The first month working at the hotel, for me, was the most crucial. This was the time in which I was able to show the team, of both the spa and the hotel, how well I would be able to adapt to a new working environment and how quickly I can learn new skills.
During my first week at the Hotel, it was mostly a case of shadowing the receptionists and trying, where I could, to lend a hand in order to actively learn. I find that carrying out newly learned skills allows me to improve more quickly than if I was just watching.
This was not only an important month on a professional level, but also on a personal level. Starting a new job can be a difficult process. But also having to adapt to a new way of living in a foreign country with very few familiar people around. I found this to be the most difficult part due to some personal things slightly affecting the way I was working because of how it was impacting me. However, I found a gym a used this as a distraction from the other events at the time.
August was spent learning everything I could of the job before being left to work on my own starting from September. The main skills to learn, included a whole new booking system, learning the protocols of the hotel as well as Leading Quality Assurance Standards, which are extremely important in the Leading Hotels of the World (LHW). Being a part of LHW means that you have to pass or exceed in all mystery guest visits. At the end of the year, the hotel must have at least an 85% average for it to even be considered for staying in LHW.
Between September and November, there was a noticeable drop in hotel occupancy as well as in the spa during September and October when the protests and riots were starting for the Catalonia referendum. This meant that the spa had to find ways to try and gain more business from within the hotel. We used a massage chair in the lobby for any large group of people checking. for anyone waiting, we would offer the complimentary service and once we were finishing, we would give them the details of the spa and just let them know that we were there. This method, in my opinion was not the most 5-star service we could have provided for a few reasons.
first of all, the chair was in a corner of the lobby with chunky wooden screens around it, blocking out any natural light. Also, we would have to approach clients instead of clients seeing what we were doing and approaching us. I, personally, find this method slightly pushy and unprofessional if you know that clients have just come from long flights and most likely want nothing more than to check in and go to their room. However, with that being said, we did manage to provide the experience for a few willing clients.
Then came November-January. This season is when we are mostly selling gifts and vouchers for people to give at christmas and for Día de los Reyes Magos (King’s Day). These months in terms of spa treatments can prove to be quieter than the rest of the year other than people coming to prepare for christmas events and dinners that may be taking place. This is then the perfect time of year to start thinking about the new years promotions.
During this time in 2017, Cataloniand took to the streets of Barcelona on a number of occasions between September and November.
This meant that many clients of the hotel would stay inside and use either the food and beverage facilities such as the Terrace bar, La Dolce Vitae, or they would come to the spa to escape the madness outside.
In terms of work, I started to gain a lot more confidence when left on my own which I would really worry about before due to my nerves when speaking with Spanish clients. However, once I knew that there was always going to be someone to help me, even if it was over the phone, I started to grow more confident. The rest would come with practice.
After January is when i really felt confident with many of the clients, both hotel and regular. As I had been there a few months, I became a familiar face for clients who visit the spa often, which for me was a rewarding feeling.
As the start of summer approaches we are seeing a steady increase in the number of bookings being made in the spa after a fairly quiet winter/spring period. This is the greatest opportunity for product sales because people love to try new products to make their skin summer ready and it is likely that they will listen to a professional opinion, allowing me to work on my retailing skills.
Effects of the experience:
This experience has shown me that it is possible to learn something new as well as enjoying yourself.
I have learned a great deal of skills and have grown as a therapist and receptionist. I feel confident that when I return to university, I have experiences that will truly help me in my future career both at university and beyond.
To move to a different country without my parents was a scary and new experience for me. However, in my opinion, that often builds you that confidence to grow and gain the experience without anything keeping you back.
Friday, 17 November 2017
Thursday, 9 November 2017
SWOT Analysis
This SWOT analysis is based on the end of my placement looking at it from the perspective of going back to university for my final year with thoughts towards graduating.
Thursday, 6 April 2017
Introduction
Welcome to my Personal Professional Development Portfolio for year 2!
In the following blog posts, I will be reflecting on the progress that I hope to achieve throughout my second year on the International Spa Management degree.
To do this I will be creating an action plan to create a clear idea of what I want to achieve and when I would like to have done it by. I will also be reviewing my CV in order to compare my experiences from first year and look at how these will help me to progress in my career.
I will also be looking at how I compare to my graduate attributes and transferable skills from last year and which ones I can continue to work on. I can use my SWOT analysis to help with this by identifying my strengths and weaknesses.
In terms of practical and real world learning, I will be reflecting on my progress in the spa and in my practical sessions during and after the transition from Elemis to Comfort Zone and Caudalie products.
I will also be looking at how I compare to my graduate attributes and transferable skills from last year and which ones I can continue to work on. I can use my SWOT analysis to help with this by identifying my strengths and weaknesses.
In terms of practical and real world learning, I will be reflecting on my progress in the spa and in my practical sessions during and after the transition from Elemis to Comfort Zone and Caudalie products.
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Graduate Attributes
Graduate attributes are skills and attitudes that a student develops in their time at an institution such as university. In this section, I will be discussing the attributes feel that I have improved, and which I feel I could develop further.
Assertiveness: When studying a management degree, it is important to know importance of managing people effectively in order to get the highest levels of productivity. I believe I am a fairly assertive person, however, I sometimes need to learn to manage this and know how and when to use it. To do this, I applied for a supervisor position in the Devonshire Spa so that I could improve this as well as an array of other skills, such as problem solving and leadership. After being successful in my application, I found myself using tips that I had picked up from colleagues, as well as using my own knowledge on how to work with and lead a team.
Networking: Networking has always been a struggle for me. This year I made a conscious effort to involve myself more in the Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference, in order to build my confidence. To do this I made sure that I spoke to some of the visiting professionals, such as employees from Caudalie.
Industry networking day was not as successful as I had hoped. This was due to the fact that there were not many companies there that I was too interested in as I was looking for more international opportunities. When reflecting on this, I feel as though I could have gone to speak to more of the representatives in practice for the future. However, I did speak to the representative from Nielson holidays, who I had also spoken to at the conference. I found this to be very helpful in learning how to approach people in a professional manner.
Commercial Awareness: This is a skill that I feel I have improved a lot in the past few years. I am always curious as to how a business works and how it can be improved in order to get the most out of its product or service. This year I have been working in the Devonshire spa, and I have also been working as a bartender in a local bar. Having the two jobs has allowed me to see how two completely different businesses work and what steps each need to do in order to continue improving.
By being in a supervisor role, I have given myself the opportunity to work more closely with guests and hear their suggestions after their visits, as well as be in a position to act on them.
Professional Development: This year I feel much more confident in my professional development. For example, as talked about previously, I made sure to get more involved in the Spa and Wellness Conference. I also put myself forward to be a university representative at Professional Beauty in London. Unfortunately I was not successful in my application, but the initial application was a confidence booster for me, as last year I would not have thought I had enough experience or knowledge to be involved.
Problem Solving: My problem solving skills have improved this year due to my new role in the spa. I have had to deal with situations such as staff sickness, lateness and guests arriving when they were not on the booking system. All of these events require quick thinking and initiative so that other problems do not arise in the process. This includes calling in therapists to cover, moving around columns as best I can so that treatments do not have to be cancelled or moved and finding space for guests not previously booked in and offering discount or goody bags for the inconvenience.
Team Working: All previous jobs I have been in have involved working in a team, whether its a restaurant team or a retail team. When working in a team, it is important to not just stick to your own jobs, but to make people aware that you are there to help them too if they need it. However, this is not to say that people should delegate their own jobs to other people. It is extremely important to pull your own weight in order to get all jobs done efficiently. As a supervisor I have been able to delegate tasks effectively to my team as well as get involved myself with jobs around the spa, and then focussing on other tasks such as cashing up and making sure the administration jobs are completed by the end of the shift. Team working is essential in every level of a business in order for it to run smoothly throughout, this includes communication through every level.
Leadership: Leadership is a skill that i find comes quite naturally to me. However, along with assertiveness, I am constantly learning how to hone it and use it to my advantage at all times. I am constantly using my leadership skills when down in spa, either as a therapist or a supervisor, this could be either through helping first years or new weekend team to get to grips with certain products or treatments, or helping to expand their knowledge on ow reception works e.g. making bookings, taking payments etc.
Confidence Building: My confidence is something that I have always had to work on. I have never been someone who believes in themselves, therefore missing out on certain opportunities, such as not applying for a supervisory position earlier in the year when I know now that I probably would have thrived in the position. This year however, I have definitely found that I have been able to build my confidence in different ways, including getting more involved in lectures, and pushing myself in both of my work environments.
Assertiveness: When studying a management degree, it is important to know importance of managing people effectively in order to get the highest levels of productivity. I believe I am a fairly assertive person, however, I sometimes need to learn to manage this and know how and when to use it. To do this, I applied for a supervisor position in the Devonshire Spa so that I could improve this as well as an array of other skills, such as problem solving and leadership. After being successful in my application, I found myself using tips that I had picked up from colleagues, as well as using my own knowledge on how to work with and lead a team.
Networking: Networking has always been a struggle for me. This year I made a conscious effort to involve myself more in the Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference, in order to build my confidence. To do this I made sure that I spoke to some of the visiting professionals, such as employees from Caudalie.
Industry networking day was not as successful as I had hoped. This was due to the fact that there were not many companies there that I was too interested in as I was looking for more international opportunities. When reflecting on this, I feel as though I could have gone to speak to more of the representatives in practice for the future. However, I did speak to the representative from Nielson holidays, who I had also spoken to at the conference. I found this to be very helpful in learning how to approach people in a professional manner.
Commercial Awareness: This is a skill that I feel I have improved a lot in the past few years. I am always curious as to how a business works and how it can be improved in order to get the most out of its product or service. This year I have been working in the Devonshire spa, and I have also been working as a bartender in a local bar. Having the two jobs has allowed me to see how two completely different businesses work and what steps each need to do in order to continue improving.
By being in a supervisor role, I have given myself the opportunity to work more closely with guests and hear their suggestions after their visits, as well as be in a position to act on them.
Professional Development: This year I feel much more confident in my professional development. For example, as talked about previously, I made sure to get more involved in the Spa and Wellness Conference. I also put myself forward to be a university representative at Professional Beauty in London. Unfortunately I was not successful in my application, but the initial application was a confidence booster for me, as last year I would not have thought I had enough experience or knowledge to be involved.
Problem Solving: My problem solving skills have improved this year due to my new role in the spa. I have had to deal with situations such as staff sickness, lateness and guests arriving when they were not on the booking system. All of these events require quick thinking and initiative so that other problems do not arise in the process. This includes calling in therapists to cover, moving around columns as best I can so that treatments do not have to be cancelled or moved and finding space for guests not previously booked in and offering discount or goody bags for the inconvenience.
Team Working: All previous jobs I have been in have involved working in a team, whether its a restaurant team or a retail team. When working in a team, it is important to not just stick to your own jobs, but to make people aware that you are there to help them too if they need it. However, this is not to say that people should delegate their own jobs to other people. It is extremely important to pull your own weight in order to get all jobs done efficiently. As a supervisor I have been able to delegate tasks effectively to my team as well as get involved myself with jobs around the spa, and then focussing on other tasks such as cashing up and making sure the administration jobs are completed by the end of the shift. Team working is essential in every level of a business in order for it to run smoothly throughout, this includes communication through every level.
Leadership: Leadership is a skill that i find comes quite naturally to me. However, along with assertiveness, I am constantly learning how to hone it and use it to my advantage at all times. I am constantly using my leadership skills when down in spa, either as a therapist or a supervisor, this could be either through helping first years or new weekend team to get to grips with certain products or treatments, or helping to expand their knowledge on ow reception works e.g. making bookings, taking payments etc.
Confidence Building: My confidence is something that I have always had to work on. I have never been someone who believes in themselves, therefore missing out on certain opportunities, such as not applying for a supervisory position earlier in the year when I know now that I probably would have thrived in the position. This year however, I have definitely found that I have been able to build my confidence in different ways, including getting more involved in lectures, and pushing myself in both of my work environments.
Monday, 3 April 2017
Transferrable Skills
Transferrable skills are those which can be used in all jobs because they make you a well rounded employee that can work in a number of different situations. Since last year, I feel as though I have come a long way in developing my transferrable skills in order to make myself a sought after employee. Here is a list of transferrable skills that employers tend to look for (Skillsyouneed.com, 2017):
Organising: Organisation this year in terms of my time has been fairly difficult as I have had 2 jobs, university work and social time to balance. I feel as though I could have done better with this, especially when dedicating time to university assignments, but once I put a plan in place and stuck to it I was able to get on top of my work as well as keep working in both spa and my other job. Developing organisational skills and being able to demonstrate them to employers shows them that you will be on top of things and be able to meet deadlines.
Working to Deadlines: Working to deadlines applies to me with both uni, and working in the spa. At university I have assignment deadlines to meet which means I have to plan my time effectively in order to give them all the attention needed. I have found this quite difficult because of the jump in the quality of work from level 4 to level 5 in order to get the best grades, which means that I have attempted to put things off, which is the worst thing to do. However, I have now set out dates and plans of when and what work to do in order to complete it in time for submission to a high standard. In spa, I am on deadlines in terms of meeting targets, making sure treatments start and finish at the right time, and also making sure that spa is opened and closed on time in the morning and evening.
Management and Leadership: This year has been key in me improving my management and leadership skills. Since the beginning of this academic year I have been watching the commercial team and student supervisors when dealing with all different types of situations including guest complaints, missing bookings and staff absence. Because of this, in second semester I felt comfortable enough to put myself forward for the role because I knew I had enough basic knowledge to then build upon through my own experiences. As i have got to know the weekend team more over the last few months, I am also able to delegate tasks efficiently so that they get done to the best standards.
Negotiating: Negotiation is a skill that can be used in many parts of a business. When working in the spa, my main use of negotiation is when dealing with customer complaints or issues in order to find a solution for them and be able to offer the most reasonable level of compensation for any troubles they may have had. general employee-to-company negotiation may also include holiday, pay or hours to name a few. Having developed negotiation skills allows a person to feel like they have more control in a situation and will be able to speak for themselves and obtain their goal effectively.
Motivating People: Many jobs involve motivating other people, whether it be personal motivation, motivating everyone as part of a team or keeping your team motivated as a manager. This year I have found myself trying different methods of motivation as a supervisor, this could be anything from bringing in treats for staff to enjoy on breaks, or creating incentives on shift such as meeting a retail target or getting repeat bookings and being rewarded with spa use or other discounts. This method seems to work well in the spa as people are more likely to respond to reward when asked to complete a task (smallbusiness, 2017).
Other forms of motivation include conveying a positive attitude which will reflect on other colleagues. This also means that the team will be more productive if there is a constant positive attitude through everyone. When being supervisor on my shifts, I try my best to keep everyone motivated with a positive attitude and leadership mentality.
Research Skills: My research skills have been drastically improved this year as we had a research skills module which allowed us to explore the basis of research, why you would use certain types of research over others and how combining different types of research can benefit certain topics. this module also helped me to look more carefully into my sources and think about why I am using them and how I can apply them logically to my research. moving onto level 5 has allowed me to see the standard of referencing and depth of research that is required in order to achieve grades in the top band.
Numeracy: “It is simply inexcusable for anyone to say ‘I can’t do maths.’ (Humphries, 2011)
My basic numeracy skills are to a fairy high standard, I am also confident on my mental arithmetic which means I am able to work things out quickly to solve a problem for example. Now that I have started to cash up in spa, I am able to use these skills to do the job more efficiently. Being able to work with numbers has also helped me in my business module when creating my cashflow forecast. Having a high level of numeracy skills often sets candidates apart in recruitment because it shows a certain level of efficiency in how someone works.
Good Communication Skills: Good communication skills are required for almost every industry in order to successfully progress. Different parts of my jobs involve talking to a variety of different people which means that I have had to develop the skill of knowing how to effectively communicate in a way that is professional with different types of people. In spa, I have learned that my manners when I am on reception and in a supervisory role have to show a more authoritative stance so that the guests feel like they would be able to come to me with any issues they may have and feel confident in the fact that I will be able to deal with them professionally.
When communicating with my team, I need to ensure that I am able to be authoritative but understanding also, to gain the most productivity from them. By knowing how to communicate with your team, it opens many more opportunities for you to gain feedback and respect from them and identify any issues that need to be dealt with for their employee satisfaction.
Because I have worked in a number of industries, eg. Retail, Spa and bars, I have developed my communication skills with a wide range of people including customers, colleagues and suppliers. I believe that I am able to adapt the way I communicate with a variety of different people, both professionally and in every day life, which gives me the edge on a lot of jobs because I can prove that I am able to communicate effectively in different situations.
- Problem Solving
- Organising
- Working to deadlines
- Management and Leadership
- Negotiating
- Motivating People
- Making Decisions
- Research Skills
- Numeracy
- Good Communication Skills
Organising: Organisation this year in terms of my time has been fairly difficult as I have had 2 jobs, university work and social time to balance. I feel as though I could have done better with this, especially when dedicating time to university assignments, but once I put a plan in place and stuck to it I was able to get on top of my work as well as keep working in both spa and my other job. Developing organisational skills and being able to demonstrate them to employers shows them that you will be on top of things and be able to meet deadlines.
Working to Deadlines: Working to deadlines applies to me with both uni, and working in the spa. At university I have assignment deadlines to meet which means I have to plan my time effectively in order to give them all the attention needed. I have found this quite difficult because of the jump in the quality of work from level 4 to level 5 in order to get the best grades, which means that I have attempted to put things off, which is the worst thing to do. However, I have now set out dates and plans of when and what work to do in order to complete it in time for submission to a high standard. In spa, I am on deadlines in terms of meeting targets, making sure treatments start and finish at the right time, and also making sure that spa is opened and closed on time in the morning and evening.
Management and Leadership: This year has been key in me improving my management and leadership skills. Since the beginning of this academic year I have been watching the commercial team and student supervisors when dealing with all different types of situations including guest complaints, missing bookings and staff absence. Because of this, in second semester I felt comfortable enough to put myself forward for the role because I knew I had enough basic knowledge to then build upon through my own experiences. As i have got to know the weekend team more over the last few months, I am also able to delegate tasks efficiently so that they get done to the best standards.
Negotiating: Negotiation is a skill that can be used in many parts of a business. When working in the spa, my main use of negotiation is when dealing with customer complaints or issues in order to find a solution for them and be able to offer the most reasonable level of compensation for any troubles they may have had. general employee-to-company negotiation may also include holiday, pay or hours to name a few. Having developed negotiation skills allows a person to feel like they have more control in a situation and will be able to speak for themselves and obtain their goal effectively.
Motivating People: Many jobs involve motivating other people, whether it be personal motivation, motivating everyone as part of a team or keeping your team motivated as a manager. This year I have found myself trying different methods of motivation as a supervisor, this could be anything from bringing in treats for staff to enjoy on breaks, or creating incentives on shift such as meeting a retail target or getting repeat bookings and being rewarded with spa use or other discounts. This method seems to work well in the spa as people are more likely to respond to reward when asked to complete a task (smallbusiness, 2017).
Other forms of motivation include conveying a positive attitude which will reflect on other colleagues. This also means that the team will be more productive if there is a constant positive attitude through everyone. When being supervisor on my shifts, I try my best to keep everyone motivated with a positive attitude and leadership mentality.
Research Skills: My research skills have been drastically improved this year as we had a research skills module which allowed us to explore the basis of research, why you would use certain types of research over others and how combining different types of research can benefit certain topics. this module also helped me to look more carefully into my sources and think about why I am using them and how I can apply them logically to my research. moving onto level 5 has allowed me to see the standard of referencing and depth of research that is required in order to achieve grades in the top band.
Numeracy: “It is simply inexcusable for anyone to say ‘I can’t do maths.’ (Humphries, 2011)
My basic numeracy skills are to a fairy high standard, I am also confident on my mental arithmetic which means I am able to work things out quickly to solve a problem for example. Now that I have started to cash up in spa, I am able to use these skills to do the job more efficiently. Being able to work with numbers has also helped me in my business module when creating my cashflow forecast. Having a high level of numeracy skills often sets candidates apart in recruitment because it shows a certain level of efficiency in how someone works.
Good Communication Skills: Good communication skills are required for almost every industry in order to successfully progress. Different parts of my jobs involve talking to a variety of different people which means that I have had to develop the skill of knowing how to effectively communicate in a way that is professional with different types of people. In spa, I have learned that my manners when I am on reception and in a supervisory role have to show a more authoritative stance so that the guests feel like they would be able to come to me with any issues they may have and feel confident in the fact that I will be able to deal with them professionally.
When communicating with my team, I need to ensure that I am able to be authoritative but understanding also, to gain the most productivity from them. By knowing how to communicate with your team, it opens many more opportunities for you to gain feedback and respect from them and identify any issues that need to be dealt with for their employee satisfaction.
Because I have worked in a number of industries, eg. Retail, Spa and bars, I have developed my communication skills with a wide range of people including customers, colleagues and suppliers. I believe that I am able to adapt the way I communicate with a variety of different people, both professionally and in every day life, which gives me the edge on a lot of jobs because I can prove that I am able to communicate effectively in different situations.
Friday, 31 March 2017
CV
This is a copy of my CV. I used this CV when looking for my 12 month internship.
By updating my CV from last year, i was able to make it look much more professional as well as include more information in a different format. To do this, I used the Abintegro CV tool to help me create this new layout, allowing me to input my information and be given a successful template.
Alejandra Ibarra
165B Lightwood Road, Buxton, SK17 6RN
| a.ibarra1@unimail.derby.ac.uk |
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-ibarra-145773106
PROFILE
I am currently a second year student studying International Spa
Management (BSc). Once I have completed this year, I am looking to begin a 6-12
month placement that enables me to build and improve upon my customer service
skills as well as spa specific skills such as developing my management and
supervisory skills.
KEY SKILLS
·
IT skills - Using the premier booking system,
comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Excel
· Proactive
- Always able to find tasks to complete
· Able to
work well in as well as lead a team
· Fluent
Spanish - Have completed both GCSE and A-level Spanish, as well as learning the
language through going to school in Spain
· Trained in
Elemis, Ishga, Caudalie and Comfort Zone
· Networking
and Social Media - have done social media promotions as part of small jobs in
order to make sales
KEY
ACHIEVEMENTS
·
Have been mentioned in company emails for sales
achievements
·
Received bonuses on multiple occasions as a team for
continuously meeting sales targets
WORK
EXPERIENCE
Sales Associate | Diesel UK Dec
2016 to Jan 2017
Designer clothing company est. 1978
·
Obtained
a temporary position in the Ashford Outlet store over the busy Christmas
period, serving customers, maintaining a tidy stock room and shop floor, and
maintaining and exceeding sales targets.
Massage Therapist | The Devonshire Spa Sep
2015 to Present
The Devonshire Spa is an educational
facility as well as an award winning commercial spa at the University of Derby,
Buxton.
·
Started
as a spa host whilst training in massage and facial treatments, am now trained
in Elemis, Ishga, Caudalie facials, and Comfort zone body treatments. The job
involves providing excellent customer care from when they walk through the
doors to when they leave at the end of their visit.
·
Was
a part of the spa team when winning the Day Spa of the Year 2016 award
·
Receive
personal thanks on regular occasions from guests
Sales Associate | Guess UK May
2014 to Jul 2015
Worldwide designer clothing company
offering high-end fashion for a variety of people.
·
Providing
top quality customer services
·
Maintaining
shop floor standards
·
Being
aware of and implementing loss prevention procedures
·
Keeping
up standards in the stock room
·
Meeting
sales targets
·
Numerous
occasions of gaining bonuses through continuously meeting weekly targets
·
Being
mentioned in national outlet email for exceeding targets
EDUCATION
& QUALIFICATIONS
Invicta Grammar School - GCSE, A
levels 11 GCSE´s including English, Maths and Science: A*-C
3 A-levels (Dance, Spanish and Media
Studies): B-C 2015
I studied at Invicta
Grammar School from year 7 to year 13 studying a variety of subjects including
Hospitality and Catering GCSE (A*), Business Studies GCSE (B), Media Studies
A-Level (C) and Spanish A-Level (B). These subjects, amongst others, allowed me
to gain knowledge in different sectors, which I would later carry through into
my university studies.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Training: Comfort Zone: Thermogenic Attack, Himalayan Salt Massage,
Pro-Sleep Massage [2016], Caudalie: Facials, Pre/Post natal massage, Divine
massage, Fleur De Vigne candle massage [2016], Ishga [2015], Elemis: Deep
tissue, Advanced Facials, Scrubs [2015]
Languages: English, Spanish
INTERESTS
- Wellness
- Nutrition
- Fitness
REFERENCES
Sian Jones | Spa Manager, The
Devonshire Spa
Zoe Williams | Store Manager, Diesel
UK
Thursday, 30 March 2017
Personal reflection within practicals
This years practical sessions were new to all students, which made me feel a lot more confident in my abilities as we were all learning completely new products together. Because Caudalie and Comfort Zone were only bought into the spa this year, we all had a lot to learn about the products, the brands themselves and of course the treatments, so that we could promote them to our existing guests in the best possible way.
I was not very confident going into this years practical sessions because I had just learned Elemis and Ishga and was ready to continue with and perfect these brands. However, as we progressed through the treatments, I found myself becoming more and more confident with the routines and the products. I had started to learn how to link products and treatments together as a way of learning the benefits of both.
I was not very confident going into this years practical sessions because I had just learned Elemis and Ishga and was ready to continue with and perfect these brands. However, as we progressed through the treatments, I found myself becoming more and more confident with the routines and the products. I had started to learn how to link products and treatments together as a way of learning the benefits of both.
Personal Reflection
Champneys
This was a trip as part of University. This trip was a good source of information to see the standards in one of the most popular health farms in the UK. Because of this, we all had very high expectations. Unfortunately these were not all met. I found that the range of facilities were lacking and for that reason I spent very little time in the spa area, and spent more time in fitness classes. These classes were sufficiently challenging and a good way to break up the trip. As a part of the visit, we all received a treatment. This gained very mixed reviews from all students due to which therapist they had and what treatments they usually enjoy. I found the experience at Champneys to be eyeopening. It was interesting to see what made the spa so popular from a professional point of view, and look at how it could be improved according to current trends and consumer demands.
Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference
The Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference is an event held by the university at the Devonshire Dome. It gives students the opportunity to listen to key note speakers across the industry on a variety of topics which can be contextualised, used to expand knowledge and possibly aid work in the future. In comparison to last year, I was able to choose the workshops I attended more strategically based on what I have learned in the past year and found an interest for. For example, I chose to attend a retailing workshop with Tracy, Caudalie's marketing coordinator, because I wanted to improve my retailing percentages in the spa as well as just learn more about their key products and why they sell the way they do.
I also went to a discussion panel. The panel consisted of managers of well known spas based in both the UK and abroad. I chose to attend this panel because I was in the process of applying for sandwich year placement and I knew I would benefit from asking the professionals what they look for in a candidate, and what sets you apart from others. I found this panel extremely helpful, and took on board a lot of the comments made such as using your passion to your advantage and getting as much experience in as many roles as possible in order to develop yourself both personally and professionally.
Industry Networking Day
This day was a chance to meet potential employers for both placement as well as after university. I know that I could have done a lot better on this day. Personally, it is a challenge of confidence and being able to promote myself as the good therapist that I know I am. However, when in a room with other therapists that may have more training and experience than myself, I find myself worrying that I wont be considered against someone else. However, I now know that I just need to put myself forward and see what happens because my passion and enthusiasm for the industry and the fact that I have been able to develop so quickly will work in my favour.
Barcelona Placement
This year I had the challenge of finding myself a placement for my sandwich year starting in September. I spent a few months searching employment and networking platforms such as Hosco and LinkedIn. When i had no luck finding exactly what I was looking for, I decided to contact potential employers directly. I knew that I wanted to spend my placement in Barcelona in order to improve my Spanish and learn about the way spa is received in other cultures. Because of this I looked into spa hotels in the area and sent my CV to the recruitment departments. For me, this was a big step in building my confidence because it enabled me to show my professional side through my CV before being offered a Skype interview and conveying my passion and desire to work in the industry. I eventually got offered a placement in the Majestic Hotel and Spa in Barcelona. A 5 star establishment which holds a high reputation in the area, with competition such as the mandarin oriental being very close by.
This was a trip as part of University. This trip was a good source of information to see the standards in one of the most popular health farms in the UK. Because of this, we all had very high expectations. Unfortunately these were not all met. I found that the range of facilities were lacking and for that reason I spent very little time in the spa area, and spent more time in fitness classes. These classes were sufficiently challenging and a good way to break up the trip. As a part of the visit, we all received a treatment. This gained very mixed reviews from all students due to which therapist they had and what treatments they usually enjoy. I found the experience at Champneys to be eyeopening. It was interesting to see what made the spa so popular from a professional point of view, and look at how it could be improved according to current trends and consumer demands.
Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference
The Buxton Spa and Wellness Conference is an event held by the university at the Devonshire Dome. It gives students the opportunity to listen to key note speakers across the industry on a variety of topics which can be contextualised, used to expand knowledge and possibly aid work in the future. In comparison to last year, I was able to choose the workshops I attended more strategically based on what I have learned in the past year and found an interest for. For example, I chose to attend a retailing workshop with Tracy, Caudalie's marketing coordinator, because I wanted to improve my retailing percentages in the spa as well as just learn more about their key products and why they sell the way they do.
I also went to a discussion panel. The panel consisted of managers of well known spas based in both the UK and abroad. I chose to attend this panel because I was in the process of applying for sandwich year placement and I knew I would benefit from asking the professionals what they look for in a candidate, and what sets you apart from others. I found this panel extremely helpful, and took on board a lot of the comments made such as using your passion to your advantage and getting as much experience in as many roles as possible in order to develop yourself both personally and professionally.
Industry Networking Day
This day was a chance to meet potential employers for both placement as well as after university. I know that I could have done a lot better on this day. Personally, it is a challenge of confidence and being able to promote myself as the good therapist that I know I am. However, when in a room with other therapists that may have more training and experience than myself, I find myself worrying that I wont be considered against someone else. However, I now know that I just need to put myself forward and see what happens because my passion and enthusiasm for the industry and the fact that I have been able to develop so quickly will work in my favour.
Barcelona Placement
This year I had the challenge of finding myself a placement for my sandwich year starting in September. I spent a few months searching employment and networking platforms such as Hosco and LinkedIn. When i had no luck finding exactly what I was looking for, I decided to contact potential employers directly. I knew that I wanted to spend my placement in Barcelona in order to improve my Spanish and learn about the way spa is received in other cultures. Because of this I looked into spa hotels in the area and sent my CV to the recruitment departments. For me, this was a big step in building my confidence because it enabled me to show my professional side through my CV before being offered a Skype interview and conveying my passion and desire to work in the industry. I eventually got offered a placement in the Majestic Hotel and Spa in Barcelona. A 5 star establishment which holds a high reputation in the area, with competition such as the mandarin oriental being very close by.
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
SWOT anaysis
A SWOT analysis allows me to monitor how I am progressing through my career and what threats and opportunities develop throughout my university studies. This will serve as the basis for my action plans in the coming months as well as over the next couple of years, allowing me to keep track of my progression.
Monday, 27 March 2017
PDP Hours
The majority of my hours gained came from my shifts in the spa. The rest of the hours consisted of other events such as the spa conference and the university trip to Champneys
*Some unsigned
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