How to Conduct an On-Line Job Search OMDE Graduates
Course (OMDE)
Back
Course Syllabus
Course Description
This course examines the job search process for OMDE students looking for a job in the field of distance education and training. Students critically evaluate the relationship between job seeking tools using web based technologies. Various models of resume’ writing and online job banks are considered. These include, but are not limited to: functional resumes, chronological resumes, scannable resumes, cover letters, and how to use the Discover® career development software program.
Students apply the job search process by searching three unique distance education job openings, create a summary of qualifications as a start for their resume, and apply the job search process by developing a career portfolio using the Discover® career development software program. Temporary tokens and passwords will be given at the start of the class. A special emphasis is on using online resources and Web-based tools to conduct a job search.
Course Goals/Objectives Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
1) Identify the major components of chronological and functional resumes.
2) Develop online job searching skills.
3) Identify a summary of qualifications list for online resume.
4) Identify three distance education job descriptions using online job banks.
5) View other resumes on the web.
6) Research various online job banks focusing on the field of distance education.
7) Discuss the issues and pitfalls in doing an online job search for the field of DE.
8) Demonstrate mastery of online networking through development of career path portfolio using the career development software program: Discover®.
Required Readings and Resources
Harris-Bowlsbey, J. & Lisansky, R, (2003). Take hold of your future. The Career Development Leadership Alliance, Inc. Can be purchase through website: http://www.careerguide.org
A token to access the Discover® Career Development Software Program will be provided via email to each student at the start of the class.
Course Assignments and Schedule
Week
Session Dates
Readings , Assignments, and Due Dates
1
Dec 7 - 12
Module 1: Guide to Distance Education Job Search Resources-
Starting My Online Career Portfolio
2
Dec 13 – 14
Module 2: Resume Writing
3
Dec 15-16
Module 3: Using Online Tools to Research Companies in
Distance
Education Job Search
4
Dec 17-18
Module 4: Targeting DE Companies in the Job Search
Interviewing Practice
Module 1:
Guide to Distance Education Job Search Resources
Read Chapter 8 & 9 of Take Hold of Your Future (PDF) (html version)
Create an online account in the Discover® Program (You should have received your token and login procedures via e-mail- if not, please let me know)
Read Pages 14-15 of the UMUC Job Hunting Guide
Review the following two websites and complete the sections below: My Online Career Portfolio
Monster Board Location: http://www.monster.com/ Description: Free access to a database of over 50,000 job listings. Employers can post job notices for a fee. Also includes employer profiles, a resume builder, relocation information, and career advice.
WetFeet.com Location: http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/home.asp Description: Information for making smarter career decisions.
Occupational Outlook Handbook Location: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Description: Full-text access to this well-respected resource published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Allows keyword searching or browsing by occupational field.
OMDE6 Assignment Project
Creating My Online Career Portfolio (25% of final mark)
Goal:
· Enable you to systematically capture your engagement with career development, job searching and resume writing. These include, among other things, documentation of how to write objective (and other elements) of a resume, a variety of job search information, and your conceptual design process for your career portfolio.
· For me, your portfolio would give me an insight into where you are at in your approach to the career development task, what your interests are on the subject, as well as your personal results to interest inventories.
Skills development:
· Understanding of how to start an online career portfolio (by logging in and creating account)
· Students will establish a career portfolio account
· Identify the steps involved in their job search.
Description:
In this assignment you are going to start an online career portfolio by logging in and creating account in the career development software program: Discover®. (Your login token will be sent to you via email. Once you receive it, follow the directions to log on to Discover as identified in the course content section of Webtycho) You will also be introduced to the online job search process.
Expectations:
Students will successfully logon and setup their career portfolio account.
Students will then familiarize themselves with the class expectations and the goals of their job search.
Directions:
Create an online account in the Discover® Program (You should have received your token and login procedures via e-mail, if not, please let me know)
Read Pages 14 -15 of the UMUC Job Hunting Guide
Review the three websites for this module:
· Monster Board, http://www.monster.com/, Free access to a database of over 50,000 job listings. Employers can post job notices for a fee. Also includes employer profiles, a resume builder, relocation information, and career advice.
· WetFeet.com, http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/home.asp, Information for making smarter career decisions.
· Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://www.bls.gov/oco/, Full-text access to this well-respected resource published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Allows keyword searching or browsing by occupational field.
Complete the Module 1 worksheet (hyperlinked below) and submit it to me via email. http://fp.enter.net/~tjansen/Lealan/docs/Mod1assesment.doc
Module 2:
Resume Writing
Read Resume Section of the UMUC Job Hunting Guide
Review the Websites Below
The Riley Guide Location: http://www.rileyguide.com/ Description: Information on how to search for a job online, as well as links to job listings and other career resources on the Web.
The Riley Guide: Free Resume Databases Location: http://www.rileyguide.com/resfree.html Description: A chart of online services that allow you to post your resume online. One chart lists free databases, another lists fee-based services.
The Riley Guide: Resources for Specific Occupational Areas Location: http://www.rileyguide.com/jobs.html Description: Links to a variety of specialized job listings on the Web for fields such as agriculture, health, government, education, engineering, and manufacturing.
Catapult: Guide to Resume Writing Location: http://www.jobweb.org/catapult/guenov/restips.html Description: Links to a variety of online articles on writing resumes
Filling Out Resume Writing Form and Choosing a Format (25% of final mark)
· To allow you to begin the process of developing your own resume’ by familiarizing yourself with the various successful and accepted formats used.
· Resume’ writing for positions in the field of Distance Education.
· Utilization and evaluation of resume formats and delivery as they apply to Distance Education positions
· Start the resume writing process by filling out resume writing worksheets as listed in the Discover program, the Job Search Guide, Class readings and various websites.
Maximum Length: A one page document.
In Module 2 you will investigate resume writing styles and techniques which are designed to enhance your own resume writing experience. After that you will choose a resume format and complete the resume writing section in the Discover® program.
Students will fill out the online resume writing forms within the Discover® web-based program and submit a copy for assessment.
After reviewing the module 2 readings students will begin to develop their resume within Discover®.
After reviewing various resume formats students will choose a resume format that best fits their qualifications and the career path they have choose.
1. Read Resume Section of the UMUC Job Hunting Guide
2. Review the Websites for this module again listed below:
The Riley Guide, http://www.rileyguide.com/, Information on how to search for a job online, as well as links to job listings and other career resources on the Web.
The Riley Guide: Free Resume Databases, http://www.rileyguide.com/resfree.html, A chart of online services that allow you to post your resume online. One chart lists free databases, another lists fee-based services.
The Riley Guide: Resources for Specific Occupational Areas, http://www.rileyguide.com/jobs.html, Links to a variety of specialized job listings on the Web for fields such as agriculture, health, government, education, engineering, and manufacturing.
Catapult: Guide to Resume Writing, http://www.jobweb.org/catapult/guenov/restips.html, Links to a variety of online articles on writing resumes
You may also review the resume writing worksheet on page 6 and 7 of the Job Hunting Guide as found in course content section of Nighthawk Webtycho.
Develop your own resume and submit it to me via email. Consider the following points:
· Decide on the format you wish to use for your resume. Consider how your prospective employer wants it delivered
· Focus your resume on positions in the field of Distance Education.
· Utilization and evaluation of resume formats and delivery as they apply to Distance Education positions.
· Please keep the resume length to a one page document
Complete and submit the Module 2 worksheet (hyperlinked here).
Module 3:
Using Online Tools In The DE Job Search
Review the following websites and complete My Three Job Descriptions of Choice below:
America's Job Bank Location: http://www.ajb.dni.us/ Description: Free job posting and job listing searches for employers and job seekers.
The CareerBuilder Network Location: http://www.careerbuilder.com/ Description: Resources for relocating, company research, and career advancement.
Catapult: Employment Services by Field Location: http://www.jobweb.org/catapult/jfield.htm Description: Links to sites that list job advertisements in specific fields such as art, government, education, healthcare, and not-for-profit.
Yahoo Employment Classifieds Location: http://classifieds.yahoo.com/employment.html Description: Free access to job listings by city or state. Also allows browsing of all job listings. Employers can post job advertisements for free.
Computerwork.com Location: http://www.computerwork.com/ Description: A listing of job opportunities in the information technology field.
EmploymentGuide.com Location: http://www.employmentguide.com/ Description: Free access to a listing of job opportunities.
My Three Job Descriptions of Choice (25% of final mark)
· To introduce you to various online job banks, preview some, and find job openings in the field of distance education/training.
· To understand how to review, research and find job openings in field of DE, identify the challenges of that process.
· Researching and evaluating the resources used in occupational research and online job sites for the field of distance training
· Identify the general principles of job searching online
Module 3 has introduce you to online job banks where you will preview available jobs offerings. You will be asked to choose three specific job openings in the field of DE and discuss them.
Students will select three Distance Education positions after searching for job offerings through online job banks.
Students will document their online job search experience on the provided questionnaire.
Review the following websites:
America's Job Bank, http://www.ajb.dni.us/, Free job posting and job listing searches for employers and job seekers.
The CareerBuilder Network, http://www.careerbuilder.com/, Resources for relocating, company research, and career advancement. Catapult: Employment Services by Field, http://www.jobweb.org/catapult/jfield.htm, Links to sites that list job advertisements in specific fields such as art, government, education, healthcare, and not-for-profit.
Yahoo Employment Classifieds, http://classifieds.yahoo.com/employment.html, Free access to job listings by city or state. Also allows browsing of all job listings. Employers can post job advertisements for free.
Computerwork.com, http://www.computerwork.com/, A listing of job opportunities in the information technology field. EmploymentGuide.com, http://www.employmentguide.com/, Free access to a listing of job opportunities.
Complete the Module 3 questionnaire regarding your search experience and the three jobs you have chosen. (hyperlinked)
Module 4:
Targeting and Researching Companies in Distance Education
Review the following two websites and complete the section below: Researching Companies and Interviewing Practice
Hoover's Online Location: http://www.hoovers.com/ Description: Provides basic information on companies, including address, officers, business Description, and a list of competitors. More extensive company capsules are available for a fee.
CareerPath.com Location: http://www.careerpath.com/ Description: A central location where you can search job listings from major U.S. newspapers. Also includes a database of employer profiles and a resume site where you can post a resume or search the resume database
Researching Targeted Company and Mock Interview
(25% of final mark)
· To research a company using online occupational resources
· To identify the “hidden job market”
· Researching companies in the field of distance learning
· Identify criteria for a desirable job
· Demonstrate knowledge on how answer three importatnt questions of a job interview.
· Preparation skills for job interviewing
· Demonstrate knowledge of targeting a company and responding to interviewing questions.
· Using electronic submission techniques in the job search and understanding of various electronic formats for the resume and application process.
· Practicing how to submit resumes via email attachments.
In this final module you will be asked to a research a company that you would be interested in working for. You will choose a desirable company (any environment will do- make it your “all time favorite” place to work), research the company, and write a general description of this company. You also need to will submit your resume to me as an attachment as if you were actually applying for the position. Last you will be asked to answer three interviewing questions (questions # 2, 8, & 10 of the interviewing section of the Job Hunting Guide (on page 16) with this company as their target company.
· Students will research a company of their choosing and submit a description using the provided questionnaire.
· After reading the interviewing section from page 14 of the Job Hunting Guide students will respond to three questions
· After reviewing electronic submission techniques students will submit their resume via email.
Review the following two websites and other DE Job sites as listed in course content section of webtycho:
· Hoover's Online, http://www.hoovers.com/, Provides basic information on companies, including address, officers, business Description, and a list of competitors. More extensive company capsules are available for a fee.
· CareerPath.com, http://www.careerpath.com/, A central location where you can search job listings from major U.S. newspapers. Also includes a database of employer profiles and a resume site where you can post a resume or search the resume database
Select one company you would be interested in working for and give a general description of the company they researched on the Module 4 questionnaire.
Submit your resume via email as an attachment.
Finish the Module 4 questionnaire (hyperlinked) by answering the three interviewing questions on page 16 of the Job Hunting Guide.