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 8 modules in this course
In the capstone project, you will combine the skills you’ve learned in the prior four courses of the specialization to polish your elevator speeches, complete your resumes - including multiple versions for different targets - complete your story file, identify possible jobs or careers, perform the research you have learned to do, write suitable cover letters, and ideally land a job!
You will:
1. Develop a personal marketing plan and campaign for getting interviews.
2. Identify at least three organizations with open positions for which you want to apply.
3. Research those organizations and positions.
4. Prepare pitch sheets and J.I.S.T. cards (mini-resumes) targeting those positions.
5. Complete your resume, and if necessary complete multiple versions to target each position.
6. Write appropriate cover letters for the positions.
7. Record and evaluate responses to a set of standard interview questions.
8. Record and evaluate responses to a set of predictable behavioral interview questions.
9. Record and evaluate a response to one situational interview question.
10. Record and evaluate a response to one wild-card question.
As the specialization has focused throughout on the real-world skills you need to research yourself, the market, and a company and has given you strategies and tools to prepare for and succeed in an interview, the capstone project should align with what you have been trained for and position you to land the job you want!
You get an overview of the capstone here, with a description of the milestones you're asked to complete. You'll have the chance to discuss your background, your goals, your concerns and your plans for this capstone.
What's included
1 video1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 7 minutes
Introducing Capstone Week One•7 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Tell Us About Your Goals•10 minutes
Envisioning Your Future Self
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will develop a vision of your ideal work. That product of "the workshop of your mind" will serve to direct your activities throughout this capstone.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 9 minutes
Introducing Capstone Week Two•9 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
You Need to Practice Being Your Future Self•10 minutes
Additional Resources•10 minutes
Think and Grow Rich•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Your Ideal Work•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Tell Us About Your Why•10 minutes
Developing Your Personal Marketing Plan
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
This week you'll create your personal marketing plan to guide your job search campaign. You'll be introduced to many online resources that you can use to help develop that plan. You'll write an action plan describing what steps you will take to get meetings and interviews.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 6 minutes
Introducing Capstone Week Three•6 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
Sample Personal Marketing Plan•10 minutes
Online Research Portals•10 minutes
Find Jobs at The Muse•10 minutes
Companies Featured at The Muse•10 minutes
Conducting a Campaign to Get Interviews•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Your Marketing Plan•120 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Tell Us About Yourself•10 minutes
Building Your Pitch Repertoire
Module 4•7 hours to complete
Module details
This week you develop your pitch repertoire based on selected positions from your marketing plan.Your pitch repertoire includes long and short elevator speeches for each position, as well as JIST cards.
Rubric for Pitch Repertoire Assignments•10 minutes
3 peer reviews•Total 300 minutes
Pitch Repertoire Set #1•120 minutes
Pitch Repertoire Set #2•120 minutes
Pitch Repertoire Set #3•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Tell Us About Your Experience So Far•10 minutes
Writing Your Resumes and Cover Letters
Module 5•5 hours to complete
Module details
This week you write resumes and cover letters to align with the pitch materials you created in week four and the job positions you identified in week three.
This week you practice five standard questions that you can expect in most interviews. You adapt your responses to the specifics of the positions you are targeting.
Why Are You Interested in This Position?•9 minutes
Why Are You Looking to Leave Your Current Position?•8 minutes
What's Important to You in a Work Environment?•7 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Interview Cheat Sheets•10 minutes
Interview Rubrics•10 minutes
3 peer reviews•Total 300 minutes
Why Are You Interested in this Position?•120 minutes
Why are you looking to leave/What is important to you?•120 minutes
Why should I hire you/What makes you the best candidate?•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Discuss Your Preparedness•10 minutes
Responding to Advanced Interview Questions
Module 7•8 hours to complete
Module details
This week you practice behavioral, situational and wild-card interview questions. Your responses should align with the competencies you've identified for the positions you have targeted.
What You Should Know About Behavioral Interviewing•10 minutes
Using the S.T.A.R. Response Strategy•9 minutes
Using the P.R.E.P. Response Strategy•9 minutes
Using the Pro-Con Response Strategy•6 minutes
Using the 5W's Response Strategy•7 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Silicon Valley Attitude Toward Failure•10 minutes
Quotes on Facing Workplace Conflicts•10 minutes
Behavioral Interview Checklist•10 minutes
5 peer reviews•Total 360 minutes
Tell me about a specific situation where you failed.•60 minutes
Tell me how you handle conflict at work.•60 minutes
Tell me about a past accomplishment you are especially proud of.•120 minutes
Random Situational Interview Question•60 minutes
Random Wild-Card Question•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Discuss Your Storytelling•10 minutes
Farewell and Journey On!
Module 8•1 hour to complete
Module details
This week marks the completion of the capstone project. You'll have an opportunity to submit your final work products and to reflect on the journey you've been on. You'll leave with a clear direction for moving forward in your work life.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 8 minutes
Completing the Capstone and Moving Forward•8 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Inspirational Thoughts from Will Smith•10 minutes
Inspirational Thoughts from Steve Jobs•10 minutes
A Closing Set of Articles•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Final Reflections•10 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni. The university’s faculty includes two Nobel laureates, 10 Pulitzer Prize winners, 69 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. Located just outside Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland is committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus, and discovers and shares new knowledge every day through research and programs in academics, the arts, and athletics.
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.