About this course: In the capstone project, you will combine the skills you’ve learned in the prior four courses of the specialization to polish your elevator speeches, complete your resumes - including multiple versions for different targets - complete your story file, identify possible jobs or careers, perform the research you have learned to do, write suitable cover letters, and ideally land a job! You will: 1. Develop a personal marketing plan and campaign for getting interviews. 2. Identify at least three organizations with open positions for which you want to apply. 3. Research those organizations and positions. 4. Prepare pitch sheets and J.I.S.T. cards (mini-resumes) targeting those positions. 5. Complete your resume, and if necessary complete multiple versions to target each position. 6. Write appropriate cover letters for the positions. 7. Record and evaluate responses to a set of standard interview questions. 8. Record and evaluate responses to a set of predictable behavioral interview questions. 9. Record and evaluate a response to one situational interview question. 10. Record and evaluate a response to one wild-card question. As the specialization has focused throughout on the real-world skills you need to research yourself, the market, and a company and has given you strategies and tools to prepare for and succeed in an interview, the capstone project should align with what you have been trained for and position you to land the job you want!
Who is this class for: This course is aimed at anyone with career aspirations in the English-speaking job market, whether new college grads looking for their first job, or experienced talent with decades of experience.
Created by: University of Maryland, College Park
Taught by: Charles Duquette, Lecturer/Marketing Coordinator
Maryland English Institute
| Basic Info | Course 5 of 5 in the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization |
| Commitment | 8 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome
You get an overview of the capstone here, with a description of the milestones you're asked to complete. You'll have the chance to discuss your background, your goals, your concerns and your plans for this capstone.
1 video
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week One
- Discussion Prompt: Tell Us About Your Goals
WEEK 2
Envisioning Your Future Self
In this module, you will develop a vision of your ideal work. That product of "the workshop of your mind" will serve to direct your activities throughout this capstone.
1 video, 3 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Two
- Discussion Prompt: Tell Us About Your Why
- Reading: You Need to Practice Being Your Future Self
- Reading: Additional Resources
- Reading: Think and Grow Rich
Graded: Your Ideal Work
WEEK 3
Developing Your Personal Marketing Plan
This week you'll create your personal marketing plan to guide your job search campaign. You'll be introduced to many online resources that you can use to help develop that plan. You'll write an action plan describing what steps you will take to get meetings and interviews.
1 video, 5 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Three
- Discussion Prompt: Tell Us About Yourself
- Reading: Sample Personal Marketing Plan
- Reading: Online Research Portals
- Reading: Find Jobs at The Muse
- Reading: Companies Featured at The Muse
- Reading: Conducting a Campaign to Get Interviews
Graded: Your Marketing Plan
WEEK 4
Building Your Pitch Repertoire
This week you develop your pitch repertoire based on selected positions from your marketing plan.Your pitch repertoire includes long and short elevator speeches for each position, as well as JIST cards.
6 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Four
- Discussion Prompt: Tell Us About Your Experience So Far
- Reading: Workforce Competencies
- Reading: Pitch Resources
- Reading: JIST Example File
- Video: Writing Summary Sections
- Video: Writing Objectives
- Reading: Power Word Lists
- Video: Developing Your Two-Minute Pitch
- Video: An Example Two-Minute Pitch
- Video: Developing Your 30-Second Pitch
- Reading: Rubric for Pitch Repertoire Assignments
- Peer Review: Pitch Repertoire Set #2
- Peer Review: Pitch Repertoire Set #3
Graded: Pitch Repertoire Set #1
WEEK 5
Writing Your Resumes and Cover Letters
This week you write resumes and cover letters to align with the pitch materials you created in week four and the job positions you identified in week three.
10 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Five
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on Your Marketing Process
- Reading: Competency References
- Reading: 12 Core Competencies
- Video: Identifying Relevant Competencies
- Video: Understanding 21st Century Competencies
- Video: Gathering Your Materials to Write
- Video: Writing Strong Accomplishment Statements
- Video: Using the Resume Skills Tier Method
- Video: Finding the Right Words
- Video: Powerhouse Cover Letters
- Video: Constructing the Letter
- Video: Creating a Sense of Urgency
- Reading: Resume and Cover Letter Rubrics
- Peer Review: Resume and Cover Letter #2
- Peer Review: Resume and Cover Letter #3
Graded: Resume and Cover Letter #1
WEEK 6
Responding to Standard Interview Questions
This week you practice five standard questions that you can expect in most interviews. You adapt your responses to the specifics of the positions you are targeting.
5 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Six
- Discussion Prompt: Discuss Your Preparedness
- Video: The Top 10 Skills
- Video: Why Are You Interested in This Position?
- Video: Why Are You Looking to Leave Your Current Position?
- Video: What's Important to You in a Work Environment?
- Reading: Interview Cheat Sheets
- Reading: Interview Rubrics
- Peer Review: Why are you looking to leave/What is important to you?
- Peer Review: Why should I hire you/What makes you the best candidate?
Graded: Why Are You Interested in this Position?
WEEK 7
Responding to Advanced Interview Questions
This week you practice behavioral, situational and wild-card interview questions. Your responses should align with the competencies you've identified for the positions you have targeted.
6 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Introducing Capstone Week Seven
- Discussion Prompt: Discuss Your Storytelling
- Video: What You Should Know About Behavioral Interviewing
- Video: Using the S.T.A.R. Response Strategy
- Video: Using the P.R.E.P. Response Strategy
- Video: Using the Pro-Con Response Strategy
- Video: Using the 5W's Response Strategy
- Reading: Silicon Valley Attitude Toward Failure
- Reading: Quotes on Facing Workplace Conflicts
- Reading: Behavioral Interview Checklist
- Peer Review: Random Situational Interview Question
- Peer Review: Random Wild-Card Question
Graded: Tell me about a specific situation where you failed.
Graded: Tell me how you handle conflict at work.
Graded: Tell me about a past accomplishment you are especially proud of.
WEEK 8
Farewell and Journey On!
This week marks the completion of the capstone project. You'll have an opportunity to submit your final work products and to reflect on the journey you've been on. You'll leave with a clear direction for moving forward in your work life.
1 video, 3 readings
- Video: Completing the Capstone and Moving Forward
- Discussion Prompt: Final Reflections
- Reading: Inspirational Thoughts from Will Smith
- Reading: Inspirational Thoughts from Steve Jobs
- Reading: A Closing Set of Articles
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University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 47 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.8 billion operating budget, secures $500 million annually in external research funding and recently completed a $1 billion fundraising campaign.
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