Required Text:
Professional Development, Wilkes-Hull, Crosswail. Fifth Edition
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A course organized around the premise
that the techniques and personal qualities students need to find the best possible job in
a particular field are identical to those which they must develop and refine in order to
become effective and promotable employees. Areas to be covered include: the job campaign;
developing a letter of application and a resume’ ; interviewing;
planning for success and goal setting; managing time and personal finances; adjusting and
growing on the job; communicating; personal effectiveness and group dynamics;
nutrition; health and exercise; wardrobe engineering.
PREREQUISITES: None
COMPETENCIES:
1. Define self-esteem and discuss the source(s) of self-esteem, identify methods and
practices to achieve and maintain good self-esteem and the impact that it has on our
personal and professional life.
2. Prepare for the job search, identify transferable skills, construct a resume’,
compose an application letter, complete an application form.
3. Discuss preparation for an interview, anticipate and respond to an
interviewer’s questions, distinguish between lawful and unlawful questions, discuss
how to handle rejection, choose appropriate dress for an interview, evaluate the interview
process.
4. Identify proper business attire, plan a business wardrobe, discuss the impact of
proper business attire on credibility.
5. Recognize the effects of daily stress and the need for proper nutrition, identify
the causes of the "burnout" process.
6. Define listening, identify the hazards of poor listening skills, discuss the
importance of developing of good listening skills.
7. Discuss the factors of the communication process, define effective communication,
identify methods of effective communication.
8. Identify methods of handling conflict in a proactive manner.
9. Identify proper guidelines for courtesy and common sense in the workplace.
10. Discuss the importance of goal setting, identify goals, relate short term and long
term goal setting to job growth.
11. Define leadership, identify leadership skills, define ethics, discuss ethical
behavior versus unethical behavior in the business environment, identify methods to deal
with unethical behavior.
12. Define time management, identify good practices in time management, discuss money
management and identify good money management practices.
Resources: Textbook, handouts, audiovisuals, outside required readings,
guest speakers, and on-line research
Activities: Films, overheads, class discussions, small group discussions, role
playing, required readings, on-line research
Evaluation
Your grade will be based on a point system as follows:
| Materials/ Exams |
50-60% |
| Projects |
35-40% |
| Article presentation/s |
0-3 pts. |
Grading Scales: Grades will be assigned according to the following:
Letter Grades
A = 90 - 100%
B = 80 - 89%
C = 70 - 79%
D = 60 - 69%
F = Below 60%
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Students have the responsibility to contact the instructor prior to missing an
examination.
Failure to do so may result in a deduction of points on the make-up exam.
Students who have excused absences must complete made-up work within two weeks. Excessive
absences may result in a lowering of the student’s final grade average.
Students must attend the first class meeting or contact the instructor prior to the
first class. Failure to do so may result in being dropped from the class.
Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. |
