Professional Development II

Business Core 175
Professional Development II
Spring 2001

Instructor:                                                                                                       Office Hours:
Susan P. Robison                                                                                              Mondays & Wednesdays
Director of Internships & Employment                                                               And by Appointment
College of Business & Economics                                                                      Room 358, B&E
srobison@wvu.edu                                                                                             (304) 293-7818

Course Goals:

Professional Development II is a course that focuses on the development of the essential skills for professional placement. This includes the ability to develop:

An appealing and effective resume
Effective skills in job searching
Skills in communication with prospective employers including print and electronic forms of communication
Skills in evaluating employment opportunities and offers

Required Texts:

Byrd, Jack (1998), Finding the First Job, (FFJ) Career Success Academy, CESD, West Virginia University.
Available at the WVU Copy Center, 2nd Floor, B&E Building

Yate, Martin (2000). Knock 'Em Dead 2000, (KmD) Adams Media Corporation.
Available at the WVU Bookstore, Downtown Campus

You will also reference various on-line sites to extract career related information: http://www.wsj.com, http://www.jobtrak.com, http://www.be.wvu.edu/serve/employ/index.htm

Course Components:

Resume Writing - rough draft, feedback, revision, hard copy and web version.
Locating Job Prospects - identify career options and employment opportunities.
Communicating with Prospective Employers - initial contact, follow-up.
Interviewing - preparation, knowledge about the job you are applying for, research the organization, effective interviewing techniques, STAR approach to answering questions.
Evaluating Opportunities and Offers - consider short term and long term effects of your options, examine economic and non economic factors.

Course Philosophy and Grading:

Professional Development II focuses extensively on practical application. Conducting the job search, resume writing, interviewing, and evaluating opportunities are an integrated process. As each component of the course is examined, projects will be assigned to assist in the development of effective job search and networking skills.

Each component of the course is awarded a specified number of points. After each component is completed, a student is encouraged to make revisions as recommended by the instructor. All components, including revisions, are to be included in a portfolio, which will make up one third of the course grade.

You either now or soon will be employed and consequently are expected to display a professional attitude. Therefore, each student is expected to behave in a professional manner. West Virginia University is committed to Social Justice. I concur with this commitment and I expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination.

Portfolio:

You are required to maintain a portfolio of the work you perform in Professional Development II. The portfolio is due to the instructor on the last scheduled class period. It must be bound, neatly prepared, well organized, and should be indexed as follows:

    I.     Resume draft & revision
    II.    Cover letter draft & revision
    III.   Thank you letter
    IV.   Interview evaluation form
    V.    Employer profiles
    VI.   Job openings from Jobtrak exercise: 2 WSJ / 3 other online sources
    VII. Homework

The grade you receive on your portfolio will be computed on these six items and the quality of your work and overall professionalism of your portfolio.

Attendance:

You are entitled to one unexcused absence from class. For each additional unexcused absence, your final grade in the course will be lowered by one letter.

Student Club Membership:

Students are encouraged to participate participate in at least one of the B&E student organizations as part of their personal and professional development.

Course Calendar:

DATE

TOPIC

DUE FOR CLASS

HOMEWORK

January 12 Introduction to the course No Assignment Assignment A, FFJ

January 19 Understanding the hiring process Section 4.1 in FFJ
Review Assignment A Begin compiling a list of your skills and previous work experience.

January 26 Resume writing.
"Blueprint of a Resume" Section 4.2 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 1 Prepare first draft of resume in Word or WordPerfect format. Meet the Firms Night January 25th - required attendance

February 2 Meet in B&E Computer Lab
Electronic job searches. Jobtrak Registration
Vault.com
KmD Chapter 4 & Apndx A Locate five appropriate job prospects from the web, using WSJ (http:/careers.wsj.com) & other sources (Handout)

February 9 Developing your resume
utilizing action verbs Bring working draft of resume to class Revise first draft of resume

February 16 Cover letter writing
The executive briefing Submit first draft of resume
Section 4.3 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 2 Profiles of five job prospects
Begin writing cover letter for one of five job prospects. Sign up for mock interview

February 23 On-campus placement services
B&E Internship Office Submit final draft of resume on professional paper and via e-mail or diskette. Submit draft of cover letter.

March 2 Networking Section 4.8, 4.9 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 8 Research your organization for the mock interview!
Assignment G, FFJ / in-class exercise

March 9 Developing a job search plan Section 4.10 in FFJ Informational interview with someone (non relative) in your profession. (Handout)
Assignment F, FFJ / in-class exercise

March 16 The interviewing process
S.T.A.R. Section 4.4 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 14, 15 Assignment B, FFJ / in-class exercise

March 23 Creating an interview strategy
Dressing for success Section 4.5 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 5, 9
Business Dress Attire Assignment C, FFJ /in-class exercise

April 6 Interviewing video
After the interview Section 4.6 in FFJ Write a thank you letter for your mock interview or other employment activity.
Assignment B, FFJ /in-class exercise

April 13 Easter Recess No Class No Assignment

April 20 The site/office visit
The second interview Submit thank you letter.
Section 4.7, 4.11 in FFJ FFJ / in-class exercise

April 27 Evaluating offers
Salary surveys
Course Wrap-up Sections 4.12, 4.13 in FFJ
KmD Chapter 23, 24, 25 Portfolio due! FFJ / in-class exercise

Course Requirements

Assignment Points

Resume (first draft 0-25 points, revision 0-25 points) 0 - 50

Resume (formatted and submitted via e-mail or on diskette) 0 - 10

Jobtrak Registration (including resume posting) 0 - 15

Cover Letter 0 - 15

Employer Profiles (five job descriptions / 3 points each) 0 - 15

Thank You Letter 0 - 15

Informational Interview (non-relative in your intended profession) 0 - 15

Mock Interview (professional dress required) 0 - 50

B&E Job Fair (November 3, 2000) 0 - 10

Lecture Series/Professional Seminar/Employment Panel 0 - 10

Portfolio (including FFJ Assignments A through I) 0 - 100

TOTAL 300

Work turned in after the due date is subject to partial credit.

Course Grading

Point Range Letter Grade

You qualify to land an excellent job      270 - 300 A

You qualify to land a good job             240 - 269 B

You qualify to land a job                      210 - 239 C

You qualify to work for Mickey D's     180 - 209 D

You qualify to live at home &               000 - 179
sponge off of your parents F

Visit the College of Business & Economics at: http://www.be.wvu.edu

DATE	TOPIC	DUE FOR CLASS	HOMEWORK
January 12	Introduction to the course	No Assignment	Assignment A, FFJ
January 19	Understanding the hiring process	Section 4.1 in FFJ Review Assignment A	Begin compiling a list of your skills and previous work experience.
January 26	Resume writing. "Blueprint of a Resume"	Section 4.2 in FFJ KmD Chapter 1	Prepare first draft of resume in Word or WordPerfect format. Meet the Firms Night January 25th - required attendance
February 2	Meet in B&E Computer Lab Electronic job searches.	Jobtrak Registration Vault.com KmD Chapter 4 & Apndx A	Locate five appropriate job prospects from the web, using WSJ (http:/careers.wsj.com) & other sources (Handout)
February 9	Developing your resume utilizing action verbs	Bring working draft of resume to class	Revise first draft of resume
February 16	Cover letter writing The executive briefing	Submit first draft of resume Section 4.3 in FFJ KmD Chapter 2	Profiles of five job prospects Begin writing cover letter for one of five job prospects. Sign up for mock interview
February 23	On-campus placement services B&E Internship Office	Submit final draft of resume on professional paper and via e-mail or diskette.	Submit draft of cover letter.
March 2	Networking	Section 4.8, 4.9 in FFJ KmD Chapter 8	Research your organization for the mock interview! Assignment G, FFJ / in-class exercise
March 9	Developing a job search plan	Section 4.10 in FFJ	Informational interview with someone (non relative) in your profession. (Handout) Assignment F, FFJ / in-class exercise
March 16	The interviewing process S.T.A.R.	Section 4.4 in FFJ KmD Chapter 14, 15	Assignment B, FFJ / in-class exercise
March 23	Creating an interview strategy Dressing for success	Section 4.5 in FFJ KmD Chapter 5, 9 Business Dress Attire	Assignment C, FFJ /in-class exercise
April 6	Interviewing video After the interview	Section 4.6 in FFJ	Write a thank you letter for your mock interview or other employment activity. Assignment B, FFJ /in-class exercise
April 13	Easter Recess	No Class	No Assignment
April 20	The site/office visit The second interview	Submit thank you letter. Section 4.7, 4.11 in FFJ	FFJ / in-class exercise
April 27	Evaluating offers Salary surveys Course Wrap-up	Sections 4.12, 4.13 in FFJ KmD Chapter 23, 24, 25 Portfolio due!	FFJ / in-class exercise

Assignment	Points
Resume (first draft 0-25 points, revision 0-25 points)	0 - 50
Resume (formatted and submitted via e-mail or on diskette)	0 - 10
Jobtrak Registration (including resume posting)	0 - 15
Cover Letter	0 - 15
Employer Profiles (five job descriptions / 3 points each)	0 - 15
Thank You Letter	0 - 15
Informational Interview (non-relative in your intended profession)	0 - 15
Mock Interview (professional dress required)	0 - 50
B&E Job Fair (November 3, 2000)	0 - 10
Lecture Series/Professional Seminar/Employment Panel	0 - 10
Portfolio (including FFJ Assignments A through I)	0 - 100
TOTAL	300

Point Range	Letter Grade
You qualify to land an excellent job 270 - 300	A
You qualify to land a good job 240 - 269	B
You qualify to land a job 210 - 239	C
You qualify to work for Mickey D's 180 - 209	D
You qualify to live at home & 000 - 179 sponge off of your parents	F