Assignment: Preparing for Dream Job

Objective:

Identify an online job posting for an ideal position that interests you. Develop a detailed, realistic preparation plan outlining the steps you need to qualify for this role, including skills, certifications, experience, and advice from your college’s Career Development Center (CDC).

Instructions:

1. Find a Job Position
   • Search online job boards (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn) for a job that aligns with your career interests and aspirations.
   • Include the job title, company name, a brief job description, and why you are interested in this role.
2. Analyze the Job Requirements
   • Skills: List the essential skills (must-have) and preferred skills listed in the job posting. Indicate which skills you currently possess and which ones need improvement.
   • Certifications: Identify any specific certifications or training required or recommended.
   • Experience: Determine the work experience needed and consider ways to gain relevant experience if you don’t already have it.
3. Plan How to Obtain Skills and Experience
   • Skill Development: Detail how you plan to acquire any missing skills (e.g., online courses, workshops, volunteering).
   • Certifications: Outline any required or recommended certifications, including where you would obtain them and any associated costs.
   • Work Experience: Identify relevant part-time jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, or projects that could provide the experience you need.
   • Display Experience: Consider how you can document or showcase your experience, such as through a portfolio, LinkedIn, or resume.
4. Set a Realistic Timeline
   • Estimate the time needed to acquire each skill, certification, and experience requirement, keeping a realistic timeframe for each step. Present this visually as a timeline with milestones. Use a program like Canva to create the visual.

1. Career Development Center (CDC) Consultation
   1. Schedule a meeting with the Career Development Center at UCW and discuss your job choice, skills, certifications, and experience needs.
   2. Ask for their input on your preparation plan, including any additional steps or resources they recommend. Take detailed notes of their recommendations.
2. Write and Submit Your Report
   1. Write a report (about 750 words) summarizing the following:
      1. Job Details: Job title, company, and why this position interests you.
      2. Requirement Analysis: Summary of the must-have and preferred skills, certifications, and experience.
      3. Preparation Plan: Specific steps to acquire the necessary qualifications.
      4. Timeline: Timeline for completing each step in the preparation process. Create a visual timeline
      5. CDC Recommendations: A summary of the advice and recommendations provided by the Career Development Center.
      6. Implementation: Which of the steps outlined in the plan are you implementing while you are in this course.

Submission Requirements:

• Format: APA style 7^th Edition.
• Deadline: Week 9, before class.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Job Choice and Requirements Analysis (20 points): Clear, realistic job selection based on your interests and detailed understanding of job requirements.
• Preparation Plan (30 points): Thoughtful, actionable plan for acquiring necessary Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA), certifications, and experience. Implementation of any of the planned steps during your time in this course.
• Timeline Realism (15 points): Practical and achievable timeframe with milestones for achieving the necessary qualifications specified above. Visual presentation of timeline.
• CDC Consultation (25 points): Incorporation of specific, actionable advice from the Career Development Center; including the details of your meeting with CDC (dates, names of the specialists you met with; the advice you received from them).
• Professionalism and Clarity (10 points): Well-organized, clearly presented report.

 

Word Count: 800-900

No. of Pages: 6