BST 1080
Employability Skills

Course Information

Course Description:

Thus far, in the Business Systems Technology Program you have focused on developing knowledge and skills that will help you be successful as an office professional. In order for you to put these skills to use on the job, you must be successful in getting a job.

This class will provide you with the skills you need to search for job opportunities; apply for jobs; create a cover letter, resume, and follow-up letter; perform successfully in an interview; and remain current in your profession. The class consists of seven modules and is designed to be completed in 30 hours.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Conduct a job search.

2. Write a cover letter.

3. Prepare a resume.

4. Complete a job application.

5. Develop and use interview skills.

6. Write a follow-up letter.

Prerequisites and Co-requisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Topics:

Module 1: Job Search (4 hours)

Module 2: Cover Letters (4 hours)

Module 3: Resumes (6 hours)

Module 4: Job Application (4 hours)

Module 5: Interviewing (6 hours)

Module 6: Follow-up Letters (3 hours)

Module 7: Professional Development and Advancement (3 hours)

Specific Course Requirements:

This class will require you to be self-motivated and self-directed. In addition, you will need to be proficient in keyboarding and word processing using Microsoft Word.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

No textbook is required for this course. You will utilize the Internet to search for, study, review and read materials related to each of the modules. All work will be completed in Microsoft Word and submitted through the Assignment Section on the Course Menu.

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...(A list of software the student is required to purchase or download for the course, Real Player, Media Player, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, etc).

Instructor Information

Please see the Instructor Page inside the course menu to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

This course requires completion of seven quizzes. A quiz is to be completed for each module in the course.

Grading Procedure:

Your course grade consist of 50% skill (200 points), 25% theory (100 points) and 25% worker characteristic (100 points).

Skill Grade:

Assignment 1: Job Search 15 points

Assignment 2: Cover Letter 20 points

Assignment 3A: Resume—Draft 15 points

Assignment 3B: Resume—Final 50 points

Assignment 4: Application 25 points

Assignment 5: Interview Questions 40 points

Assignment 6: Follow-up Letter 20 points

Assignment 7: Professional Development 15 points

TOTAL POINTS 200 points

Theory Grade:

Module 1 Quiz 10 points

Module 2 Quiz 15 points

Module 3 Quiz 20 points

Module 4 Quiz 15 points

Module 5 Quiz 15 points

Module 6 Quiz 15 points

Module 7 Quiz 10 points

TOTAL POINTS 100 points

Worker Characteristics:

For each module completed on time: 10 points for a total of 70 points

Participation in required Discussion Boards: 15 points

Responds to emails promptly (within 3 days): 15 points

TOTAL POINTS: 100 points

Grading Scale:

93% - 100% A
85% - 92% B
77% - 84% C

Below 77% F

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

Assignment 1: Job Search

Assignment 2: Writing a Cover Letter

Assignment 3: Preparing Your Resume

Assignment 4: Completing a Job Application

Assignment 5: Answering Interview Questions

Assignment 6: Writing a Follow-up Letter

Assignment 7: Professional Development Opportunities

Class Participation:

Students must participate in all interactive aspects of the course. For example, students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events.

Punctuality:

All assignments must be completed by the end of Spring Trimester in order to receive credit for the course.

Course Ground Rules

Students are expected to learn how to navigate in D2L, keep abreast of course announcements, use the D2L's e-mail as opposed to a personal e-mail address, address technical problems immediately, and observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussion Groups:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant. Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Chat:

  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion

Web Resources:

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses.

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the left to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:

If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the Eduprise Help Desk by calling

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to their website at:

http://help.rodp.org/