Be able to demonstrate the skills, qualities and behaviours needed for effective performance in the workplace - Travel and Tourism - page 392

Be able to demonstrate the skills,
qualities and behaviours needed f or
ef ective performance in the workplace

SECTION 2

Having secured a placement, you can now turn
your attention to some of the practicalities of the
arrangement. It may sound obvious, but make sure
you can fi nd the placement easily and how long it
takes to get there! If it's some way from where you l ive,
you might like to visit the area a few days b e fo r e the
placement starts to familiarise yourself wit h t h e route.
Don't leave it until the last minute if yo u need to ask
somebody else for a lift or buy a ticket f o r travel. Finally,
make sure you know what time you are expected at
the placement on the fi rst day and create a good fi rst
impression by not being late!

• Cour t eo u s and non-discriminatory behaviour;

• Use of company facilities (particularly telephone,

e-mail and the internet);

• Dealing with customers and suppliers.

Most of these points will be covered in your induction
to the organisation when you fi rst arrive or may be
discussed as appropriate so as not to overload you
with information at the start of your placement. It is
very important that you follow all usual company
procedures while on placement so as not to cause
yourself, the organisation or your college/school any
embarrassment, nor invalidate any insurance or health
and safety arrangements the organisation may have in
place.

A work placement is a good opportunity to develop
your skills and see wh a t it's really like to be at work. You
should respon d positively to authority and carry out
your allotted tasks with good humour and to the best
of your abi l ity at all times. Be courteous to everybody
you meet, whether customers, fellow workers or
visitors, and leave a lasting impression of an honest
and reliable individual.

Activity 22.7

Working as a group, draw up a code of conduct
that you are all happy to follow on your work
placements.

Code of conduct

This activity is designed to provide evidence for P3.

Travel and tourism organisations have codes of conduct
that they expect all staff to follow, including anybody
on work experience. Codes of conduct cover matters
such as:

Demonstration of skills

• Timekeeping and attendance;

Work experience gives you the opportunity of
developing new workplace and 'people' skills or
brushing up existing skills. In section 3 of Unit 6
Preparing for Employment in Travel and Tourism you
were shown how to carry out an audit of your current
skills levels in areas such as communication, IT, numeracy
and working with others. You were also asked to assess
yourself in a variety of personal qualities and attributes,
including:

• Appropriate dress;

• Honesty and reliability;

• Accepting authority and responsibility;

• Responding to instructions and carrying out tasks;

• Following health, safety and security guidelines;

• Appropriate language in the workplace;

• Attitude to work;