MATH39991 - 2008/2009
- Title: Career Management Skills
- Unit code: MATH39991
- Credits: 10
- This course unit is only available to students on single honours Mathematics degree programmes and for such students it counts as a non-Mathematics course unit. It cannot be taken along with CARS20021/20022/20020 Leadership in Action.
- Prerequisites:
- Co-requisite units: None
- School responsible: Mathematics
- Members of staff responsible: Dr. Tony Shardlow and Jane Whitmore
Specification
Aims
This Career Management Skills (CMS) module has been designed - with the input and involvement of graduate recruiters - to give you an advantage against the competition by helping you to
- Find out what skills employers want,
- Recognise and evaluate the skills you already have,
- Build on your stronger skills and improve your weaker ones,
- Practice and develop your skills through interactive case studies and group exercises,
- Act on the feedback and hints provided to enhance your future performance,
- Gain insight into graduate recruitment practices.
Brief Description of the unit
Students meet once a week in two and a half hour sessions. Each session addresses one particular job skill (see list below). Many of the modules are conducted by employers. The sessions mostly follow group work principles, i.e. after an introductory talk the students divide into groups of about eight and work through tasks designed to familiarize them with the designated skill. The course has no direct connection with mathematics.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course unit students will
- have learnt about and practiced key career management skills,
- have analysed their skills and abilities and developed strategies for improving them,
- have improved their group work skills by working continuously in small groups,
- have improved their presentation skills by planning and delivering a formal presentation,
- have looked at the range of career areas open to maths graduates,
- have developed an effective CV and practiced interviews.
Future topics requiring this course unit
None.
Syllabus
- Introduction to Career Management Skills.
- Self Awareness and Career Choice.
- Effective C.V.s and Application Forms
- Effective Interview Skills
- Psychometric Testing.
- Team Working.
- Presentation Skills.
- Creative Job Search Skills.
- Management and Time Management
- Assessed Presentations
- Negotiation Skills.
The exact subjects covered and the order of the modules is subject to revision according to the availability of employers.
Teaching and learning methods
One two and a half hour class each week. In addition students should expect to spend at least five hours each week on private study for this course unit.
Assessment
Arrangements
Course materials are provided in the lectures.