Incorporating Career
Development Skills into
the First-Year Seminar
Course
Ann Blasick, MS
Assistant Director, Division of Professional Practice
Steven P. Girardot, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Success Programs
30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE
FEBRUARY 7, 2011
Agenda
• Institutional Profile
• Georgia Tech’s Freshman Seminar (GT 1000)
• GT 1000 Career Development Learning Outcomes
• Case Study: Division of Professional Practice Cohort
Section of GT1000
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Georgia Tech Institutional Profile
• Four-Year, Public Research University
• Six Colleges (35 Majors):
– Engineering, Computing, Sciences
Management, Liberal Arts, Architecture
• 20,720 students (66% undergraduate)
• Overall Undergraduate Demographics:
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~68% from Georgia and ~6% international
~35% minority (~12% URM)
~31% women
~59% majoring in engineering
• First-year retention rate: 94%
• Six-year graduation rate: 80%
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Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning
Freshman Class of 2010
• 2,700 freshmen
• 63% Georgia Residents
• 8% International
– 76% from India, China, South Korea
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36% Female
Average SAT = 1370
Average HS GPA = 3.87
44 states & 51 countries represented
Top Reasons for Choosing GT:
– Academic Reputation (90%)
– Get Good Jobs (87%)
– Get into top graduate/professional schools (55%)
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Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning
Freshman Seminar (GT 1000) Overview
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Extended Orientation Seminar
One Contact Hour, Letter-graded
Average Class size- 25 students
Not required (~70% enrollment)
Utilizes Peer Mentors (Team Leaders)
Range of instructors (e.g., faculty, student affairs,
academic affairs, advisors, etc.)
• Fall 2010- 82 sections offered. Three types of Sections
– Interdisciplinary (40 sections)
– Departmental/Disciplinary (27 sections)
– Special Cohort (15 sections)
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Freshman Seminar (GT 1000) Overview
• Curriculum
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University Culture
Academic Success/Time Management
Communication Skills
Major and Career Research
Career Development Skills
Leadership and Involvement
• These course topics map to nine learning outcomes
• Three required assignments:
– Resume and Cover Letter
– Team Project and Presentation
– Career and Major Project
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Question
What career development elements
(if any) are included in your
freshman seminar course?
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GT1000 Career Development
Learning Outcomes
• Describe the required skills, daily activities, current and
future state (growth potential), and salary potential of
the major/career selected
• Develop a resume applicable to internships, co-ops,
study abroad programs or leadership positions (as
appropriate)
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Case Study: Professional Practice GT1000
• Semesters:
Piloted in Fall 2009
Offered again in Fall 2010
• Students:
25-30 freshman engineering majors
• Instructor:
Internship advisor from Division of
Professional Practice
• Team Leaders: 5 engineering seniors who had each
completed at least 2 semesters of
co-op or internship work experience
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Additional Career Development
Learning Outcomes
• Be able to describe components of the co-op,
internship and work abroad programs
• Establish personal goals and a timeline for
next 4+ years
• Create a professional reference list
• Develop effective interviewing skills
• Conduct an informational interview
• Create and utilize a LinkedIn Account
• Find and apply for jobs
• Be able to successfully transition from school to work
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Syllabus Components
• TL-led Small Groups to follow GT1000 model
• Brief talks on various career topics led by instructor and
TLs
• Assignments paralleling GT1000 requirements but with
career development slant
• Guest Speakers (Study Abroad, Undergrad Research)
• Student Panels
• Employers Panels
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Reflective Writing
• Blog prompts on career-related reflection questions:
– Why did you choose your major? Were you influenced by
outside factors?
– Do you think your major both matches your skills AND would
lead to a career you are passionate about?
– What aspect of working as a co-op or intern is most exciting to
you?
– In addition to earning your degree, what other goals would you
like to achieve while at Georgia Tech?
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Team Project & Presentation
• 2009: Create a business plan for an original company
or product utilizing the majors of each person in the
group
• 2010: Utilized textbook topics including GT Traditions,
Off-Campus Dining or Proposal for a new GT
Organization
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Resume & Cover Letter
• Provided students with sample template and rubric
• Opportunity to submit 1st and 2nd draft
– Harshly graded 1st draft to encourage students to revise and
submit a 2nd draft
• Required cover letter be written for a specific
internship/co-op posting from GT job database
• Possible Activities:
– Resume with Errors Activity
– 10-second Scan
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Career Project Components
• Researching Your Major
• Professional Articles
• LinkedIn Account
• Informational Interview with Upperclass Student in their
Major
• Informational Interview with Professional in their Field
• Company Spreadsheet using Company Database such as
Reference USA
• Timeline for their next 4+ years
• Reflection Paper
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Additional Activities
• Career Services Career Planner
• “Guess Which Major” Assignment
• Peer-to-Peer Mock Interviews
• Create your own Elevator Pitch
• Design your Ideal Job
• Clean-up your Cyber Image
• Extra credit for attending Majors Fair, Employer Site
Visits or Job Shadowing and then writing
a reflective blog post
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Assessment: 2009 Survey Results
Fall 2009 Class
4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
pre
post
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Certainty of Major Understanding of Understanding of
Desire to
Write Professional
Engineering
DoPP Programs
Participate in
Resume/Cover
Majors
DoPP Programs
Letter
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Effective Job
Search
Confidence in
Interviewing
Assessment: 2010 Survey Results
Fall 2010 Class
4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
pre
post
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Certainty of Major Understanding of Understanding of
Desire to
Write Professional
Engineering
DoPP Programs
Participate in
Resume/Cover
Disciplines
DoPP Programs
Letter
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Effective Job
Search
Confidence in
Interviewing
Assessment: Survey Results
Exit Survey
4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
2009
10.0%
2010
0.0%
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“What was the Most Beneficial Part of the
Class?” – Top 7 Responses
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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In-depth Overview of Co-op and Internship Programs
Resume and Cover Letters
Employer Panels
How to Get and Maintain a Job
Interviewing
Talking to the TLs about real life; student work stories
Professionalism
Challenges
• TIME!
• Dedicating time that matches students high interest in
study abroad, work abroad and undergrad research
• Incorporating small group activities and small group
discussion time
• Teaching how majors connect to
careers
• Incorporating traditional GT1000
topics such as time management
and study skills
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Student Quotes
“My search for a co-op after completing this
assignment seems to be a lot less stressful. I
know what I want, I know the resources
available to get it, and I know how to approach
companies ready to make myself seem like I
have the potential to be a valuable
employee…the class, helped me more than I
was expecting... I now feel prepared, well
informed, and ready to job hunt!”
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Student Quotes
“The lessons learned…have given me a
greater understanding of what my major
entails and what I need to do to become
successful, not only at Tech, but in the
real world.”
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Contact Information
Ann Blasick
Division of Professional Practice
ann.blasick@dopp.gatech.edu
404-894-0735
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Dr. Steven Girardot
Office of Success Programs
steven.girardot@vpss.gatech.edu
404-894-1951
Assessment: Entrance Survey Results
Entrance Survey
4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
2009
40.0%
2010
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Certainty of
Major
25
Understanding of Understanding of
Desire to
Write
Engineering DoPP Programs Participate in
Professional
Majors
DoPP Programs Resume/Cover
Letter
Effective Job
Search
Confidence in
Interviewing
Change of Major
Have you changed your major?*
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
2009
50%
2010
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Yes
No
Unsure
* Note: All students who changed majors switched to another STEM major.
No students changed to Business or Liberal Arts.
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