The portfolio (minimum 1500 words, maximum 2000 words) will consist of the following elements:

- The Skills Audit, LMI research, Journal Entries and career plan meet LO1
- The Journal Entries and reflection of business challenge meet LO2
- The CV, LinkedIn portfolio and personal branding meet LO3

The content of this course includes the following:

- Reflecting upon your career journey since graduation
- Skills audits and self-assessment tools
- Discovering your strengths, motivations and values
- Exploring possible career paths
- How to find opportunities
- Graduate Labour Market information
- Business challenge
- Reflecting on work experience
- Using your work experience to sell yourself
- CVs, cover letters and applications
- Personal branding and networking
- Interview skills

This module will enable participants to move forward in your graduate career, providing individuals with the tools and knowledge to effective plan your career using Graduate Labour Market information and allowing them to identify their strengths, weakness, interests, values and skills. Participants delve into exploring career options, industries, and job roles, they gain insights into different professions, emerging trends and the graduate labour market as well as the competencies required for specific career paths. This course helps individuals to set achievable and realistic career goals aligned to their aspiration’s, skills, and values. Participants learn to create short- and long-term career plans outlining steps to reach their goals and gain practical skills including crafting CVs, cover letters and developing an online professional presence. Individuals learn to highlight their skills and experience relevant to their target careers. Techniques for successful job interviews, networking strategies and effective job searching methods are covered. Understanding the significance of continuous learning and skill development is emphasised to upgrade skills necessary for career advancement.

Students will learn through online learning, utilising technology to enhance their learning experience as a catalyst for collaborative working and sharing of ideas.

Students are encouraged to use online tools to gain a further understanding of themselves and to learn through reflection, enabling them to have a better understanding of themselves and how they can enhance themselves further.

Students will learn through the application of knowledge in practical activities producing a portfolio that is a form of authentic assessment. Students will also simulate a real-world scenario through a business challenge, enabling them to face a similar situation to one they may face in a graduate market and reflect upon it.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established concepts, principles and their development of career planning.
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
Enquiry
Analysis
Communication
Application
Reflection

2. Evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems and propose solutions to problems arising from analysis during an employer-led business challenge.
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
Enquiry
Analysis
Problem Solving
Communication
Application
Reflection

3. Demonstrate qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment or further training including the development of existing skills, and acquisition of new competencies that will require the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making and will enable students to assume significant responsibility within organisations.
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
Problem solving
Communication
Application
Reflection

Career Connect Portal
Blackboard
Access to internet

Burnett, B. and Evans, D. Designing Your Life. Knopf, New York.
Prospects Luminate - https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/
Prospects - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
Target - https://targetjobs.co.uk/
Career Connect Portal – www.staffs.ac.uk/careers

Available to current students at L5 and under/unemployed Staffordshire University graduates who qualify for a subsidised place on the course and have not already completed the module.