employee.

It is important based on the findings of the above research that companies encourage employees in achieving their personal and professional goals. Employees seeking learning and development opportunities will face two options. They could stay within their current roles and settle for less, or look for another company that would help them become the professional they would like to be. If the company does not encourage learning at the workplace, retention and employee motivation, as well as work morale will be negatively affected. This is the reason why companies should work together with their employees to foster their aspirations and provide career development opportunities. This will increase employee engagement, help aligning individual goals with the organization’s culture, increase productivity, and employee motivation. As a result, companies will gain skills through employee training that are necessary for facing the challenges of today’s highly competitive business environment.

Career and Professional Development Plan

In the retail environment of the company FootLocker, it is important that employees remain connected to the brand and motivated. It has been found that employee motivation has a positive impact on job performance and customer service. Therefore, it is recommended that FootLocker’s local store implements a professional development program that suits employees’ and the company’s needs.

There are several training methods the company could implement: co-funding college education and certificate programs, online learning, coaching and classroom based customer service lessons, or on-job professional development. Before deciding on which method to choose, the company will need to identify training needs of the company, and find the relevant available courses to meet the expectations.

In the retail environment, training needs are generally concentrated around customer service, time management, communication, and managing people. FootLocker has recently realized that filling internal managerial roles makes the organization more effective, and employees who used to work alongside with their manager are more likely to accept their authority and communicate openly with them. This results in a better team performance, better alignment of goals, and a greater level of understanding among team members. It is also proven that filling upcoming managerial roles internally through fostering talent would increase employee motivation and make workers feel appreciated and respected.

Further, it is important that training programs are designed to meet current and future job requirements and are relevant to employees’ roles. In FootLocker, most personnel needs communication and interpersonal skills on a daily basis. They, on the other hand, also need to adapt to changes within the market and in the company. Most employees face diversity at work and need to deal with culturally diverse customers. Therefore, training programs based on sales, communication, empathy, diversity, inclusion, and team building would benefit the company in particular.

Needs Assessment

It is recommended that the company focuses on individual training needs based on regular appraisal results and discussions with line managers. In order to assess individual training needs, there is a need to implement an effective tool for employee skills evaluation. Performance reviews should include career planning and development sections, and self-evaluation forms as well, in order to provide workers with recognition of prior learning. Without the company knowing about the current skill set and education level of employees, it would not be able to tailor professional development programs to individual needs. An employee training and training needs questionnaire needs to be developed to help line managers develop training plans.

Training Gaps Assessment

This assessment would not only focus on the existing skills of employees and competencies needed for doing the job, but also review the company’s current practices related to new employees’ training and coaching. This way, the company can identify training goals and gaps that exist within FootLocker, and adjust the basic employee integration processes to the needs of the company, market, and employees. Training gaps assessment needs to be completed on a regular basis, as the competitive landscape of the retail industry is in constant change.

Creating Learning Management Programs

It has been identified that college education programs are not relevant to the roles in FootLocker, therefore, skills development and customer service courses need to be assessed and selected based on the completed needs and gap assessment. Today, there are many online certification modules available through interactive classrooms and online learning. These cost-effective courses are able to help employees do their jobs better, and improve their leadership skills. Two types of training programs need to be created: one for employees willing to remain in the retail environment, and dealing with customers on a day-to-day basis, and one for team members planning to pursue a career in management.

Training Program Development

The simplest and most flexible way of developing training programs within the company is to create a list of modules that are available based on previous training and qualifications, role, and career goals. All modules could be combined on an individual basis, therefore, training would be made suitable for individual needs. The training program modules should be covering the following aspects of current and future roles:

• diversity and inclusion training
• understanding customer needs
• effective communication
• team building
• leading change
• brainstorming
• personal target management
• motivating buying behavior
• building rapport
• leading teams
• motivating employees
• dealing with difficult situations

Implementation

After selecting the online training company to deliver the interactive modules, during the following appraisal and performance review meeting, line managers would discuss individual training need and make a decision along with team members. It is recommended that the line manager and the employee together create a schedule and completion target, with regular review meetings. Personal learning development will be reviewed during these meetings, as well as the career progression opportunities within the company. Employees who are motivated to move on to leadership roles would need to be provided with advice and guidance in order to feel appreciated and motivated. Presenting team members with leadership opportunities to support their transition, such as leading projects within the company or taking part in organizing events would help them get ready for their further role. Coaching, therefore, should be a crucial part of the implementation process.

Evaluation and Monitoring

Employees’ experience with the professional development program’s delivery should be evaluated. Competencies of staff before and after taking part in the courses should also be measured to determine the effectiveness of each module.

Cornerstone (2010) T he empowered workforce: crucial to success in the new economy . Ondemand.

Goodall, J., Day, C., Lindsay, G., Muijs, D., & Harris, A. (2005).  Evaluating the impact of continuing professional development (CPD) (No. Reference: RR659). London: Department for Education and Skills.

Stone, D. N., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). Beyond talk: Creating autonomous motivation through self-determination theory. Journal of General Management ,  34 (3), 75.

Zahra, S., Iram, A., & Naeem, H. Employee Training and Its Effect on Employees’ Job Motivation and Commitment: Developing and Proposing a Conceptual Model.

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Professional Development Essay: Critical Reflection On Skills And Knowledge

Task: The purpose of the reflective essay is to develop a clear and inspiring vision of what you want to achieve in your career. In the essay student need to succinctly review the literature, particularly focusing on skills important to the development of their career/profession and how it will make a positive difference in his/her career/profession along with a role of a professional manage. Students are expected to critique the literature and to adheres to the word limit. Essay should also contain reference list written in Harvard style. Given below are some guidelines that are useful for writing the assignment.

Section 1: Understanding and Analysis . Describe what is the meaning of professional development and why it is important. How you can relate the idea of professional development with your career vision. What is your career mission statement?

Section 2:  Literature Review. Review the important of skills on career development and discuss why you believe your selected skills are important for today’s managers? You should be referring to wider source of reference, preferably peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings.

Section 3:  Skill Identification and Critical analysis . This section should present critical analysis of skills that are important for your desired professional position. You should also need to refer to the recent job advertisement (as an evidence this should be attached as an Appendix in your report) of a professional position of your interest and present critical analysis of skill gap (of what you possess and what is required). To support your analysis, you may refer to wider credible sources to link skills to the advertised position.

Introduction The present professional development essay revolves around the concept of personal development that is an important aspect of life as it assists in reflecting upon the skills and attributes that fare required for professional growth. In this professional development essay, I will illustrate the necessity and importance of professional development and the way it has helped me in analyzing my skills and knowledge. The skills that are required for my professional development will be explored in a detailed manner and the way I am planning to make use of professional development in order to improvise my skill will be discussed in a detailed manner. The importance of skill for career development will also be highlighted.

Discussion Professional development is the method of maintaining significant professional credentials such as formal coursework’s, academic degrees; informal learning that can be situated into practice, attending conferences and more (Rubens et al., 2018). It is a way with the help of which skill and knowledge are enhanced so that professionally an individual can increase their own performance. The five principles of professional development explored in this professional development essay states that firstly professional development should have a significant duration and must be ongoing so that individual is able to learn new strategies for problems, secondly the individual should have appropriate support and guidance during the implementation stage that will help in changing practices, thirdly individual should collaborate with a community that are implementing similar changes. fourth stage suggests that online mediums can be adopted that can help in enhancing professional development, lastly the five core features of professional development best practice should be kept in mid such as coherence with standards and policies, integrated contents and pedagogy, active learning opportunity, mentoring and individual learning.

There are various approaches discussed in the context of this professional development essay that can contribute towards professional development such as coaching, consultations, communities of practice, mentoring, lesson study, technical assistance and reflective supervision. It is analyzed that continuous professional development is essential and important because it helps us in ensuring we continue to be increasingly competent in our professional field (Pucciarelli and Kaplan, 2018). It is considered as a continuous and on-going process throughout our professional career. Through professional development, we are able to encourage ourselves to learn new skills and gain new knowledge which helps us in overcoming new challenges at the workplace and makes us more efficient and competent at the workplace. It is evident that with increased globalization the competition among employees is also increasing and in order to capture and gain lucrative opportunities, it is essential to possess all the vital knowledge and skills. A career mission statement helps in providing a clear purpose for future developments. Professional development can be associated with a career vision statement as any mission statement has been created with the aim of improving performance (Campbell, 2017). In order to improve any performance or support employees, the study developed in this professional development essay illustrates that it is essential that the individual himself should possess adequate skill and knowledge which can be developed with the help of professional development. Therefore professional development helps in improving competencies that in turn help in focusing on the career mission statement and allows us to achieve our visions and goals in a positive manner. My career mission statement is “to support and inspire individuals in order to enhance their capabilities and improvise their skills and become more competent and active”. As it can be observed that my mission is to inspire and help other individuals to enhance their skill it is necessary that in order to achieve this mission statement I must possess all the vital skills and knowledge so that I am able to help and support others. Professional development will help me in continuously learning new skills and improving my skills and knowledge along with the present changes and trends and therefore I will be able to achieve my mission statement.

According to Cottrell (2017), it can be analysed in this segment of professional development essay that skill development is the method that assists in recognising our skill gaps and helps us in developing the lacking skill set. Skill development is necessary because our skills help in determining our ability to execute a task or a plan in a successful manner. It is significant to develop necessary and required skill set for a successful career. It is evident that skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, time management and more are necessary in order to improve the performance of an individual (Ritter et al., 2018). Skills are an important part of an individual as it helps in analysing and understanding the capabilities and competencies of an individual and based on that they are approaches for professional opportunities. For instance, if a job opening for a marketing manager is available then all the candidates applying for the position will not get the job. Only the candidate that has all the necessary skills that a marketing manager should possess will get the job as other candidates that do not possess the skills will not be able to carry out the tasks and duties of a marketing manager. Therefore this example helps in understanding that skills are necessary as it categorises individuals as per their capabilities and competencies and therefore, in order to become successful in a professional career one must possess all the skills as well as knowledge. The professional development essay examines the readings of Prajapati et al. (2017) that skills are vital as they help in enhancing thinking abilities and helps in improving problem-solving. It helps us in understanding the impact of our activities and allows us to take up responsibilities in a confident manner as we are sure that we will be able to perform the actions as well possess the skills. Skills are considered vital for confidence development and confidence is vital to gain an increased and successful career opportunity (Jackson, 2015). Skills are categorized under two basic categories such as soft skills which deal with people’s skill, communication skill, social skill, personality attitude and trade. On the other hand, hard skills are measurable or teachable abilities such as reading, writing and more.

Managers are a significant part of an organisation as they have a primary responsibility of ensuring that all the goals and objectives of the organisation are well met so that the performance of the firm increases in the market. As per the investigation on professional development essay, it is noted that in order to become a successful manager, there are a number of skills that must be possessed by an individual so that they are able to manage an entire workforce and guide them in their duties. I would like to address my perception in this professional development essay that a manager should possess planning skills, communication, and decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, and motivating skills. As per Divleli and Ergun (2015), planning is one of the most essential duties of a manager they are responsible to allocate duties to the employees based on their skills and knowledge so that the tasks are completed successfully and the organisation is able to meet its goals. Managers are required to interact and communicate with employees, make them understand their duties, guide them with their tasks and help them in their problems. Therefore having excellent communication is one of the most important skills to be a successful manager. In addition, it is observed that as the business environment changes many times managers are required to make a decision that will benefit the business and assist in its growth. In order to make a beneficial and reasonable decision that decision making the skill of the manager should be appropriate. A business encounters many challenges and problems while operating in the competitive market active problem-solving skills help in finding creative and innovative solutions for problems, therefore managers are required to have excellent problem-solving skills. As stated by Kiruja and Mukuru (2018), it is also noted in this professional development essay that managers should possess, motivating skills, employees in business may feel low due to increased competition or work pressure, therefore, it is the responsibility of the managers to motivate and encourage the employees to remain positive and active towards their duties so that enhanced outcomes can be gained.

I aspire to become a business development manager at Hardygroup and in order to gain this position; there are certain skills that must be possessed by me. Some of the most significant skill required for this position includes communication skills, good business knowledge, negotiation skills, organisational skills and creativity. As per my self-reflection, I can analyse that my soft skills such as communication skill is excellent and I am confident at speaking with my colleagues and friends. In addition, I am quite creative as I participate in most of the problem-solving activities and try to work on my creative knowledge. I am always trying to think of unique and innovative ideas so I am able to enhance my creativity. However, some of the my soft skills such as negotiation skills, and other hard skills such as business knowledge and organisational skills are quite inappropriate and therefore, lack of these significant skills will reduce my chances of capturing the job opportunity and therefore I am planning to work on improving these skills. I need to improve my lacking skills so that I am suitable for the position.

In order to improve my negotiation skill, I will take up a class in which I can work and learn about negotiation, the activities of the class will help me in practising negotiation ad will improve my knowledge in this area. I will also keep practising this at home and with peers so that I can improve this skill as it is necessary. In order to work on my business knowledge, I will enrol in a business course which will allow me to gain an understanding and also expose me to the business world. The course will also allow me to understand the challenge in difficulties that are experienced by a business I will be able to understand the working environment and it will benefit me in my career development. Business knowledge is a vital skill and joining courses to improve my skill is essential. Lastly, I will have to increase my organisational skills and therefore in order to do that I will take up an internship in a good repute organisation so that I am able to gain practical knowledge regarding the ways a business operates. I will be able to experience the challenges and learn from the situation. Internship helps in gaining knowledge and also improves our skills, we are able to understand work pressure and the way we need to behave and the attitudes that help us in a workplace.

Conclusion In this professional development essay, we can conclude that professionally develops is important as it allows us to work on our skill and professional knowledge so that we are capable and competent. I analysed that significance and importance of skill development and the way skills help in gaining attractive career opportunities. Skills are significant as they help in understanding the capabilities of an individual and based on its job and employment offers are provided. I have discussed the skills of a manager and the ways these skill sets are used by a manager in order to carry out their roles in a business. In addition, I have conducted a self-analysis regarding the skills that are lacking in me as compared to skills that are required for the job I desire to achieve. In the above professional development essay, I have also discussed the ways I am planning to work and improve my skills in order to be appropriate for the job position and gain the opportunity.

Reference List Campbell, C., 2017. Professional development essay Developing Teachers' Professional Learning: Canadian Evidence and Experiences in a World of Educational Improvement. Canadian Journal of Education, 40(2), p.n2.

Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Divleli, M.S. and Ergun, E., 2015. MANAGER EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY: THE EFFECT OF SKILLS ON DIFFERENT LEVEL MANAGEMENT. International Journal of Management & Human Resources, 3(1).

Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and best practice. Studies in Higher Education, 40(2), pp.350-367.

Kiruja, E.K. and Mukuru, E., 2018. Professional development essay Effect of motivation on employee performance in public middle level Technical Training Institutions in Kenya. IJAME.

Prajapati, R.K., Sharma, B. and Sharma, D., 2017. Significance of Life Skills Education. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 10(1), pp.1-6.

Pucciarelli, F. and Kaplan, A., 2016. Competition and strategy in higher education: Managing complexity and uncertainty. Business Horizons, 59(3), pp.311-320.

Ritter, B.A., Small, E.E., Mortimer, J.W. and Doll, J.L., 2018. Designing management curriculum for workplace readiness: Developing students’ soft skills. Journal of Management Education, 42(1), pp.80-103.

Rubens, A., Schoenfeld, G.A., Schaffer, B.S. and Leah, J.S., 2018. Self-awareness and leadership: Developing an individual strategic professional development plan in an MBA leadership course. Professional development essay The International Journal of Management Education, 16(1), pp.1-13.

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