General Studies 350D: Navigating Career Options

University of Washington (Seattle) Spring Quarter 2011

Lecture: Tuesdays, 3:30-4:50, MGH 389; SLN: 13881; Instructor: Patrick Chidsey Section [DA]: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:50, MGH 085; SLN: 13882; Instructor: Tim McCoy Section [DB]: Wednesdays, 3:30-4:50, MGH 278; SLN: 13883; Instructor: Lynnea Erickson Section [DC]: Thursdays, 10:30-11:50, MGH 278; SLN: 13884; Instructor: Joyce Fagel Section [DD]: Thursdays, 1:30-2:50, MGH 278; SLN: 13885; Instructor: Vic Snyder

SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course assists students with self-exploration as well as career and academic options exploration, and provides a model to integrate academic and experiential skills into the career planning process. Course activities include: exploring academic and other positive life experiences to identify core strengths; individual self-assessment; group interaction/discussion; experiential learning. Emphasis is placed on better understanding ones own skills and strengths and how these relate to academic options, extracurricular activities, and career directions so that students make informed choices related to courses of study, internships, jobs, careers, volunteer and community service activities, while acquiring marketable skills. Students are also provided with tools to conduct successful job/internship searches. General Studies 350D, Navigating Career Options, is a 3 credit course which includes a lecture [80 students] and 4 quiz sections [20 students per section]. Students register for the lecture and one quiz section. No pre-requisites needed for this course. This course is open to all undergraduate UW students.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Gain deeper understanding and appreciation of self - the ingredients [strengths, personality, interests, values, passion] that make one a unique individual Learn how to use knowledge of self to make informed decisions when exploring and pursuing academic and/or career options Build skills to effectively research career options and learn how to be successful in todays job market Expand skills with social media, online professional networking and traditional networking Learn how to develop effective resumes and cover letters. Build interview skills and confidence

COURSE INSTRUCTORS Lecture Section: Patrick Chidsey, Senior Career Counselor (chidsey@uw.edu) The Career Center; 134 Mary Gates Hall; 206-616-5803 Quiz Section (DA): Tim McCoy, Academic Counselor, Lead (mccoytj@uw.edu) Center for Undergraduate Advising, Diversity, and Student Success; 141 Mary Gates Hall; 206-543-2550 Quiz Section (DB): Lynnea Erickson, Senior Career Counselor (lerick@uw.edu) The Career Center; 134 Mary Gates Hall; 206-685-4096 Quiz Section (DC): Joyce Fagel, Lead Academic Counselor (fagel@uw.edu) Center for Undergraduate Advising, Diversity, and Student Success; 141 Mary Gates Hall; 206-616-3738 Quiz Section (DD): Vic Snyder, Associate Director & Senior Career Counselor (vsnyder@uw.edu) The Career Center; 134 Mary Gates Hall; 206-616-5806

COURSE REQUIREMENTS Navigating Career Options is the type of course where you get out of it, what you put into it. Your engagement, participation, and attendance are required. Credit for this course will be awarded based on successful completion of assignments as well as class participation. Course topics and assignments build upon each other so attending every class and completing assignments on time is important. Each of the seven (7) assignments must be completed and submitted by the assignment due date. Late assignments will not receive credit unless (a) arrangements have been made with the instructor prior to the due date or (b) a genuine emergency has occurred (instructor will be the judge of this). All seven assignments must be completed and submitted by their respective due dates in order to receive Credit for this course. In addition, students are expected to attend every lecture and quiz section meeting. Missing more than two (2) lectures or quiz sections will result in receiving No Credit for this course. Attendance will be tracked in both lecture and quiz section. The textbook for this course is the UW Career Center gold Career Guide. Additional course materials will also be provided.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS (All Required) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Dependable Strengths, Part 1 Dependable Strengths, Part 2 Who Are You? / Ideal Position Description Up-to-Date Targeted Resume and Cover Letter Two Career Events: Descriptions and Commentary Informational Interview Final Project* 2 Due: Due: Due: Due: Due: Due: Due: 4/6 or 4/7 4/13 or 4/14 4/27 or 4/28 5/4 or 5/5 5/11 or 5/12 5/18 or 5/19 6/3/11

*Final Project Options 1. VIDEO: Create a video that brings together what youve learned throughout this course 2. AUDIO PODCAST: Create a digital audio podcast of an informational interview or series of informational interviews 3. PAPER: Write a paper bringing together what youve learned throughout this course 4. MOCK INTERVIEW with PORTFOLIO: Conduct a targeted mock interview (using/with a portfolio) with a career counselor or your section leader

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: The following two (2) activities are not required. We include these here as suggestions because many students have found them to be very useful in a variety of ways, including in the process of identifying career directions compatible with interests, temperament, and personality and also for developing skills for a successful job/internship search.

Optional Activity #1: Career Assessments: Personality & Interests Learn about personality and interests and how these relate to work and academic choices. Complete online personality assessment (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) and/or interests assessment (Strong Interest Inventory) [via Counseling Center or EOP Advising]. Must first receive login and password information to take online assessments, by visiting either the Counseling Center or EOP Advising Office. o UW Counseling Center [Schmitz Hall]: https://depts.washington.edu/counsels/ [fee required] o EOP Advising [Mary Gates Hall]: http://depts.washington.edu/oma/eop/services.shtml

Optional Activity #2: Meet with a Career Counselor Students are welcome to meet individually with a Career Counselor in The Career Center. Appointments are typically 30 minutes long, and are great opportunities to brainstorm, discuss, exchange ideas, ask questions, view internet resources together, review resumes & cover letters, etc. To schedule an appointment, contact the front desk of the Career Center in person [134 Mary Gates Hall] or via phone [206.543.0535], and ask to meet with Vic, Lynnea, Patrick or Briana. Mention when you schedule, that you are taking this career class! http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Career-Counseling

SPRING QUARTER 2011 CAREER EVENTS Check for details and updates about most of these events on the Career Center online calendar: http://careers.washington.edu/Calendar April 5: Diversity Networking Reception [Haggett Hall Cascade Rooms, 3 5PM] April 6: University Sales Club Career Fair [PACCAR Hall, 2nd Floor, 12 5PM] April 9: Rehabilitation Medicine Job Fair [UW Center for Urban Horticulture, 1-4pm] April 12 & 13: UW Tacoma Career and Internship Fair [2 days] [William Phillip Hall] April 12: Spring Resume Caf [Mary Gates Hall Commons, 1 4:30 PM] April 13: Retail Day [PACCAR Hall, 11 AM 2 PM] April 13: College of Built Environments Career Fair [Gould Hall, 10am-2pm] April 14: UW Seattle Spring Career Fair [Hec Ed Pavilion, 3-7pm] April 14: School of Social Work Career Fair [School of Social Work, 3-5pm] April 20: UW Bothell Career Fair (day one) [UW Bothell campus, 3:00-6:00pm] April 21: UW Bothell Career Fair (day two) [UW Bothell Campus, 10am-1pm] April 21: Peace Corps Earth Day Panel [Smith Hall 105, 4:30-5:30] April 28: Employer Conversations: Successful Interviewing [Smith Hall 205, 4:30-6:30] April 28: Microfinance Careers and Internships Open House [Mary Gates Hall Commons, 2-5pm] April 30: ENGAGE Your Life! Workshop [Career Center (134 Mary Gates Hall); 10-4pm] [RSVP, $] May 10: Health Graduate School Fair [Mary Gates Hall Commons, 2-5pm] May 11: Special Peace Corps Event: Bon Voyage Potluck [Parrington Hall Commons, 4-7pm] [RSVP] In addition to the events listed above, there are many other ways to learn about career and academic options, connect with employers, find jobs and internships. See career center calendar (http://www.careers.washington.edu/Calendar) and additional resources (e.g., The Seattle Networking Guide at www.iloveseattle.org) and read your emails from this class for info about career programming. Employer information sessions in Career Center lobby or elsewhere on campus On-campus interviews in the Career Center Workshops, walk-in advising, and individual appointments in the Career Center Academic department information sessions Career programming through Learning Links Job fairs & networking events off campus, etc.

COURSE RESOURCES 2010-2011 Career Guide (textbook for this class) Career Center Calendar (events, workshops, career fairs): http://careers.washington.edu/Calendar HuskyJobs online internship and job database, including on-campus interviewing postings http://careers.washington.edu/HuskyJobs Career Center: explore careers website http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Explore-Careers

What can I do with a major in? http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/ and http://careers.washington.edu/Students/What-Can-I-Do-With-a-Major-In WOIS website: Washington Occupational Information System http://careers.washington.edu/sites/default/files/all/admin/wois/woisinfobox.html Choosing a major information & UWAA website http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/majors/intro.php UW Counseling Center website: personal counseling, career assessments, workshops & more https://depts.washington.edu/counsels/ Student Activities Office: get involved! http://depts.washington.edu/sao/ Center for Experiential Learning: volunteer, service learning, scholarships, undergraduate research, http://exp.washington.edu/ Roadtrip Nation website: define your own road in life http://roadtripnation.com/ Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

GENERAL STUDIES 350D: NAVIGATING CAREER OPTIONS COURSE SCHEDULE WITH ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES

Week 1

Date Lecture: 3/29 Sections: 3/30 or 3/31

Lecture & Section Themes Course introduction Career fairs overview

Assignment Due None

Lecture: 4/5 Sections: 4/6 or 4/7 Lecture: 4/12 Sections: 4/13 or 4/14 Lecture: 4/19 Sections: 4/20 or 4/21 Lecture: 4/26 Sections: 4/27 or 4/28

Dependable Strengths, Part 1

#1: Dep Strengths #1 DUE: 4/6 or 4/7 #2: Dep Strengths #2 DUE: 4/13 or 4/14 None

Dependable Strengths, Part 2

Values / Finding passion Resumes Intro to Personality/Interests; Resumes & cover letters; Informational interviewing 5

#3: Ideal Position DUE: 4/27 or 4/28

Lecture: 5/3 Sections: 5/4 or 5/5 Lecture: 5/10 Sections: 5/11 or 5/12 Lecture: 5/17 Sections: 5/18 or 5/19 Lecture: 5/24 Sections: 5/25 or 5/26

World-of-work; career options; Job market Job and internship searching; Social media / Professional networking Successful Interviewing

#4: Resume/Cover Ltr DUE: 5/4 or 5/5 #5: 2 Career Events DUE: 5/11 or 5/12 #6: Info Interview DUE: 5/18 or 5/19 Nothing due / Work on Final Projects

Experiential learning

10

Lecture: 5/31 Sections: 6/1 or 6/2

Academic options and choosing majors; Making the most of your undergraduate experience No Final Exam

#7: Final Project DUE: 6/3/11

11

Finals Week: No class

No Final Exam