When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 7 modules in this course
This course is for you if you are interested in researching a new career and acquiring the skills necessary to succeed in it. You will be asked to reflect on your experiences and critically evaluate what you currently know, what you need to acquire, and how to go about getting it. You will then identify groups and individuals that can serve and support you in exploring a new career. During this course, you will identify the elements of a well-structured career plan and evaluate career options by individual fit to determine how to effectively engage your network in your career journey.
You will design a tactical career plan and identify pitfalls in behavior, communication and appearance that can derail a new career. You will also develop a targeted cover letter and resume using a proven business format. Your experiential learning can also be a valuable asset, linking your personal experiences with your chosen career. We will help you define your career objective statement and align this with your strengths and goals. Finally, you will be challenged to research and identify your personal values inventory, and evaluate how to best navigate the current job market by using an innovative approach called career rockclimbing.
Welcome! You are beginning a very important journey on your path to a meaningful and successful career. This course is designed to help you shape a career plan that can launch a new career, establish the beginning phases of an early career, or re-invent your existing career. This course, and your team of instructors, will ask you think deeply about your professional values. You will research hot careers and the skills necessary to succeed in them. We will ask you to reflect on your experiences, critically evaluate what you know, and determine what you still need to know. We will ask you to identify groups and individuals that can serve you in your career decisions and from whom you can learn about options within a career. Career Planning can be a deeply enriching experience. We are very pleased to join you in your journey. Module One introduces you to the course, explores the scope of career planning and discovers the different expectations people have of a career.
Optional Career Exploration Self-Assessments•10 minutes
Get help and meet other learners. Join your Community!•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Assess what you've learned so far!•30 minutes
Examining a Social Impact Career - Test Your Existing Knowledge!•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Career Exploration Infographic•120 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Let's Get To Know You!•20 minutes
Hot Careers and Job Trends: Where the Future Lies
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will research trends in careers and describe the potential job market, areas of demand, salary potential, and entry requirements. This module will provide you with the tools necessary to identify and describe the different career tracks in your chosen field. You will connect with a Bridge Person (an individual who is already a professional in your chosen career field) and schedule a meeting with that person to complete a career conversation. The module includes instructions on how to identify and connect with a bridge person using LinkedIn.com, alumni networks, or a professional/business association along with information about how to schedule the meeting and how to select appropriate questions. At the end of this module you will be able to consider trends for deciding on a college major or training program, and for help choosing a new career.
Marketplace Realities: Who Am I Relative to the Job I am Seeking?
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will explore who you are relative to the job search, and your industry of choice. You will examine issues related to career choices and career planning, as well as learn which jobs have the greatest and least employment potential. Research careers and see the growth rate for each, view earnings at different levels of experience, and compare different regions. Research employment rates for people with your skills in different locations.
What's included
1 video6 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 2 minutes
What Are Marketplace Realities? (Self Evaluation)•2 minutes
6 readings•Total 102 minutes
Learning Objectives•2 minutes
Frayed Prospects, Despite a Degree•20 minutes
Self Evaluation Tool•20 minutes
Got Hope?•20 minutes
Student Success Measures•20 minutes
What Does The Marketplace Tell Us About Opportunity?•20 minutes
2 assignments•Total 42 minutes
Marketplace Realities•30 minutes
Self-Evaluation and Market Realities Practice Quiz•12 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 5 minutes
Job Seeking and Social Media•5 minutes
RightPathing Your Future: The Importance of Whole-Life Career Planning
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn how to think about career planning as both a lifelong and "whole-life" activity. You will learn about whole-life career planning by watching Rachel, a 20-year old college student, discover her unique talents and interests using the RightPathing Your Future approach. At the end of this module, you will learn the importance of assessing and understanding your hard-wired behaviors, work values, skills and passions, and then aligning them with both your personal and professional goals.
Introduction to RightPathing Your Future•3 minutes
What Is RightPathing Your Future?•2 minutes
Understanding Our Behaviors: The X-Ray•7 minutes
Understanding Our Behaviors: The MRI•6 minutes
Understanding Our Skills, Work Values and Passions•5 minutes
Understanding and Articulating Our Life Purpose•6 minutes
An Expert's Advice on Achieving Career Success•3 minutes
4 readings•Total 51 minutes
The Learning Objectives•1 minute
"How I Landed the Job that I Wanted? Career Planning!"•20 minutes
"Examples of Life Purpose Statements"•10 minutes
The Power of Vulnerability, TEDx Talk by Brene Brown•20 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
RightPathing Your Future, Graded Quiz•30 minutes
RightPathing Your Future, Practice Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 30 minutes
Write a Life Purpose Statement•30 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
Whole-Life Career Planning: New Insights?•20 minutes
Hard-Wired Behaviors: New Insights?•10 minutes
Life Purpose Statement: New Insights?•20 minutes
My First Steps: Defining Your Career Objective and Action Plan
Module 5•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn about the importance of a Career Objective Statement and the elements that it contains. You will differentiate and describe the career field categories and the organizational category with which your interests align. You will reflect on your general and specific skills to create a skills inventory that matches the industry, organization, and/or field that you choose. You will be asked to explain potential careers associated with your interest including requirements, outlook, salary, and benefits. At the end of this module, you will be able to create a Career Objective statement for your unique professional level that does what a career objective is supposed to do while avoiding what it is not supposed to do. You will evaluate your objective statement according to your Career Exploration Infographic to ensure alignment with your strengths and talents.
Research the Best Jobs - U.S. News & World Report•10 minutes
Occupational Outlook Handbook•10 minutes
My Skills My Future - Career Research•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Defining Your Career Objective and Action Plan Quiz•30 minutes
Defining Your Career Objective and Action Plan Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Career Objective•120 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 25 minutes
Pick Your Path•15 minutes
Can You Relate?•10 minutes
Research and Values: Identifying Your Best Options
Module 6•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will explore different types of research sources and approaches. You will begin to consider your own research approach on your given career choice. You will share the results of your search and examine any questions unanswered. You will explore personal and workplace values, and align your personal work and cultural values with your research results.
Identifying Workplace Values…. What’s Most Important to You•20 minutes
Reading: Aligning your Work with your Values•20 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Research and Values•30 minutes
Research is Key Practice Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
A Discussion on Work Values•10 minutes
Career Rockclimbing: A Tactical Approach to Reach the Top
Module 7•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will be introduced to the concept of "career rock climbing" which has replaced the traditional idea of "climbing the corporate ladder." In today's world, the career ladder has become a rock wall. Career success, no matter how you define it, requires you to be more creative and nimble as you develop and implement your career plan. This module will show you how to be more innovative and creative as you explore and prepare for your career.
Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges. A leader in innovative teaching and learning, KSU is making an impact across the region, the nation and around the world. As the third largest university in the state of Georgia, Kennesaw State has nearly 45,000 students enrolled in over 180 undergraduate, master’s, doctoral degree and certificate programs.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.