English for Career Development from Coursera

Welcome to English for Career Development, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.

To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate."

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in advancing their careers in the global marketplace. In this course, you will learn about the job search, application, and interview process in the United States, while comparing and contrasting the same process in your home country. This course will also give you the opportunity to explore your global career path, while building your vocabulary and improving your language skills to achieve your professional goals. The first unit in this course will introduce the U.S. job application process and provide strategies for identifying the jobs that match your interests and skills. Unit 2 will take you through the steps necessary to produce a professional-looking resume. In unit 3, you will work to develop a clear and concise cover letter. The final unit of the course focuses on networking and interview skills.

Anyone may take this course for free. If you want to get a Coursera Verified Certificate for free, please fill out the Financial Aid form.

Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license.

Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1: Entering the Job Market

In this unit you will learn about the steps in the job search process.

Unit 2: Resumes

In this unit, you will learn how to describe yourself and your experiences in a résumé. The unit will also help you build your job-related vocabulary.

Unit 3: Writing a Cover Letter

This unit focuses on another important document for job-seekers: the cover letter. You will learn how to write a clear cover letter that tells employers why you are the right person for the job.

Unit 4: Networking

This unit will teach job-seekers language for meeting new people, making small talk, and describing

Unit 5: Interviewing For a Job

This unit is about the question-and-answer process of job interviews, and will help prepare learners to present themselves well in interviews.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for non-native English speakers seeking enhanced career opportunities in the global marketplace

Focuses on the job search and application process, specifically tailored for non-native English speakers

Instructs how to produce professional resumes and cover letters to stand out in the job market

Provides strategies for identifying appropriate job opportunities aligned with interests and skills

Teaches effective networking and interviewing skills to enhance job search success

Reviews summary

Strong career development resource

Learners say that English for Career Development is a helpful, convenient course that provides practical tools for enhancing professional English usage. Students largely praise the course for being relevant and engaging, appreciating the flexibility of studying at their own pace.

Can be completed at your own pace.

"All the courses are interesting and helpful for the learners because the learners can study at their own time at home without going to any classes or college."

"It is very convenient for the employess and workers."

Content directly applicable to professional development.

"This course helped me to better understand how to use English in development in my professional career and social."

"I find it Relevent."

Provides practical tools for improving professional English proficiency.

"This course helped me to better understand how to use English in development in my professional career and social."

"I find it Relevent. If it is offered free of charge, very practical."

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 English for Career Development with these activities:

Attend a career fair

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Attending a career fair is a great way to meet with potential employers and learn about job openings.

Browse courses on Career Fairs

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Research the career fair and identify the companies you want to target.
Prepare your resume and cover letter.
Dress professionally and arrive on time.

Join a study group with other students in the course

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Joining a study group with other students in the course is a great way to learn from each other and get help with the material.

Browse courses on Collaborative Learning

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Find a study group to join.
Attend study group meetings regularly.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.

Review U.S. job application process

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Reviewing the U.S. job application process will strengthen your understanding of the job market and help you prepare for your job search.

Browse courses on Job Applications

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Read articles about the U.S. job application process.
Watch videos about how to apply for jobs in the U.S.
Talk to someone who has experience with the U.S. job application process.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Create a professional-looking resume

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Creating a professional-looking resume will not only help you stand out from other applicants, but it will also improve your confidence as you search for opportunities.

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Use a resume template.
Customize your resume to each job you apply for.
Have someone review your resume for feedback.

Learn how to network and build your professional connections

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Networking is an essential part of any job search. Participating in networking opportunities helps you build relationships with people in your field and learn about potential job openings.

Browse courses on Networking

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Attend networking events.
Join online networking groups.
Reach out to people in your field for informational interviews.

Practice your interviewing skills

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Practicing your interviewing skills will build your confidence and help you make a great impression on potential employers during your interview.

Browse courses on Interviewing Skills

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Do mock interviews with friends or family members.
Use online resources to practice your interviewing skills.
Attend a job interview workshop.

Contribute to an open-source project

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If you are interested in learning more about a specific topic, contributing to an open-source project is a great way to gain practical experience and learn from others.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open-source project to contribute to.
Read the project documentation.
Start contributing code to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete English for Career Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cover Letter Writer

Cover Letter Writers help people write clear and concise cover letters that tell employers why they are the right person for the job. They may work freelance or for a company. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be successful in this role, including the ability to describe yourself and your experiences in a resume, write a clear and concise cover letter, and build your job-related vocabulary.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cover Letter Writer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, user guides, and other technical documentation. They may work in a variety of industries, including software, manufacturing, and healthcare. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Copywriter

Copywriters create written content for advertising and marketing campaigns. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course may be useful for Copywriters who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Content Writer

Content Writers create written content for websites, blogs, and other marketing materials. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course may be useful for Content Writers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer

Freelance Writer

Freelance Writers write articles, blog posts, website content, and other written materials for clients. They may work in a variety of industries, including marketing, journalism, and education. This course may be useful for Freelance Writers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer

Proposal Writer

Proposal Writers write proposals for a variety of purposes, including business plans, marketing campaigns, and research projects. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course may be useful for Proposal Writers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Proposal Writer

Grant Writer

Grant Writers write proposals to secure funding for organizations. They may work for nonprofits, government agencies, or businesses. This course may be useful for Grant Writers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Resume Writer

Resume Writers help people create professional resumes and cover letters. They may work freelance or for a company. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be successful in this role, including the ability to describe yourself and your experiences in a resume, write a clear and concise cover letter, and build your job-related vocabulary.

See salaries and explore the career path for Resume Writer

Translator

Translators convert written or spoken text from one language to another. They may work in a variety of settings, including businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. This course may be useful for Translators who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

ESL Teacher

ESL Teachers teach English to students who are not native speakers. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, community colleges, and private language schools. This course may be useful for ESL Teachers who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESL Teacher

Career Counselor

Career Counselors help people make career decisions and plan their career paths. They may work with individuals, groups, or organizations. This course may be useful for Career Counselors who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to help their clients write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Counselor

Job Coach

Job Coaches help people with disabilities or other barriers to employment find and keep jobs. They may work with individuals or groups. This course may be useful for Job Coaches who want to learn more about the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to help their clients write strong resumes and cover letters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Job Coach

Recruiter

Recruiters search for and attract qualified candidates for open positions within an organization. They may work for a specific company or for a recruiting agency. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to be successful in this role, including the ability to identify the jobs that match your interests and skills, write a professional-looking resume, and network effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Talent Acquisition Manager

Talent Acquisition Managers oversee the entire hiring process for an organization. They develop and implement recruiting strategies, source and screen candidates, and make hiring decisions. This course can help you build a foundation in the job search and application process in the United States, as well as develop the skills necessary to write a strong resume and cover letter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Manager

Human Resources Generalist

Human Resources Generalists administer a wide range of the HR functions of an organization. They recruit, interview, and hire new employees, oversee employee benefits, compensation, and performance reviews, and ensure the company's compliance with labor laws and regulations. By taking this course, you can develop several skills that may be useful in this role, including the ability to describe yourself and your experiences in a résumé, write a clear and concise cover letter, and effectively network and interview for a job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Generalist