Course Syllabus

BGN 112, Marketing Your Skills
Section 2891 - Course Syllabus

Course Description

In this course students will identify, develop, and reinforce workforce skills including critical soft skills demanded by employers, and create a professional portfolio that includes personal branding, resumes, cover letters, personal summaries and samples of work. The class also covers using social networking sites for employment marketing. Students will develop and practice interviewing skills.

Since the course is asynchronous (no in person classes), the instructor will set up mock interviews with each student to be conducted via Zoom. These mock interviews will be the culmination of zeroing in on the right next step in each student's job search. Leading up to the interviews, each student will identify potential career paths, produce cover letters and resumes tailored for specific jobs, and explore how to self-promote skills and stated career objectives through social networking sites.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Create a personal brand identity for future employment.

2. Use technology to develop a professional online presence.

3. Create a professional career portfolio.

4. Develop, practice, and apply proper interviewing skills.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

1. Identify and discuss personal and professional factors associated with professional success.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of how interpersonal skills affect personal and professional

development.

3. Examine employment opportunities.

4. Compare employer-employee relationships and expectations.

5. Use the Internet to research employment opportunities and employer requirements.

6. Use spreadsheet or database software to create a job search network list.

7. Develop social networking skills.

8. Create resumes, cover letters, and database of professional contacts using appropriate

software programs.

9. Create a written and electronic portfolio.

10. Critique a job interview.

11. Establish guidelines for negotiating a compensation package.

12. Determine how to deal effectively with rejection.

13. Develop strategies for evaluating on-the-job performance.

14. Research tips on job success, promotions, and making a job change.

Class Meetings

All material and activities will be offered asynchronously, meaning students can access them anytime. Each Monday a new course module will post; typically by noon. Assignments will typically be due on Sunday night by midnight.

Instructor Contact

Laura Pedicini

Email: lpedicini@santarosa.edu

Phone: (209) 968-6060

Office Hours: Zoom sessions and phone calls available by prior arrangement.

I respond to emails within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

We are relying on three book source this semester. While they aren't actually "textbooks," they cover all aspects of the course. What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles, (2022), ISBN 978-1-9848-6035-4; The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Right Job Faster by Steve Dalton, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-9848-5728-6; The Job Closer, Ten Speed Press, ISBN 978-1-9848-5696-8

You can locate and order all 3 books online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course. [If linking to PDF or Word documents, QuickTime or Flash videos, put in a link to the helper applications in your Syllabus or Getting Started section of your course materials.]

Adobe Reader

Important Dates

Day Class Begins: October 17, 2022

Day Class Ends: December 09, 2022

Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: October 19, 2022

Last Day to Add with instructor's approval: October 26, 2022

Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: October 26, 2022

Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: December 09, 2022

Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: November 27, 2022

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by December 9, 2022. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.

Attendance

Students who fail to attend the first class (face-to-face courses) or do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at midnight, PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.

Exams

There will be a final exam. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If the exam is missed and prior contact is not made with the instructor, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exam by the due date.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade [once a week] and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A	90%	90 points or more
B	80%	80 to 89 points
C	70%	70 to 79 points
D	60%	60 to 69 points

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague

Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.

The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.

Plagiarism: How to avoid it

Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?

Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:

Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.