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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EXP 1004"
COURSE NAME: "Professional Skills for Career Development"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Antonella Salvatore
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: FRI 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Course meets on: Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10
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

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

- Goals setting and different types of goals. Exercise 1: The self-discipline quiz

- Setting objectives: organizational skills, planning your career

-Exercise 2: Engagement drivers

- Problem solving and decision-making. How do you solve problems?

How do you take decisions? Exercise 3: The self-confidence quiz

- Communication skills. Exercise 4: The most common listening mistakes

- How to handle conflict

- 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

- Video CV

- How to write a cover letter

- Interviewing techniques: get prepared for an interview – 

- Exercise 5: Common interview questions

Job search and orientation to the job market.

 Guest speakers, company representatives in class

1) How to develop your career in UN organizations

2) How to launch your business

3) Event Management

 
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:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Professionalism: skills for workplace success,Lydia E. Anderson and Sandra B. BoltPearson Higher EducationISBN-13: 9780133868753     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance  10%
Online identity and LinkedIn profile 30%
How to write resume and cover letter 25%
JOBIRI action plans 25%
Participation in the class discussion 10%

-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

Students are expected to attend all class meetings in person.

More than one absence (excused and unexcused) in the semester may result in up to 20 percent being subtracted from your final grade.

Students are expected to participate in class. Since success in the workplace requires a high level of interpersonal skills, grading, to a greater extent than in other classes, will be based on active class participation, interaction with the professor and with the other students. Students are expected to read the assigned company cases. Grade will be determined by the student’s contribution, interaction, and critical thinking. Constructive class participation is expected. Unconstructive participation will be discouraged. The class participation grade will reflect your preparation, quality, and frequency of participation.

Attendance and participation grade

·   (90-100%): Consistent, high-level involvement in class discussions demonstrated through asking questions, answering questions, offering original comments, and providing evidence of analytical skills and critical thinking.   

·   (80-89%): Consistent contributions to class discussions primarily through asking questions or answering questions. Some questions or comments consolidate the general theme under discussion. 

·   (70-79%): Periodic contributions to class discussion. Answers questions or offers commentary only occasionally. Needs to be called upon to participate.

·    (<70%): Passive member of audience. Very few, and trivial, comments and questions during class. When called on, fails to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the issue raised in the question.

 
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 schedule, 15 hours

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

Goals setting. 

Do I really know my strengths and weaknesses? How can I develop my self-understanding?

Communication skills. How to build relations. 

Handling conflicts and negotiation

The most common listening mistakes

Build your professional network, build your LinkedIn profile

How to write resume and cover letters

Resume and Video CV

How to get prepared for an interview

Interview questions and interviewing techniques

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

How to apply for internships and jobs, JOBIRI platform

Guest speakers, company representatives in class

1) How to develop your career in UN organizations

2) How to launch your business

3) Event Management