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Career Planning

A Pathway to Employment

Dan Stotz, Ana T. Baida, Ed.D., and Wes Rhea, J.D.

This course is designed to foster creative approaches to launching a new career. You will articulate best ways to make a first impression and analyze your strengths by creating a personal statement. You will identify appropriate elements to make your resume stand out from the crowd. You will also identify the most effective ways a cover letter can answer a job description, and how to best leverage social media in your job search. In short, this course will help you to prepare for a new job. You will learn how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow-up, and evaluate options through research and with the help of experienced faculty and talented professional.

Launching Your Career provides insight from industry leaders on job search, networking and interviewing. You will receive guidance and best practice tips on how to master the interview and professionally close the loop. You will also compose a thank you note and clearly relate your ideal career to existing job titles and offers.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Creative: First Impressions

Welcome! You are beginning a very important journey on your path to a meaningful and successful career. This course is designed to help you launch a new career or jump start an existing career. This course, and your team of instructors, will guide you from making that first impression, to networking your way to an interview, through the stages of interview preparation, mastering the interview, and following up with the perfect Thank You note. We will work with you on generating a social media strategy and guide you through evaluating job offers when they are received. We will ask you to work with us as you move through the course, job searching and preparing as you go. We'll ask you to share your experiences and your success stories, as we offer you our best guidance in launching your career. Let's begin with making a first impression! By the end of this module, you will be able to: (1) Identify ways to make a great first impression, (2) Distinguish between best and worst practice when first meeting a new professional contact, (3) Differentiate between promoting yourself and promoting what you believe in, (4) Practice tasteful self-promotion, & (5) Create self promotional opportunities through an Elevator Pitch

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides industry insights from leaders on job search, networking, and interviewing

Guides learners through the entire process of career launching, from networking to follow-up

Teaches social media strategy for career advancement

Offers best practices for resume and cover letter writing

Develops self-promotion skills through elevator pitch practice

Requires additional resources like books and articles

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to launching your career

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and practical strategies for the job search process. Many found the modules on resume writing, cover letters, and interviewing to be particularly helpful and actionable. The guidance on leveraging social media, especially LinkedIn, was also frequently highlighted as a valuable component. While largely seen as highly positive, some students noted that those with significant prior experience might find some sections to be a bit basic.

Useful guidance on online professional presence.

"The section on leveraging social media, especially LinkedIn, was incredibly helpful and up-to-date."

"I learned so much about optimizing my online profile for potential employers."

"Good advice on using social media effectively for networking and job searching."

"Understanding how employers use social media was eye-opening."

Excellent resource for those new to career planning.

"As someone just starting my job search, this course was exactly what I needed to get organized."

"It provides a great starting point for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the job application process."

"I felt like the course was designed perfectly for someone with little to no prior experience in career planning."

"Great introduction to the fundamentals of finding employment."

Covers essential steps of the career planning journey.

"I appreciated how the course covered everything from making first impressions to evaluating job offers."

"The modules felt comprehensive, touching on resume, cover letter, social media, and interview skills."

"This course provided a thorough overview of the entire job hunting process."

"It really walks you through each step needed to prepare for and land a new job."

Provides concrete, actionable advice for job seekers.

"The course gave me practical tools and strategies I could immediately apply to my job search."

"I found the advice on writing my resume and cover letter to be incredibly useful and easy to follow."

"This course was a game-changer for how I approach interviews. The tips were spot on."

"I learned practical tips on how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow-up, and evaluate options."

May be basic for those with prior experience.

"While good for beginners, some sections felt a bit too basic for someone who has already done some job searching."

"If you're an experienced professional, parts of this course might just be a review."

"Could benefit from more advanced tips for specific career transitions."

"Some topics, though covered, could go into more depth."

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 Career Planning: A Pathway to Employment with these activities:

Review course materials and assignments

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Helps you stay organized and up-to-date on course content.

Browse courses on Assignments

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Gather all course materials, including notes, readings, and assignments.
Organize materials in a way that makes sense to you.
Review materials regularly to stay up-to-date.

Attend industry events and meetups

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Provides opportunities to meet potential employers and learn about new job opportunities.

Browse courses on Networking

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Research industry events and meetups in your area.
Attend events and introduce yourself to people.
Follow up with people you meet and stay in touch.

Join a study group or online forum

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Allows you to connect with other students and learn from each other.

Show steps

Find a study group or online forum related to your field.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Collaborate with other members on projects and assignments.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Attend a career development workshop

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Provides opportunities to learn new skills and get advice from experts.

Browse courses on Career Development

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Research and find career development workshops in your area.
Attend workshops and take notes on the information presented.
Follow up with the workshop organizers or speakers to get additional information.

Read 'Launch Your Career' by Jay Block

Show steps

Provides a comprehensive guide to launching a career in the arts, covering topics such as creating a strong portfolio, networking, and finding funding.

Show steps

Read through the book, taking notes on key points.
Complete the exercises and activities in the book.
Create a plan for launching your own career, based on the advice in the book.

Create a professional portfolio

Show steps

Provides a way to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers.

Browse courses on Portfolio Development

Show steps

Gather your best work samples.
Create a website or online portfolio to display your work.
Get feedback on your portfolio from peers and mentors.

Develop a career plan

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Provides a roadmap for your career goals and helps you track your progress.

Browse courses on Career Planning

Show steps

Research different career paths and identify your interests.
Set short-term and long-term career goals.
Develop a plan to achieve your goals.

Practice mock interviews

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Helps you practice answering common interview questions and improve your overall interviewing skills.

Browse courses on Interview Skills

Show steps

Find a partner to practice with.
Choose a list of common interview questions.
Take turns asking each other questions and providing feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Career Planning: A Pathway to Employment will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Career Counselor

As a Career Counselor, you will help people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities make educational and career decisions. You might help someone develop a resume, pick a field of study for college, or deal with the challenges of a career change. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: applying, networking, leveraging social media, interviewing, following up, and evaluating options. Overall, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the career planning process, which will be essential for your success as a Career Counselor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Counselor

Human Resources Manager

A Human Resources Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources for an organization, including recruiting, hiring, training, and employee relations. This course will be immensely valuable in developing the skills you need to excel as a Human Resources Manager, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for attracting top talent.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Recruiter

Recruiters are responsible for finding and attracting top talent to fill open positions within an organization. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Recruiter, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for attracting top talent.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Career Development Specialist

Career Development Specialists help individuals explore their career options, develop their skills, and find jobs. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Career Development Specialist, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for helping clients make a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Development Specialist

Outplacement Counselor

Outplacement Counselors help individuals who have been laid off or terminated from their jobs find new employment. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Outplacement Counselor, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for helping clients make a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Outplacement Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors help people with disabilities find and keep jobs. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for helping clients make a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Job Developer

Job Developers work with employers to create jobs for people with disabilities. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Job Developer, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for making a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Job Developer

Employment Counselor

Employment Counselors help people who are unemployed or underemployed find jobs. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Employment Counselor, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for helping clients make a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Employment Counselor

Human Resources Assistant

Human Resources Assistants perform a variety of tasks to support the Human Resources department, including recruiting, hiring, training, and employee relations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Human Resources Assistant, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for making a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Assistant

Training and Development Specialist

Training and Development Specialists design and deliver training programs to employees. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Training and Development Specialist, such as how to apply, network, leverage social media, interview, follow up, and evaluate options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for making a great first impression on potential employers.

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

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Talent Acquisition Specialists are responsible for finding and attracting top talent to fill open positions within an organization. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: applying, networking, leveraging social media, interviewing, following up, and evaluating options. You will also learn about the components of a successful cover letter and resume, which are essential for attracting top talent.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Specialist

Career Coach

Career Coaches help people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities make educational and career decisions. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: applying, networking, leveraging social media, interviewing, following up, and evaluating options. Overall, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the career planning process, which will be essential for your success as a Career Coach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Coach

Resume Writer

Resume Writers help people create resumes and cover letters that will make them stand out from the competition. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: writing resumes, writing cover letters, and networking. You will also learn about the components of a successful resume and cover letter, which are essential for helping clients make a great first impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Resume Writer

Interview Coach

Interview Coaches help people prepare for job interviews. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: interviewing, networking, and following up. You will also learn about the different types of job interviews and how to answer common interview questions, which are essential for helping clients make a great impression on potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interview Coach

Job Search Consultant

Job Search Consultants help people find jobs. This course may be useful for developing the following skills: applying, networking, leveraging social media, interviewing, following up, and evaluating options. You will also learn about the different types of job search strategies and how to use them effectively, which are essential for helping clients find the right job for them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Job Search Consultant

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Career Planning: A Pathway to Employment.

Networking for Career Success

Save

Provides a comprehensive guide to networking for career success. It covers topics such as building relationships, leveraging social media, and attending industry events.

Networking for Career Success: 24 Lessons for...

Spiral-bound

Networking for Career Success: 24 Lessons for...

Kindle Edition

Inspired to Climb Higher

Save

Contains information on creating a career strategy, resume writing, interviewing, negotiating offers, and networking.

Inspired to Climb Higher: The Challenges, Questions...

Hardcover

Inspired to Climb Higher: The Challenges, Questions...

Kindle Edition

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2022

Save

Provides an excellent resource for self-assessment, career exploration, resume writing, and interviewing. It is written in an engaging and accessible style, and provides practical advice for college students and graduates who are just starting out in their careers.

Career Planning

A Pathway to Employment

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical guide to launching your career

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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