CREATING YOUR FUTURE
Course Description
This course develops an understanding of labor market, explores contemporary issues related to employment, identifies the personal and professional skills required for employability, encourages thoughtful career planning, empowers students to create compelling curriculum vitae, personal statements, cover emails and online job applications. It also develops a range of strategies that allow the learners to get suitable career opportunities.
Additional Information
Develops appropriate use of the personal and verbal skills needed to succeed in a job interview. Enables an understanding and application of professional behaviors and skills for employment success.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Understand and evaluate key aspects of the labor market by exploring contemporary issues related to employment.
2. Identify and reflect upon personal and professional skills and experience, develop strategies for enhancement and use this information in career planning.
3. Create appropriate documentation and self-marketing materials including CV, personal statement, cover email and online job applications.
4. Use a range of skills and strategies to find suitable job opportunities.
5. Use the personal and verbal skills needed to succeed in a job interview.
6. Understand and apply professional behaviors and skills for employment success.
Delivery Framework
Course Orientation.
Understanding the work environment.
Research industry sectors internationally and locally.
Learn about occupations and organizations.
The advantages and the disadvantages of working in different sectors.
Learn about support for business start-ups.
Explore the changing needs of the market, and areas of high growth for graduates.
Understanding yourself.
Use career-related questionnaires and activities to explore one's own personality types, skills, interests, work values, and attitudes.
Reflect on these findings, developing insight and self-awareness.
Review the major theories and concepts that explain human personality, motivation and employee attitudes.
Career Planning.
Demonstrate awareness of one's own abilities and achievements and possible academic pathways.
Set realistic short-term and medium-term goals.
Understand the process of creating a personal career development plan.
Job Search Strategies.
Explore and evaluate the current job and career opportunities and requirements.
Conduct a targeted job search.
Learn how to identify and use a professional network.
Self-Marketing.
Create/update CV in an appropriate format suitable for obtaining job interviews.
Formulate original and relevant personal statements.
Create an online profile using professional social media such as LinkedIn and practice completing online application forms.
Write a cover e-mail for a particular post.
Learn how to present a positive image in interviews.
Create a professional portfolio.
Professional behavior and skills in the workplace – suggested topics for student-led workshops.
NB: The above content is adapted to the needs of the students. Not all questions need to be covered, and students or faculty may choose alternative topics.
Professional communication.
Teamwork and leadership.
Entrepreneurship.
Negotiation and mediation skills.
Diversity in the workplace.
Decision-making and problem-solving.
Managing stress and work-life balance.
Time management, setting priorities.
Customer service.
Identify, analyze and re-frame common negative workplace behaviors.
Work placement orientation (optional).
Understand the work placement processes and assessments.
Understand employer expectations.
Research potential host organizations and make an informed choice.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Each course topic will be taught in both a theoretical and practical manner. Students will have the opportunity to assess themselves and will integrate self-knowledge and skills. Each subject area will be covered in the following manner:
1. Introduction of concept in class, through Blackboard, Learn and online discussions, using various formats such as lectures, workshops, class activities and case studies. Students are expected to complete the required preparation prior to class and actively participate in class discussions. Active participation is required for acquisition of theoretical knowledge and mastery of skills.
2. Observation of practical application of the concept. Guest speakers, field trips, and videos will be used to enhance student understanding of the application of skills in the local work environment. Students are encouraged to attend events such as career fairs and company open days.
3. Active learning through self-assessment, role play, the creation of documents and/or presentation. Hands-on activities will give students a holistic integration of skills. It is recommended to allocate a considerable amount of class time to project work and ongoing feedback, and for students to start building their e-folio early in the semester.
4. Self-reflection. Students reflect upon their learning and areas of growth with regards to career-related skills.
Assessment Strategies
1. Coursework - Oral Presentation: 20%
Group report based on an informational interview with a person working in a field related to the students’ program. Students are graded individually on their contribution, presentation, and reflection.
(Outcomes: 1)
2. Coursework - Practical Skills Assessment: 10%
As part of a practice job application, students find a suitable job advertisement and produce a CV and cover email that target that job.
(Outcomes: 3,4)
3. Coursework - Practical Skills Assessment: 20%
As part of a practice job application, students take part in a mock job interview, and evaluate and reflect on their own performance.
(Outcomes: 2,5)
4. Coursework - Oral Presentation: 20%
Group presentation on a topic related to work place behaviors and skills. Students research and present key concepts and lead a class discussion and activities. They are graded individually on their contribution, presentation, and reflection.
(Outcomes: 6)
5. Final Assessment - Portfolio: 30%
Student career e-portfolio showing evidence of self-exploration and learning over the semester.
(Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5,6)
Total Weight: 100%
SEMESTER PLANNER
Student Learning Outcomes by Module/Week:
Module / Week
|
Topic
|
Learning Outcomes / Learning Activity
Assessed projects in bold
|
CLO
|
Week 1
21-25 Aug 2016
|
Course Orientation
|
||
Course orientation
|
·
introduction
to:
o BB Learn site
o activities and assessments
o e-portfolio
·
review
of College policies
|
||
Labor Market
Information
|
|||
Course
context
Labor Market
Information
|
· Research
industry sectors internationally and locally
· Explore
occupations and organizations
· Explore current
job and career opportunities as well as requirements
· Overview of Project 1 (company interview and
presentation)
|
1
|
|
Week 2
28 Aug-
1 Sept
|
Self-Marketing
|
||
CV
|
·
Overview of Project 2 (job application process)
·
Create/update CV in
an appropriate format suitable for obtaining job interviews:
·
Formulate original and relevant profile and objectives
·
Identify educational, work and work-related
experience
·
Identify skills, abilities and interests
|
2,3
|
|
Week 3
4-8 Sept
|
Understanding
Yourself and Career Planning
|
||
E-folio overview and activities
|
· Explore own
personality, values, interests, skills, and abilities with a view to making
informed academic and careers choices
· Demonstrate
awareness of possible academic pathways and own achievements
· Be able to
provide a rationale for academic choices
· Learn to create
a personal development plan
|
2
|
|
Week 4
11-15 Sept
Eid Al-Adha 11-13 Sept TBC
|
E-folio activities
|
||
Project 1 preparation
|
· Each group
reports on progress
|
1
|
|
Week 5
18-22 Sept
|
Job Search Strategies
|
· Identify
resources for job leads
· Conduct a
targeted job search
· Define
networking and create a professional network
|
4
|
Online Applications
and LinkedIn
|
· Ensure a
professional electronic image
· Understand why
companies use online applications
· Do’s and don’ts
of online applications
· Create an
online profile using the Mehnaty job portal
|
3
|
|
Project 1
preparation
|
· Each group
reports on progress
|
1
|
|
Week 6
25-29 Sept
|
Project 1 Presentation
|
Group
report based on an informational interview with a person working in a field
related to the students’ program
Oral presentation
20%
· Students are graded individually on their contribution,
presentation and reflection
|
1,6
|
Week 7
2-6 Oct
Islamic New Year 2 Oct
|
Career
planning and choices
E-folio
update
|
· Further career exploration activities started in Week 3
|
2
|
CV and job
ad submission
|
· Each student should have a suitable entry-level job ad related to his/her
major as much as possible
|
||
Week 8
9-13 Oct
|
Self-Marketing
|
||
Cover Letter
|
·
Create a cover
letter for a specific
post
·
Customise the letter to show interest in
a specific company
·
Relate skills and experience to the post
|
3
|
|
Interview skills and selection methods
|
Preparation for participation in simulated
interview situation of approximately 15 minutes. The student will perform the
role of job candidate and demonstrate the following competencies:
· respond
appropriately to relevant personal, academic and professional background
questions;
· respond to
open-ended questions concerning qualifications, skills and experience; and,
· be ready to ask
questions about responsibilities, career structure, training
·
become aware of the basics of the hiring
process : use of psychometrics, assessment centers, panel or group
interviews
|
5
|
|
Week 9
16-20 Oct
|
Workplace
Skills
|
||
Overview of
Project 3
(workplace
skills)
|
·
Students form
groups, choose topics and discuss with teacher
|
6
|
|
CV feedback
Mock
interview preparation
|
·
Students prepare all
documents for the interview
·
Students practice
self-introduction and common questions
|
2,5
|
|
Week 10
23-27 Oct
|
Project 2 part 1
assessment
|
·
Mock job Interview
scheduled during class time
|
5
|
Project 3
|
·
Students carry out
research, find video and start creating presentation and activities while
other students have interviews
|
6
|
|
Week 11
30 Oct-3 Nov
|
Project 2 part 2
assessment
|
·
Mock interview
reflection due end of Week 11
|
2,5
|
Project 3
|
·
Students prepare for
Project 3 Workplace Skills presentation in class time
|
6
|
|
Week 12
6-10 Nov
|
Goal setting and decision
making
|
· Understand the
importance of goal setting
· Identify the
impact setting goals and objectives will have on your life plan
· Set realistic
goals
· Use
goal-setting techniques to create short-term and long-term goals
Understand the
importance of setting priorities
|
2
|
Project 3
|
· Each group
reports on progress
|
6
|
|
Week 13
13-17 Nov
|
Professional
Behavior and Workplace Skills
|
||||
Project 3 Workplace skills presentation in class
Students
prepare e-folio
|
6
|
||||
Week 14
20-24 Nov
|
Project 3 Workplace skills presentation in class
Students
prepare e-folio
|
6
|
|||
Week 15
27 Nov-1 Dec
Commemoration Day 30 Nov
|
Students
prepare e-folio
Exam prep
Optional
topics if suitable and time allows:
·
Work experience orientation
·
Scholarships and further studies
|
all
|
|||
Week 16
4-7 Dec
Last day of classes 7 Dec
|
Project 4: E-folio submission
|
||||
optional
|
Work Experience Orientation
|
||||
Overview of
process, assessments and expectations
(optional,
depending on semester)
|
· Understand the
importance of work experience as a College course and a learning experience
· Understand the
roles of the College and the employer and how the course will be assessed
· Research
company offers and potential companies
to determine a suitable place to complete WE
· Explore
appropriate Work Experience choices to gain experience related to major
· Be aware of
employers’ expectations of students during WE, as a working or non-working
student
|
2,6
|
|||
Scholarships
and further studies
|
· University and
industry qualifications – overview and resources
· Scholarship
programs
· General
discussion of issues like program choice and timing, further studies as part
of a career plan
|
1,2
|
|||
8-15 Dec
|
Final
Assessment period
|
||||
18 Dec-
5 Jan
|
Winter
break for students
|
||||
20 Dec-
3 Jan
|
Winter
break for faculty
|
||||