Create a Departure and Personal Statement for Interviews from Coursera

Welcome to this guided project on "Create a Departure and Personal Statements for interviews”. My name is Dianna Eckford, and I will be your instructor for this project. I currently coach a wide variety of Silicon Valley professionals who have recently been impacted from their previous employer.

In this 45 minute project-based course, I’ll teach you how to create a Departure statement that will help you answer your first behavioral question recruiters and hiring managers' will ask: “Why are you looking for a new job?”

I will also teach you how to create a Personal Statement that will help you answer your first behavioral question recruiters and hiring managers’ will ask: “Tell me about yourself.”

By the end of this project, you will have created a Departure and Personal Statement for interviews

Learning Objective 1: Gmail and Sign in

Learning Objective 2: Accessing Interactive Files

Learning Objective 3: Create a Departure Statement for interviews

Learning Objective 4: Incorrect Departure Statements

Learning Objective 5: Create a Personal Statement for interviews

Learning Objective 6: Incorrect Personal Statement

Learning Objective 7: Create a Personal Statement Using a Job Description

Learning Objective 8: Recite a Departure and Personal Statements in 25 t0 60 seconds

Learning Objective 9: Create a trusted contact network list of family, friends and business associates

Note: This course works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We’re currently working on providing the same experience in other regions.

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Ideal for learners in career transition who need to craft genuine statements for interviews

Teaches essential skills for crafting effective departure and personal statements

Provides step-by-step guidance on creating compelling statements

Focuses on behavioral questions commonly asked in interviews

Delivers practical exercises and interactive files to enhance learning

Reviews summary

Concise interview statement guide

According to students, this course is a highly practical and concise guide for crafting effective Departure and Personal Statements for interviews. Many found the instructor, Dianna Eckford, to be clear and knowledgeable, providing invaluable real-world examples and crucial tips on what not to say. The project-based approach enables learners to create their statements directly. While widely praised for its direct applicability and ability to provide a quick refresh of interview skills, a few learners noted its brevity might limit depth for those with extensive prior experience or seeking broader interview coverage. The networking module was occasionally seen as less relevant.

Provides effective frameworks for challenging interview questions.

"I've struggled with answering 'tell me about yourself' for ages, and this course finally gave me a framework that works."

"The departure statement part was useful."

"I felt much more prepared for my interviews after this and was able to craft my own statements easily."

"This course finally gave me a framework that works for 'tell me about yourself'."

Instructor Dianna Eckford provides clear explanations and helpful examples.

"The instructor gives great examples of what to say and what not to say in a personal and departure statement."

"I learned a lot from Dianna and really appreciate her clear and concise explanation. The real-world examples were invaluable..."

"The instructor is very knowledgeable and clear. The examples provided were top-notch and made it easy to craft my own statements."

"The instructor's advice on what *not* to say was particularly impactful."

Delivers immediate, actionable advice for interview statements.

"This course is short and to the point. I found the course very helpful in preparing me for my interview and provided a clear path to follow."

"Excellent and actionable insights. The project-based approach meant I actually created my statements during the course."

"Very direct and useful. I was able to apply the techniques immediately to my job applications."

"Practical and efficient. It's a quick win for anyone needing to refine their interview pitch."

The supplementary networking module felt less relevant to some learners.

"The networking part felt a little tacked on."

"The networking section wasn't really what I was looking for. Good for absolute beginners, maybe."

"While generally helpful, the contact network part didn't align with my immediate goals."

"I found the main content highly valuable, but the final module on networking felt somewhat tangential to the core topic."

Excellent for targeted preparation and quick refresh, but limited depth.

"A good quick course for refreshing interview skills... concise, perhaps a bit too much for those completely new to interviews, but great for a quick brush-up."

"It gives you the basics but feels a bit superficial. For someone with some interview experience, it might not offer much new."

"I would have appreciated a bit more depth or perhaps some additional common interview questions tackled, but for what it is, it's solid."

"While concise, it definitely helped me sharpen my messaging. I just wish there was a bit more meat to it, as I finished it very quickly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Create a Departure and Personal Statement for Interviews with these activities:

Review and Practice Identifying Behavioral Interview Questions

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Reviewing and practicing identifying behavioral interview questions will help you prepare for the first questions you'll be asked in an interview by recruiters and hiring managers.

Browse courses on Behavioral Interview Questions

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Identify common behavioral interview questions
Practice answering behavioral interview questions using the STAR method

Create a Departure Statement for Interviews

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Creating a Departure Statement will help you prepare for the first behavioral question you'll be asked in an interview by recruiters and hiring managers: "Why are you looking for a new job?"

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Identify your reasons for leaving your current job
Craft a clear and concise statement that highlights your reasons for leaving

Create a Personal Statement for Interviews

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Creating a Personal Statement will help you prepare for the second behavioral question you'll be asked in an interview by recruiters and hiring managers: "Tell me about yourself."

Browse courses on Personal Statement

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Identify your key skills and experiences
Craft a clear and concise statement that highlights your skills and experiences

Three other activities

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Practice Delivering Your Departure and Personal Statements

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Practicing delivering your Departure and Personal Statements will help you confidently answer the first two behavioral questions you'll be asked in an interview.

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Practice delivering your Departure Statement out loud
Practice delivering your Personal Statement out loud
Record yourself delivering your statements and review your performance

Join a Mock Interview Group

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Joining a mock interview group will provide you with an opportunity to practice your Departure and Personal Statements in a realistic interview setting.

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Find a mock interview group to join
Prepare for your mock interviews by practicing your Departure and Personal Statements
Participate in mock interviews and receive feedback from your peers

Contribute to Open Source Projects Related to Interview Skills

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Contributing to open source projects related to interview skills can help you learn more about the topic while also improving your coding and problem-solving skills.

Browse courses on Interview Skills

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Find open source projects related to interview skills
Identify a project that you can contribute to
Make a contribution to the project

Career center

Learners who complete Create a Departure and Personal Statement for Interviews will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Career Counselor

As a Career Counselor, you will be providing expert guidance to individuals seeking to advance their careers. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to assist your clients in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These are essential tools for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help your clients make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in the job market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Counselor

Human Resources Manager

As a Human Resources Manager, you will be responsible for managing the recruitment and hiring process. This course will equip you with the skills necessary to evaluate candidates effectively based on their departures and personal statements. These statements provide valuable insights into candidates' motivations, aspirations, and career goals. By understanding how to interpret these statements effectively, you can make informed hiring decisions and build a strong team of professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Recruiter

In your role as a Recruiter, you will be searching for and qualifying candidates for open positions. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to identify and attract top talent based on their departures and personal statements. These statements offer valuable information about candidates' skills, experience, and career goals. By learning how to assess these statements effectively, you can save time and effort in the recruitment process and find the best candidates for your organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Career Coach

As a Career Coach, you will work with individuals to help them develop their careers and achieve their professional goals. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist your clients in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help your clients make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in the job market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Coach

Outplacement Counselor

As an Outplacement Counselor, you will be assisting individuals who have recently lost their jobs. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to help your clients create effective departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help your clients make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in the job market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Outplacement Counselor

Resume Writer

As a Resume Writer, you will be helping individuals create professional resumes and cover letters. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist your clients in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help your clients make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in the job market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Resume Writer

Talent Acquisition Manager

As a Talent Acquisition Manager, you will be responsible for attracting, recruiting, and hiring talented candidates. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to evaluate candidates effectively based on their departures and personal statements. These statements provide valuable insights into candidates' motivations, aspirations, and career goals. By understanding how to interpret these statements effectively, you can make informed hiring decisions and build a strong team of professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Manager

Organizational Development Manager

In your role as an Organizational Development Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve employee performance and satisfaction. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to help employees create compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Performance Improvement Consultant

As a Performance Improvement Consultant, you will be working with organizations to improve employee performance and productivity. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist employees in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

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Training and Development Manager

As a Training and Development Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering training programs to employees. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to help employees create compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager

Career Development Specialist

As a Career Development Specialist, you will be working with individuals to help them develop and achieve their career goals. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist your clients in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help your clients make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in the job market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Development Specialist

Workforce Planning Manager

As a Workforce Planning Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure that an organization has the right number of employees with the right skills to meet its business needs. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist employees in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

As a Diversity and Inclusion Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist employees in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Employee Relations Manager

As an Employee Relations Manager, you will be responsible for managing employee relations and resolving workplace disputes. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist employees in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

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HR Business Partner

As an HR Business Partner, you will be partnering with business leaders to provide HR support and guidance. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to assist employees in creating compelling departures and personal statements. These statements are essential for effectively articulating their career goals and securing their desired positions. By learning how to create these statements effectively, you can help employees make a strong impression on potential employers and increase their chances of success in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for HR Business Partner