The Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Academic Year 2009 /10
Term 1
OBHR 223 Career Skills: Finishing Touch
Instructors:
Email:
Office:
Clement Ong, Adjunct Faculty
Steven Chong, Adjunct Faculty
Kamal Kant, Adjunct Faculty
Ronald Tay, Adjunct Faculty
clementong@smu.edu.sg
stevenchong@smu.edu.sg
kamalkant@smu.edu.sg
ronaldtay@smu.edu.sg
LKCSB Level 5
COURSE DESCIRPTION
Career Skills: Finishing Touch is a foundational career skills course. It provides students with the basics in
career management, resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, grooming, social etiquette and jobhunting and networking skills.
A half credit course, this course is compulsory for all 2nd year students. Though some students may have
experience in career skills from other institutions, this course has been specially tailored to prepare the
students to seek a job for the “world of work.”
Other than learning the basics about careers, the students will develop competencies in applying their career
skills to write a career plan and engage in reflective thinking about their career, preparing an effective resume
and cover letter, demonstrating job interviewee capabilities, and partaking a formal western meal.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course students will be able to:
• Put together a basic career plan based on his or her existing competencies, values, interests,
personality and strategically present their developmental actions to attain their career goals on
graduation from University;
• Write an effective cover letter and resume connecting his or her competencies and personal qualities
to a specific job including recognizing the need for person, job and environment fit besides
understanding qualities and strength the potential employer is seeking in candidates;
• Exhibit professional competencies including appropriate dressing and exhibiting good communication
skills at different stages of a job interview including an ability to address question posed by
interviewer(s) or a Hiring Manager, respond with appropriate questions when invited to do so, engage
in discussion or interaction in different formats of interviews,
• Demonstrate a capacity to understand that engaging in a job hunt or developing a career is a process
from conceptualizing the job and career to securing the job and thriving in it. Key steps in the process
are the career plan, the resume and cover letter and the interview – failure or ineffectiveness at any
stage will derail success.
• Demonstrate basic skills in western fine dining.
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PRE-REQUISITE/ CO-REQUISITE/ MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE COURSE(S)
Please refer to the Course Catalogue on OASIS for the most updated list of pre-requisites / co-requisites for
this particular course.
Do note that if this course has a co-requisite, it means that the course has to be taken together with another
course. Dropping one course during BOSS bidding would result in both courses being dropped at the same
time.
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Submission of a Personal Career Plan
Submission of Resume and Cover Letter
Demonstration of Interviewee Skills
Partaking in a Formal Dining
Formal Dressing during Class
Participation during course
-
15%
25%
25%
10%
10%
15%
COURSE METHODS
Lectures, discussion, activities, reading prescribed articles [prior to session] and completion of assignments.
RECOMMENDED TEXT AND READINGS
Though no specific text book is prescribed or recommended for the course, students are strongly urged to
read a book on careers e.g. Bolles, R. N.: What Color is Your Parachute. Ten Speed Press [The book is
published annually, the most recent edition is recommended.]
Additional readings will be assigned at each session. Students are also expected to read articles on career
management and development in Straits Times and Business Times; as well those appearing in magazines and
professional journals (e.g. Harvard Business Review). Recommendations and suggestions will be posted on the
course website on SMUVista.
Students are also actively encouraged to attempt the exercise available on Slamdunk on the SMU’s OASIS
website.
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WEEKLY LESSON PLAN
WEEK
No.
TOPIC
READINGS
1
Making a Structured Career Choice
- Basics in career planning and career management.
- At the end of the session, students are expected to
show an appreciation of their career aspirations, and to
submit their career plan in Week 3.
- Students are expected to be in smart casual business
attire for class after the first week of lesson.
2
Resume Writing and Cover Letter Writing Skills
- Skills in writing a targeted resume and cover letter.
- By the end of the session, students are required to
commence preparing their resume and their cover
letter and submit in Week 4/5.
3&4
Interview Skills
- Skills in preparing, attending and follow-up after an
interview. Different types of interviews, e.g. group,
telephone, meal or videoconference, will be explained
and discussed.
- Students will be required to participate in a ‘simulated’
interview usually during Week 6.
5
Grooming and Social Etiquette
- Fundamental of formal business wear; greeting
protocols and formal Western meal etiquette.
6
Job-hunting and Networking Skills
- Students are taught the various methods in job hunting,
especially networking.
7
Formal Western Dining
[Students are evaluated at a formal Western dining* setting.]
8
Mid-Term Break
9
Making a Structured Career Choice
- Basics in career planning and career management.
- At the end of the session, students are expected to
show an appreciation of their career aspirations, and to
submit their career plan in Week 11.
- Students are expected to be in smart casual business
attire for class after the first week of lesson.
10
Resume Writing and Cover Letter Writing Skills
- Skills in writing a targeted resume and cover letter.
- By the end of the session, students are required to
commence preparing their resume and their cover
letter and submit in Week 12/13.
11 & 12
Interview Skills
- Skills in preparing, attending and follow-up after an
interview. Different types of interviews, e.g. group,
telephone, meal or videoconference, will be explained
and discussed.
- Students will be required to participate in a ‘simulated’
interview usually during Week 14.
13
Grooming and Social Etiquette
- Fundamental of formal business wear; greeting
protocols and formal Western meal etiquette.
14
Job-hunting and Networking Skills
- Students are taught the various methods in job hunting,
especially networking.
16
Formal Western Dining
[Students are evaluated at a formal Western dining* setting.]
*Students are required to pay the cost of the meal & costs associated with it, e.g. transportation, etc.
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