I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Employment Strategies
2. Course Prefix & Number:
CCST 1530
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to research and explore all aspects of employment seeking strategies. Students will develop job-search strategies that will lead to more effective marketing of their skills. Critical components of the course include: planning your job search, gathering the tools (resumes, cover letters), beginning the search, interviewing and evaluating job offers.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
CCST 1530 - Employment Strategies
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
CCST 1530 - Employment Strategies
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution |
Course Number and Title |
Credits |
|
St Cloud Technical and Community College |
CSSC 1302 /Career Development/Job Search |
2 |
|
Alexandria Technical College |
CRLT 2103 /Job Seeking and Keeping |
2 |
III. Course Purpose
Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Heavy Equipment Operations and Maintenance Diploma
Other - If this course is not required in a program or is not part of the MN Transfer Curriculum, it may be used for the purpose(s) listed below:
- Liberal Arts Elective
- Non-Transferrable General Education Course
- Technical Elective
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate oral communication skills |
Demonstrate the ability to network and conduct a mock interview |
| Demonstrate written communication skills |
Demonstrate to compose a resume, cover letter and job application |
| Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills |
Identify personal strengths and skills as related to a work environment |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome |
MnTC
Goal Area |
|
Student will be able to identify the steps involved in the job-hunting process. |
|
|
Students will create a strategic plan for successful employment. |
|
|
Students will identify their personal strengths and skills. |
|
|
Students will compose a resume, cover letter, and job application. |
|
|
Students will prepare and conduct a mock interview. |
|
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Employment Strategies
2. Course Prefix & Number:
CCST 1530
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to research and explore all aspects of employment seeking strategies. Students will develop job-search strategies that will lead to more effective marketing of their skills. Critical components of the course include: planning your job search, gathering the tools (resumes, cover letters), beginning the search, interviewing and evaluating job offers.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
CCST 1530 - Employment Strategies
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
CCST 1530 - Employment Strategies
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution |
Course Number and Title |
Credits |
|
St Cloud Technical and Community College |
CSSC 1302 /Career Development/Job Search |
2 |
|
Alexandria Technical College |
CRLT 2103 /Job Seeking and Keeping |
2 |
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Heavy Equipment Operations and Maintenance Diploma
3. Other - If this course does NOT meet criteria for #1 or #2 above, it may be used for the purpose(s) selected below:
- Liberal Arts Elective
- Non-Transferrable General Education Course
- Technical Elective
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate oral communication skills |
Demonstrate the ability to network and conduct a mock interview |
| Demonstrate written communication skills |
Demonstrate to compose a resume, cover letter and job application |
| Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills |
Identify personal strengths and skills as related to a work environment |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome |
MnTC
Goal Area |
|
Student will be able to identify the steps involved in the job-hunting process. |
|
|
Students will create a strategic plan for successful employment. |
|
|
Students will identify their personal strengths and skills. |
|
|
Students will compose a resume, cover letter, and job application. |
|
|
Students will prepare and conduct a mock interview. |
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- Setting Your Course
- Planning the job search
- Conducting a self-assessment & work-style assessments
- Recognize personal assets
- Evaluate priorities
- Choose a job right for you
- Set career goals
- Set up GPS Life Plan
- Planning and organizing the job hunt
- Organizational tools for job hunting
- Managing your job hunting process
- Managing your attitude during the job hunt
- Gathering Your Tools
- Preparing your resume
- Basic elements of a resume
- The language of resumes
- Style & impact
- Resume dos & don’ts
- Skills identification
- Concrete & abstract (soft) skills
- Types of resumes
- Resume alternatives
- Emailing your resume
- Writing cover letters
- Elements of a cover letter
- Alternative letter-writing strategies & Marketing tricks
- Email vs. postal mail
- Types of cover letters
- Obtaining references and assembling a portfolio
- Types of references
- Letters of recommendation
- Background checks
- Assembling a portfolio (standard or electronic)
- Hunting for an Employer
- Targeting potential employers
- Generating job leads
- Reading classified ads
- Types of classified ads
- Making contacts at job fairs
- Researching potential employers
- Informational interviews
- Job shadowing
- Long distance job hunting
- Taking your job hunt online
- Accessing the internet
- Using the internet to job hunt
- Email etiquette
- Searching the internet
- Exploring career websites
- The hidden job market
- Governments jobs (federal, state, city, county, etc.)
- Working for non-profit organizations
- Working for a small company
- Starting your own business
- Taking a different job path
- Furthering your education
- Backdoor you way into a job
- Part-time jobs
- Working in a related position
- Temping jobs
- Freelancing
- Entry-level positions
- Internships
- Finding an internship
- What to look for in an internship
- Volunteer work
- Beginning the Search
- Filling Out Job Applications
- Filling out job applications
- Completing the job application form
- Typical application questions
- Interviewing
- Before the interview
- Understanding the types of interviews
- Dress properly
- Plan your route to be on time
- Research the organization
- Prepare questions
- Bring the proper materials
- Practice interview responses
- During the interview
- Create a good impression
- Respond like a pro
- Managing interview anxiety
- After the interview
- Assess personal interview skills
- Follow up-phone calls & thanks you letters
- Reasons for unsuccessful interviews
- Handling rejection
- Evaluating Job Offers
- Choose the best job for you
- Salary negotiation
- Acceptance/rejection letters
- Learning Your New Job
- First days on the job
- First week on the job
- First year on the job
- Tips for working with your supervisor/manager
- Managing relationships on the job
- Interpersonal skills on the job
- Finding a mentor
- The importance of staying current
- How you will be evaluated
- Work ethics