Incorporating Career Development Skills into the First-Year Seminar Course

Incorporating Career Development Skills into the First-Year Seminar

Course

Incorporating Career Development Skills into the First-Year Seminar

Course

Ann Blasick, MSAssistant Director, Division of Professional Practice

Steven P. Girardot, Ph.D.Director, Office of Success Programs

30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE FEBRUARY 7, 2011

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AgendaAgenda

• Institutional Profile

• Georgia Tech’s Freshman Seminar (GT 1000)

• GT 1000 Career Development Learning Outcomes

• Case Study: Division of Professional Practice Cohort

Section of GT1000

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Georgia Tech Institutional ProfileGeorgia Tech Institutional Profile

• Four-Year, Public Research University

• Six Colleges (35 Majors):– Engineering, Computing, Sciences

Management, Liberal Arts, Architecture

• 20,720 students (66% undergraduate)

• Overall Undergraduate Demographics:– ~68% from Georgia and ~6% international

– ~35% minority (~12% URM)

– ~31% women

– ~59% majoring in engineering

• First-year retention rate: 94%

• Six-year graduation rate: 80% Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning

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• 2,700 freshmen• 63% Georgia Residents• 8% International

– 76% from India, China, South Korea

• 36% Female • Average SAT = 1370 • Average HS GPA = 3.87• 44 states & 51 countries represented• Top Reasons for Choosing GT:

– Academic Reputation (90%) – Get Good Jobs (87%) – Get into top graduate/professional schools (55%)

Freshman Class of 2010Freshman Class of 2010

Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning

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Freshman Seminar (GT 1000) OverviewFreshman Seminar (GT 1000) Overview

• Extended Orientation Seminar

• One Contact Hour, Letter-graded

• Average Class size- 25 students

• Not required (~70% enrollment)

• Utilizes Peer Mentors (Team Leaders)

• Range of instructors (e.g., faculty, student affairs, academic affairs, advisors, etc.)

• Fall 2010- 82 sections offered. Three types of Sections– Interdisciplinary (40 sections)

– Departmental/Disciplinary (27 sections)

– Special Cohort (15 sections)

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Freshman Seminar (GT 1000) OverviewFreshman Seminar (GT 1000) Overview

• Curriculum– University Culture

– Academic Success/Time Management

– Communication Skills

– Major and Career Research

– Career Development Skills

– Leadership and Involvement

• These course topics map to nine learning outcomes

• Three required assignments:– Resume and Cover Letter

– Team Project and Presentation

– Career and Major Project

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QuestionQuestion

What career development elements (if any) are included in your freshman seminar course?

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GT1000 Career Development Learning OutcomesGT1000 Career Development Learning Outcomes

• Describe the required skills, daily activities, current and future state (growth potential), and salary potential of the major/career selected

• Develop a resume applicable to internships, co-ops, study abroad programs or leadership positions (as appropriate)

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Case Study: Professional Practice GT1000Case Study: Professional Practice GT1000

• Semesters: Piloted in Fall 2009

Offered again in Fall 2010

• Students: 25-30 freshman engineering majors

• Instructor: Internship advisor from Division of Professional Practice

• Team Leaders: 5 engineering seniors who had each completed at least 2 semesters of

co-op or internship work experience

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Additional Career Development Learning OutcomesAdditional Career Development Learning Outcomes

• Be able to describe components of the co-op, internship and work abroad programs

• Establish personal goals and a timeline for next 4+ years

• Create a professional reference list

• Develop effective interviewing skills

• Conduct an informational interview

• Create and utilize a LinkedIn Account

• Find and apply for jobs

• Be able to successfully transition from school to work

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Syllabus ComponentsSyllabus Components

• TL-led Small Groups to follow GT1000 model

• Brief talks on various career topics led by instructor and TLs

• Assignments paralleling GT1000 requirements but with career development slant

• Guest Speakers (Study Abroad, Undergrad Research)

• Student Panels

• Employers Panels

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Reflective WritingReflective Writing

• Blog prompts on career-related reflection questions:– Why did you choose your major? Were you influenced by

outside factors?

– Do you think your major both matches your skills AND would lead to a career you are passionate about?

– What aspect of working as a co-op or intern is most exciting to you?

– In addition to earning your degree, what other goals would you like to achieve while at Georgia Tech?

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Team Project & PresentationTeam Project & Presentation

• 2009: Create a business plan for an original company or product utilizing the majors of each person in the group

• 2010: Utilized textbook topics including GT Traditions, Off-Campus Dining or Proposal for a new GT Organization

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Resume & Cover LetterResume & Cover Letter

• Provided students with sample template and rubric

• Opportunity to submit 1st and 2nd draft– Harshly graded 1st draft to encourage students to revise and

submit a 2nd draft

• Required cover letter be written for a specific internship/co-op posting from GT job database

• Possible Activities:– Resume with Errors Activity

– 10-second Scan

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Career Project ComponentsCareer Project Components

• Researching Your Major

• Professional Articles

• LinkedIn Account• Informational Interview with Upperclass Student in their

Major

• Informational Interview with Professional in their Field• Company Spreadsheet using Company Database such as

Reference USA

• Timeline for their next 4+ years

• Reflection Paper

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Additional ActivitiesAdditional Activities

• Career Services Career Planner

• “Guess Which Major” Assignment

• Peer-to-Peer Mock Interviews

• Create your own Elevator Pitch

• Design your Ideal Job

• Clean-up your Cyber Image

• Extra credit for attending Majors Fair, Employer Site Visits or Job Shadowing and then writing a reflective blog post

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Assessment: 2009 Survey ResultsAssessment: 2009 Survey Results

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Assessment: 2010 Survey ResultsAssessment: 2010 Survey Results

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Assessment: Survey ResultsAssessment: Survey Results

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“What was the Most Beneficial Part of the Class?” – Top 7 Responses“What was the Most Beneficial Part of the Class?” – Top 7 Responses

1. In-depth Overview of Co-op and Internship Programs

2. Resume and Cover Letters

3. Employer Panels

4. How to Get and Maintain a Job

5. Interviewing

6. Talking to the TLs about real life; student work stories

7. Professionalism

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ChallengesChallenges

• TIME!

• Dedicating time that matches students high interest in study abroad, work abroad and undergrad research

• Incorporating small group activities and small group discussion time

• Teaching how majors connect to careers

• Incorporating traditional GT1000 topics such as time management and study skills

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Student QuotesStudent Quotes

“My search for a co-op after completing this assignment seems to be a lot less stressful. I

know what I want, I know the resources available to get it, and I know how to approach companies ready to make myself seem like I

have the potential to be a valuable employee…the class, helped me more than I was

expecting... I now feel prepared, well informed, and ready to job hunt!”

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Student QuotesStudent Quotes

“The lessons learned…have given me a greater understanding of what my major entails and what I need to do to become successful, not only at Tech, but in the

real world.”

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Contact InformationContact Information

Ann Blasick Dr. Steven Girardot

Division of Professional Practice Office of Success Programs

ann.blasick@dopp.gatech.edu steven.girardot@vpss.gatech.edu

404-894-0735 404-894-1951

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Assessment: Entrance Survey ResultsAssessment: Entrance Survey Results

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Change of MajorChange of Major

* Note: All students who changed majors switched to another STEM major. No students changed to Business or Liberal Arts.