Professional and Career Development

Our Professional and Career Development course has been designed to develop and enhance the students' skills and attributes thereby optimizing his/her chance of succeeding in the workplace. This course is packed with innovative resources you can use now and throughout your career, it helps you move from "job seeker" to "job finder" with its comprehensive step-by-step guide to finding and keeping a job.

Both empowering and encouraging, this course effectively breaks the daunting prospect of marketing yourself to prospective employers into a manageable process. Clear instruction guides you through self-assessment, employer research, self-marketing, writing a market-driven resume, and interviewing. It equips you with the tools you need to gain a competitive advantage in the workplace, reach your career potential, and stand out in a crowd.

Prerequisite: None

Professional and Career Development Module 1
Your Life Dictates Your Job Search, Not the Reverse

• Job Search Considerations
• Translating College Majors to Potential Jobs
• Pursuing Internships
• Timing Considerations
• Internship Performance
• Internship Compensation
• Employment Gap
• Changing Careers
• Relocating
• Long Distance Job Searching

Professional and Career Development Module 2
Overview of the Six-Step Job Search Process

• Why You Need a Process
• Confidence
• Communication Skills
• Poise
• Resources
• Trends in Twenty-First-Century Job Search
• 24/7 Job Search
• Entrepreneurial Approach
• Emerging Trends

Professional and Career Development Module 3
Identify Your Job Search Targets

• Three Element Structure
• Industry
• Function
• Geography
• Match Interests to Three Elements
• Personal Decision Criteria
• Employer Characteristics
• Compensation
• Environment
• Advantage of Multiple Targets

Professional and Career Development Module 4
Creating a Compelling Marketing Campaign, Part I: Resume

• Purpose and Goal of a Resume
• Header
• Objective
• Education Section
• Work Experience
• Skills
• References
• Functional Resumes
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Documenting Problems

Professional and Career Development Module 5
Create a Compelling Marketing Campaign: Part II: Cover Letter, Pitch and Online Profile

• Cover Letter Preliminary Work
• Job Descriptions
• Designing a Cover Letter
• Creating a Portfolio
• Format
• Online Profile
• LinkedIn
• Your Networking Pitch
• Write, Edit and Practice Your Pitch

Professional and Career Development Module 6
Conduct In-Depth Research

• What Do You Research?
• How Do You Find Critical Information?
• Job-Specific Research Resources
• Organization-Specific Research Resources
• Industry-Specific Research Resources
• Tracking Ongoing News
• Informational Interviews
• Research in the Job Search
• Etiquette

Professional and Career Development Module 7
Network Effectively

• Four Stages of Networking
• Research
• The Approach
• The Follow-Up
• The Request
• Building Your Network
• Network with Executives
• Network with Recruiters
• Social Networking

Professional and Career Development Module 8
Master The Interview

• Before, During and After the Interview
• Different Types of Interviews
• Behavioral Interviews
• Case Interviews
• Informational Interviews
• Methods of Interviewing
• Interview Venues
• Types of Questions
• Things to Avoid in an Interview

Professional and Career Development Module 9
Stay Motivated and Organized and Troubleshoot Your Search

• Long-Term Motivation
• Short-Term Motivation
• Strategies for Maintaining Motivation
• Organization System
• Customized Electronic Systems
• Troubleshooting the Job Search
• Stages of Troubleshooting
• Common Problem Areas
• Overall Troubleshooting Job Search Strategies

Professional and Career Development Module 10
Negotiate and Close Your Offer

• Effective Negotiating
• Items Open to Negotiation
• Why You Should Always Consider Negotiating
• How to Get a Decision
• How to Juggle and Time Multiple Searches
• Stay Organized
• Use Strong Communication
• Avoid Alienating Prospective Employers
• Six Things Needed to Close an Offer

Professional and Career Development Module 11
Social Media and the Job Search

• Social Media and the Six-Step Job Search Process
• Site Profiles as Prototypes
• Compelling Marketing Campaign
• In-Depth Research
• Network and Interview
• Use Social Media to Motivate, Organize and Troubleshoot
• Negotiate and Close the Offer with Online Data
• Blogs and Personal Websites
• How Recruiters Use Social Media
• Managing Your Online Brand

Professional and Career Development Module 12
From Job Search Success to Career Success

• Succeeding in the Job You Have
• Develop, Expand and Maintain Professional Relationships
• Career Advancement
• Career Management
• Promotions, Raises and Performance Reviews
• Securing Your Job During Difficult Economic Times
• Managing Work Conflicts
• Balance Life and Career
• How to Get Your Next Job