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Career Planning Essentials: Unlock Your Future

Develop the skills and techniques you need to enter the job market, expand your opportunities, and land the job you want.

977 enrolled on this course

Woman shaking hands with interviewers

Career Planning Essentials: Unlock Your Future

977 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Kickstart your career by exploring career choices and developing SMART goals

Deciding on a career path and finding employment opportunities is challenging. The labour market is constantly changing, and it can be difficult to know what your options are.

This three-week course from Luleå University of Technology will give you the ultimate guide to starting your career. You’ll learn to examine your abilities, explore opportunities, and create SMART goals to define and measure your career development.

Learn how to write a great cover letter, CV, and LinkedIn profile

The key elements to a successful job application are a strong CV and cover letter that showcase your strengths, skills, and experience. LinkedIn is also vital for recruiters in today’s job market, and can play a huge role in expanding your opportunities.

On this course, you’ll learn tips and techniques on how to create a comprehensive CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile that make you stand out as a strong candidate.

Cultivate your personal brand and create an elevator pitch to sell yourself

A fundamental aspect of a successful candidate is their ability to sell themselves. In order to convince companies that you are the right fit, you need to have confidence in yourself and your abilities, and have the skills to communicate this.

With expert guidance, you’ll learn how to create your personal brand, which will enable you to develop the self-assuredness and distinctiveness that recruiters look for.

Prepare yourself for a successful job interview

Learning from an experienced educator at Luleå University of Technology, you’ll be empowered to present yourself professionally and articulate your knowledge and abilities intelligently.

Once you’ve completed this course, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to land the perfect role for you.

Skip to 0 minutes and 24 seconds Today, more than ever, it’s imperative– –that you know how to market your skills.

Skip to 0 minutes and 31 seconds And your job should be more than just a paycheque. Everyone deserves a job that allows them to grow and develop– –where they feel satisfied and fulfilled.

Skip to 0 minutes and 43 seconds Interviews today are not just Q&A sessions. They’re sales pitches where you need to market your specific– –qualifications for that specific position.

Skip to 0 minutes and 53 seconds This course is for anyone who wants to feel more confident– –as they navigate the job application process. It will give you the tools necessary to gain meaningful employment. We will start off by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses– –recognising your unique skill set– –and then we’ll start setting goals for your future. We’re going to look at the CV. We’re going to look at the cover letter. And we’re going to discuss– –how to tailor these documents for the jobs you want. You will get tips on how to prepare for a job interview– –so that you can perform at your optimal level. You’re going to learn how to negotiate a salary that you genuinely deserve.

Skip to 1 minute and 34 seconds I’m going to help you change your mindset about the application process– –so that you can start to think like a recruiter. As a project manager and career coach at Luleå University of Technology– I’m passionate about helping people land their dream jobs. Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of young professionals– –articulate their skills and communicate their value to recruiters. Join me– –Heather Jacksic, for a course that’s critical to your future. I can’t wait to get started.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Getting started with your career

    • Course introduction

      In this activity, you will get an overview of the entire course and an introduction to the teacher and the learning community for this course.

    • Basic career planning concepts

      In this activity, you will learn what the word career really means, how the labour market has changed over the years, and reflect upon your career style.

    • Strategies for success

      In this activity, you will examine whether there is a magic formula for successful job searching and be introduced to the idea of personal branding. You will also be encouraged to examine yourself from an employer's perspective.

    • From goals to greatness

      In this activity, you will learn how you can set goals and make them a reality, working towards your vision and the job you really want. You will also look back at what you have learned throughout the week.

  • Week 2

    Putting yourself out there

    • A CV that represents you well

      In this activity, you will learn how to build a CV that highlights your skills and makes you stand out to employers.

    • Conquering the cover letter

      In this activity, you will learn how to write an engaging and interesting cover letter that matches the job you are applying for, maximizing your chances for success.

    • Promoting your brand on LinkedIn

      This activity is about how to use the social media platform LinkedIn in order to network and improve your career prospects. You will learn how to set up and use your own account on it successfully.

  • Week 3

    Landing the job

    • Pitch your best self

      In this activity, you will learn how you can pitch yourself in the best way possible. You will learn what to focus on and what to avoid when pitching yourself and how to and prepare a great elevator pitch.

    • Acing the interview

      In this activity, you will get some tips and advice for job interviews at all stages, including before, during and after the interview, in order to help you understand how to maximize your chances of success.

    • Negotiating your ideal salary

      In this activity, you will learn what to keep in mind when negotiating salary to be able to get the salary and benefits that you deserve.

    • Wrapping up the course

      In this activity, we wrap up the course and you get a chance to check your knowledge and participate in a survey.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe what makes up your personal brand
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses and describe how to make use of them when applying for jobs
  • Produce a CV, cover letter and social media profile according to the course criteria
  • Demonstrate how to prepare for a job interview
  • Reflect on the processes involved in career planning with other learners
  • Describe basic career concepts and identify what makes a person employable
  • Create goals for your personal brand and future career
  • Identify the steps set out in the course for negotiating a suitable salary

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for people starting their careers or entering the workplace, including students studying at the upper secondary level or towards a degree.

It will also be beneficial for those wanting to improve their career prospects.

Who will you learn with?

I have worked as a career coach at Luleå University of Technology since 2013 where I have helped thousands of students as they have made their way from academia into the labour market.

Who developed the course?

Luleå University of Technology

The Luleå University of Technology mission is to shape the future through innovative education and ground-breaking research results. Located in the arctic region, the university creates global societal benefit.

Arbeta Tillsammans

The objective for Arbeta tillsammans –project will be promoting and enhancing knowledge about the common labour market area within Finland and Sweden.

Interreg Nord

Interreg V A Nord is a EU-program supporting cross-border cooperation in order to strengthen the economic and social development.

Areas included in the program are north Norway, north Finland, north Sweden and Sápmi (which spreads over all three countries).

Region Norrbotten

Region Norrbotten arbetar för dig som bor i Norrbottens län. Vi styrs av dig och de andra invånarna i länet genom allmänna politiska val. Region Norrbotten är länets största arbetsgivare. Vi har cirka 7 500 anställda, varav de flesta arbetar inom hälso- och sjukvården.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$39.99/month

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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