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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EXP 1004-1"
COURSE NAME: "Professional Skills for Career Development"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Antonella Salvatore
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: FRI 9:00AM 1:00PM (Class meets on: September 9, October 14, October 21 and November 4)
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:

Personal branding

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

- Stress management: how to cope with stress, different types of stress

- Setting objectives: organizational skills, planning your career

- Online identity and how to use social media for personal branding - Time management

Relationships management - Business etiquette

- Communication skills

- How to handle conflicts

- Building your professional network

- How to build your LinkedIn profile

Job search

- How to write a resume

- How to write a cover letter
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 success 3/ELydia E. Anderson and Sandra B. BoltPearson Higher EducationISBN 13- 9780132624664  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and participation 20%
How to develop your online identity (LinkedIn) 25%
How to write resume and cover letter 30%
Get prepared for an interview: why should they hire you? 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

Sept 9

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

Goals setting.

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

Oct 14

Communication skills. How to build relations.

Handling conflicts and negotiation

Build your professional network

Exercise 3: your LinkedIn profile

From 11:00 to 13:00 Guest speaker: Elia Fregola, HR consultant. 

How to work on motivation and goals setting

Oct 21

Build your career.

How to write resume and cover letters

How to get prepared for an interview

Interview questions

Nov 4

Role-play: why should I hire you?

Exercise 4: the three reasons why you should hire me

Special guest: Randstad, global HR service provider in class

Tips and tricks for job search