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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EXP 1004-2"
COURSE NAME: "Professional Skills for Career Development"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2017
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Antonella Salvatore
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: FRI 2:00PM 6:00PM (Class meets on: January 27, February 17, March 10& March 24)
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 15
CREDITS: 1
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Grading: This course will be graded on a PASS/FAIL scale.
The main goal of this course is to prepare students for their career: the course provides students with an understanding of the mechanisms regulating the job market as well as uncertain, competitive and challenging work environments. The course is also a tool to learn the art of personal branding; students learn how to develop individual soft skills such as leadership style, communication skills, and organization skills. The course prepares students to successfully enter the job market; participants will learn about the different interviewing techniques and will learn how to apply for a position in an effective manner. In the end, attention is given to external relationships and professional network: the course explains how to build and maintain professional relationships, and how to handle conflict in the working environment.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

- Self-understanding. Exercise 1: The written self-portrait

- Attitudes and personality: who you are, how people see you

- Goals setting and different types of goals. Exercise 2: The self-discipline quiz

- Setting objectives: organizational skills, planning your career

-Exercise 3: Engagement drivers

- Problem solving and decision-making. Exercise 4: The self-confidence quiz

- Communication skills. Exercise 5: The most common listening mistakes

- How to handle conflicts

- Building your professional network

- Online identity and how to use social media for personal branding – LinkedIn profile

- How to write a resume: different types of resume.

- The resume guidebook

- How to write a cover letter

- Interviewing techniques: get prepared for an interview – 

- Exercise 6: Common interview questions

Job search and orientation to the job market.

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students learn:

- how to address their short-term and long-term professional goals

- the art of “personal branding”

- how to take care of their “on-line identity”

- how to use social media for personal branding

- how to get prepared for interviews

- how to search for job opportunities in an effective manner

- how to face the challenges of competitive and uncertain work environments - how to build a professional network
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Professionalism: skills for workplace successLydia E. Anderson and Sandra B. Bolt,Pearson Higher EducationISBN 13- 9780321959447  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and participation 20%
How to build your LinkedIn profile 25%
How to write resume and cover letter 30%
Interviewing techniques 25%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

CLASS I

Learning outcomes and basic concepts. Who you are, self-understanding, motivation.

Goals setting. 

Exercise 1, 2, 3 and 4: Do I really know my strengths and weaknesses? How can I develop my self-understanding?

CLASS II

Communication skills. How to build relations. 

Handling conflicts and negotiation

Build your professional network

Exercise 5: The most common listening mistakes

Build your LinkedIn profile

CLASS III
Build your career.

How to write resume and cover letters

How to get prepared for an interview

Interview questions

Exercise 6: Common interview questions

CLASS IV
Why should they hire you? Three reasons why an employer should hire you

Interviewing techniques