Strategic Career Self-Management from Coursera

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the current economy, Americans shift jobs every 4-5 years, which translates into 8-10 job transitions, including several career changes, over one’s life time. With competition for jobs on the rise, a person’s continuing employability and career success are increasingly defined by his or her mastery of individual career development and the ability to effectively "manage oneself" (P. Drucker).

In this course, you will learn how to think strategically and professionally about your career self-management. Through this course you'll develop an objective, external view of your marketable skills as a solid foundation for building a strong career brand. In particular, you'll be able to:

- explain why developing a protean and boundaryless career perspective based on transferable (portable) skills is advantageous for continuing employability and career growth;

- design your portable skills portfolio, identify and examine critically important competencies underpinning your transferable skills, and analyze your career self-management competency gaps;

- increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self;

- recognize the central role of self-management for developing transferable, marketable, skills and create a customized self-management information system (Career Development Lab) for ongoing personal development and professional growth;

- conduct a thorough, competency-based job analysis in your area of interest and examine practices of evidence-based, data-driven competitive employee selection;

-implement your newly developed skills for crafting effective selection criteria statements and refining your job applications.

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started

To gain a competitive advantage in the job market, one must distinguish themselves by developing superior skills and developing a strong career brand. The first lesson, "Specialization at a Glance," walks you through all stages of career self-management training and certification, giving you a bird's-eye view of the specialization. If you've already taken other courses in the specialization, you can either skip this lesson or skim through it quickly to refresh your memory. The second lesson provides an overview of the current Course 1 "Strategic Career Self-Management." You will also begin working in your Career Development / Skills Management Lab.

Navigating the New Skills Economy

At the conclusion of this Module, you will have demonstrated an understanding of a skills-based economy and competitive job markets, while focusing on the development of your marketable skill sets. Associate Professors Dr. Michele Forte and Dr. John Beckem are assisting us in explaining the complex topics covered in this module.

Developing Career-Building Skills

At the end of this Module, you will have demonstrated awareness of protean and boundaryless careers, personal attributes, future work selves, skills-based career growth strategies, and underlying career self-management skills. Associate Professors Dr. Michele Forte and Dr. Kymn Harvin are assisting us in explaining the complex topics covered in this module.

Managing Skills to Gain a Competitive Edge

You will develop strategic orientation and be able to employ strategic management tools for skills-based career growth, with an emphasis on establishing a competitive edge in a skills-based job selection (promotion) process. Associate Professor Dr. John Beckem is assisting us in explaining the complex topics covered in this module.

Conclusion: Your continuing career self-management

At the end of this Module, you should have developed a strategic vision for achieving a competitive edge in a skills-based job selection (promotion) process. You will also go over what you learned in the course and prepare for the next steps in your career self-management training and certification process. Associate Professor Dr. John Beckem is assisting us in explaining the complex topics covered in this module.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Outlines the importance of self-management capabilities for career development and growth

Emphasizes transferable skills acquisition and boundaryless career perspectives

Provides practical frameworks for enhancing self-awareness, career planning, and goal setting

Focuses on developing a personalized career development and self-management system for ongoing growth

Guides learners in conducting thorough job analyses to identify relevant skills and competencies

Provides insights into evidence-based and data-driven competitive employee selection practices

Reviews summary

Practical and strategic career course

Students largely agree that this school is solid and comprehensive, and found that they have learned more about the importance of career management. Practical tools are offered, but could be simplified and consolidated.

Helpful practical tools.

"This is a well presented course."

"I learned more about the importance of managing my career."

Suggest simplifying and consolidating tools.

"I felt there were too many tools that could have been simplified by rather having a consolidated tool."

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 Strategic Career Self-Management with these activities:

Watch the 'How to Craft a Strong Career Brand' video tutorial

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This video tutorial will provide you with practical tips on how to develop a strong career brand.

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Go to the 'How to Craft a Strong Career Brand' video tutorial.
Watch the video tutorial.
Take notes on the key concepts.

Complete the 'Career Self-Management Skills Assessment' quiz

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This quiz will help you assess your current career self-management skills and identify areas for improvement.

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Go to the 'Career Self-Management Skills Assessment' quiz.
Complete the quiz.
Review your results.

Review the concept of transferable and portable skills

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Refreshing your understanding of transferable and portable skills will provide a solid foundation for building a strong career brand.

Browse courses on Transferable Skills

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Read articles or blog posts about transferable and portable skills.
Make a list of your own transferable and portable skills.
Identify ways to highlight your transferable and portable skills on your resume and in job interviews.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Discuss your career goals with a peer

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Talking to a peer about your career goals can help you clarify your thoughts and get feedback.

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Share your career goals with your peer.
Reach out to a peer and schedule a time to talk.
Get feedback from your peer.

Read 'Designing Your Life' by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

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This book provides practical advice on how to design a career that is both personally fulfilling and professionally successful.

View Designing Your New Work Life on Amazon

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Read the book in its entirety.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Apply the concepts to your own career planning.

Create a career development plan

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Creating a career development plan will help you identify your career goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

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Set your career goals.
Identify the skills and experience you need to achieve your goals.
Develop a plan to acquire the skills and experience you need.
Implement your plan.

Volunteer at a career fair

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Volunteering at a career fair will give you the opportunity to network with potential employers and learn about different career opportunities.

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Research career fairs in your area.
Contact the organizers of the career fair and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Attend the career fair and volunteer your time.

Contribute to the 'career-self-management' open-source project

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Contributing to the 'career-self-management' open-source project will give you the opportunity to learn about career self-management and contribute to the community.

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Go to the 'career-self-management' open-source project.
Review the project documentation.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Make a contribution to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Strategic Career Self-Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Career Counselor

**Career Counselors** support individuals to pursue a career who come from a variety of backgrounds, and counselors may specialize on advising individuals with backgrounds that are underrepresented in certain industries. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to identify the client's skills and interests and guide that client toward a fulfilling career path. The course will help you help clients navigate the new skills economy, develop career-building skills, manage skills to gain a competitive advantage, and to continue career self-management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Counselor

Education Consultant

**Education Consultants** analyze the needs of individual students or school districts and provide advice to improve educational programs or help students get on college or job-training programs. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to identify a client's needs and guide that client through educational steps necessary to get them on a successful career path toward their ideal job. The course will help you help clients navigate the new skills economy, understand what skills to develop, and manage skills to gain a competitive advantage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Consultant

Human Resources Manager

**Human Resources Managers** plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. This may include managing a team of HR professionals, developing and implementing HR policies, and overseeing employee benefits and compensation. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to develop a protean and boundaryless career perspective based on your transferable skills. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Career Development Manager

**Career Development Managers** help employees to develop their careers and achieve their professional goals. This may involve providing career counseling, training, and development opportunities. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to provide career counseling to help employees identify their skills and interests and guide them toward a fulfilling career path. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Development Manager

Leadership Developer

**Leadership Developers** help to develop the leadership skills of individuals and teams. This may involve providing training, coaching, and mentoring. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to develop a protean and boundaryless career perspective based on your transferable skills. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leadership Developer

Organizational Development Consultant

**Organizational Development Consultants** help organizations to improve their performance by developing and implementing organizational change initiatives. This may involve working with leaders to develop a vision for the organization, identifying and addressing organizational challenges, and facilitating change processes. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to help organizations develop and implement organizational change initiatives. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Consultant

Talent Acquisition Manager

**Talent Acquisition Managers** are responsible for attracting, recruiting, and hiring new employees. This may involve developing and implementing recruitment strategies, screening and interviewing candidates, and making hiring decisions. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to attract, recruit, and hire new employees. The course will help you to develop a strong career brand and increase your self-awareness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Manager

Workforce Development Specialist

**Workforce Development Specialists** help individuals to develop their skills and find employment. This may involve providing career counseling, training, and job placement assistance. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to help individuals to develop their skills and find employment. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Workforce Development Specialist

Executive Coach

**Executive Coaches** help executives to improve their leadership skills and achieve their professional goals. This may involve providing one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and training. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to help executives to improve their leadership skills. The course will help you to develop a strong career brand and increase your self-awareness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Executive Coach

Recruiter

**Recruiters** find and attract qualified candidates for open positions. This may involve developing and implementing recruitment strategies, screening and interviewing candidates, and making hiring decisions. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to find and attract qualified candidates for open positions. The course will help you to develop a strong career brand and increase your self-awareness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Career Services Manager

**Career Services Managers** oversee the career services department at a college or university. This may involve developing and implementing career services programs, providing career counseling to students, and working with employers to recruit students for jobs. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to develop and implement career services programs. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Services Manager

Career Coach

**Career Coaches** help individuals to identify their career goals and develop a plan to achieve them. This may involve providing career counseling, resume writing, and job interview preparation. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to help individuals to identify their career goals. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Coach

Job Counselor

**Job Counselors** help individuals to find employment. This may involve providing career counseling, resume writing, and job interview preparation. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to help individuals to find employment. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Job Counselor

Human Resources Consultant

**Human Resources Consultants** provide advice and support to organizations on human resources issues. This may involve developing and implementing HR policies, providing training on HR topics, and conducting HR audits. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to develop and implement HR policies. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Consultant

Talent Management Specialist

**Talent Management Specialists** help organizations to attract, develop, and retain talented employees. This may involve developing and implementing talent management programs, providing training on talent management topics, and conducting talent audits. Through this specialization, you will develop the skills to develop and implement talent management programs. The course will help you to increase self-awareness, pinpoint your career goals, and envision your future work self.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Management Specialist