PLANNING CAREERS
& EMPLOYABILITY
BSS030-2
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Instructor Information
Nguyen Thi Minh Ha (PhD)
nguyenthiminhha.cs2@[Link]
Faculty of International Business & Trade
Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Campus
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Course aims & relevance
• Focus on choosing & managing your future applications,
particularly for graduate schemes & for professional roles
• Consider current developments in recruitment & practise
preparing applications in various forms.
• Preparation for interview situations: telephone, video,
assessment centre, 1-to-1 interview.
• Gain real insight into your own employability, develop
into a business-ready graduate and be able to get that
important first job.
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Syllabus content
1. The initial activities enable you to improve your online
presence, undertake skills gap analysis and initial development
planning. There will also be links with the careers office,
employers and examining bodies to aid research on current
opportunities for graduates.
2. The next stage looks at preparation for applications and
individual oral presentations to match the requirements set out
in adverts and person specifications.
3. In the final stage you prepare for & take part in individual
interview practice. You also reflect & action plan for the future.
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Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate the knowledge & understanding to
evaluate the current developments in recruitment & the
requirements for successful employability.
2. Demonstrate the skills & abilities to articulate a
personal development plan to strengthen & evidence
your capabilities & demonstrate what you have to offer
employers through different phases of the application &
selection process.
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Reading materials
• Core:
• Tanya de Grunwald Dude, Where’s My Career?
Summersdale, 2008
• Recommended
• Cole, J. Creative CV Guide Surrey Institute of Design
2010
• Trought, F. Brilliant Employability Skills: How to Stand
out from the Crowd in the Graduate Job Market. Pearson
2017
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Course policy
1. Requirements for final examination
• Attend at least 80% class periods (6/8 sessions, for all
examination, assignment periods)
• Earn at least 40 points out of 100 for Assessment 1
2. Bonus point policy
Students who contribute in class discussions and are
recognized by the teacher, will be credited to the
attendance, mid-term and final scores.
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Course assessment
• CW-Port (40%): mid-term - Session 6 (27 Dec)
• WR (60%)
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Assessment 1
• A portfolio that contains an introductory written summary (1,000 words)
and produce appendices comprising documentation required for the
various stages of the application process
• Analyse how the initial activities have enabled you to evaluate gaps in
your knowledge based on the current requirements of your chosen
industry. In addition, you will be required to evaluate your strengths and
weaknesses, identifying how well you currently meet person
specifications.
• Appendices to include, Skills audit questionnaire, Employer Interview
Checklist, Tailored Application Form, Company research checklist,
Tailored CV with link to [Link] Personal Profile website and ‘Linked
In’ profile.
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Assessment 2
• Uses the portfolio of assessment 1 as the basis to develop a
Personal Development plan and commentary (3,000 words)
which clearly demonstrates how your future actions are linked to
the gaps, theoretical and personal, identified in the gap analysis.
• Evaluate the current developments in recruitment and the
requirements for successful employability.
• This includes how you can utilise feedback from telephone,
video and one to one interview and pitch competition activities
to make timely and successful applications for real employment
opportunities.
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Assessment Criteria - report
Academic report includes:
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Research Methodology
• Findings and Analysis
• Recommendation and Conclusion
• References
• Appendix
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Assessment Criteria - report
General rules for all written documetation
• A4 sized paper
• Font: Times New Roman - Size: 13
• Line spacing: 1,5pt
• Margin: top 2.5 cm, bottom 2.5 cm, left 3.5 cm, right
2cm
• Number of words: 3,000 words
• Deadline for submission: as exam schedule
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Assessment Criteria
Clear and feasible topics 1 point
Logical analysis, straight to the point, 5 points
practical refection
Use of variety of references, vivid 1 point
examples
Coherent writing, precise citation 2 points
Good presentation skill 1 point
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