Level 5, Unit 1 - Developing Professional Practice

Thanks very much Luigina, that is helpful. My 2nd question refers to the CIPD map so i didnt know if to cover it in 1.0 and 1.1

i'm struggling to even define what professionalism is! i've looked on CIPD/Google

I think its the wording, I find some of it very ‘fluffy’, 400 words instead of 4 type of thing. Define, tell it as it is! Describe it ... no idea if thats right but I will be finding out soon!

Let me know how you get on - you have my emails :)

Will do

Hi Clare
Amazon sell used books and you could go for an earlier edition.
I have also heard of people ordering the books from their local library as you have said. Many of the basic principles in HR have not changed so I would not be too worried about the age of the books!
In fact, I am often amazed how little things have changed and it is interesting to note that many do not even realise that some principles go way back!!
Also remember that the L5 qualification started in 2010 so is still relatively new....

hi Rebecca
I have also just completed the Level 5 and to be honest the biggest difference between the Level 3 and the Level 5 is the style of writing.
The Level 3 is rather casual in comparison with little need for research and the writing style was more simply spitting out what you read and what you know.
The Level 5 is a Foundation Degree level with the need for academic writing style. I found that in my class, I was one of the lucky ones who had completed an Undergrad Joint Honours and a Post Grad which really helped me when it came to writing.

Some key things to help you structure:

1- Use the bullet pointed parts in the assignment brief. CIPD assignments are word limited but the questions are fluffy and not to the point! Some of them ask you to go over the same things several times in one assignment! Be concise with your answers while answering the question.

2- To answer your questions, use key authors/texts etc from HR theorists and well known researchers such as Marchington et al - I found this to be a significant one as well as Herzberg, Maslow to name a few others. Don't use third party website type blogs eg businessballs or wiki links. Look for the actual authors and dig a bit deeper.

3- In Level 5 assignments, it's important to be comparative and reflective to show wider reading and reference a range of texts to show that you can be analytical. If you don't analyse, you're not writing at Level 5. To make reference to your initial question about describing professionalism, try starting with "the Oxford English Dictionary describes professionalism as..." and then take a look at what HR theorists look for as well as what CIPD quotes on their factsheets as well as the HR map. Comparing a few gets you going. Don't forget to reference as you go along :)

4- Language used should also be objective, not subjective, unless it asks you for your own experience.

5 - The Developing Professional Practice one can't actually be completed fully until the end. It asks for CPD which needs reflected on at the end of the academic year as you need to show the development and what professional activities and research you undertook.

6 - The biggest tip I have is just start writing. Ideas will flow. Maybe some things you will write will be absolute rubbish but these are vocational assignments and the more you read as you go along, the more ideas you will have and you can chop it and change it. Start with one point and go from there.

Hope this helps - and good luck!

Nicola

Yes that's exactly what I did - went to Amazon for older editions for a fraction of the price. Even though principles may not always changes that much, I did think though that my 20 year old core text for my Certificate in Personnel Practice (now equivalent to Level 3) might be a bit out of date!
True - I did find getting hold of Level 3 and 7 books easier than Level 5.

Even though I had previously completed a degree around 20 years ago, I still found it quite different starting the Level 5 qualification. Analysing was never my strong point , but somehow managed to pass my degree (albeit in Languages rather than Business). Although I was used to referencing, I did have to at least triple the amount I had previously used for Level 5 !
Agree that Marchington et al was useful.
I can say from experience that however daunting it seems at first it does start to flow easier as you go along and do more assignments.