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What sets you apart from the rest?

Most people change their jobs multiple times, many make dramatic career shifts. What sets you apart from the crowd?
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NICK PATTERSON: Most people change their jobs multiple times and many make dramatic career shifts. Being able to identify your key skills that are transferable from one career to another is the key to making the most of this current job market. Hi. I’m Dr. Nick Patterson from Deakin University. I’m an academic and IT professional. I’ve been involved in research projects and teaching for many years. In my career, I’ve been awarded the Alfred Deakin Medal and a Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award. To get where I am now, one of the most important skills I needed to develop was the ability to reflect on my career, size up where I am now, and think about the next steps.
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That’s what this course is actually all about. We’re using a set of real world case studies and a series of unique audit tools in order to explore when and where you’ve been successful and what success actually means to you, develop your ability to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses, identify your key professional skills and capabilities. You’ll be also introduced to the idea of flexible credentials. These are a modern, digital recognition of skills and capabilities you’ve developed over your career, in your personal life, and community involvement. In modern working environments, being able to provide evidence of your abilities is often more important than formal qualifications.
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At the completion of this open course, you’ll be able to do the following– understand Deakin’s globally-recognised credentials, learn the power of self-reflection, explain what success means to you, identify your core sellable skills by conducting a skills audit, and think about the next steps for your career. In the comments box, tell us a little about yourself, your profession, and your goals in doing this course.

Becoming career smart means learning how to adapt to change.

Most people change their jobs multiple times, many make dramatic career shifts. Being able to identify and apply your transferable skills is key to making the most of your knowledge, skills and abilities in this agile career marketplace.

Over the next two weeks you will:

  • identify your key professional skills and capabilities
  • develop your capacity to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses
  • explore your successes and what success means to you.

​See your ‘To do’ menu for an overview of all Week 1 and Week 2 activities and steps.

Meet the team

Your Lead Educator for this course is Anuroop Gaddam, who is involved in both teaching and research at Deakin University’s School of IT.

Follow him to keep up with the latest course updates, feedback and discussions.

You will also meet Nick Patterson, Senior Lecturer in Information Technology here at Deakin and entrepreneur Henrik Scheel in the videos throughout this unit.

If you’re not already, follow the team and use #FLcareerpromotion to keep up with the latest course updates, feedback and discussions.

Your task

Tell us about yourself, your profession and what you would like to achieve from this course.

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Becoming Career Smart: How to Sell Yourself

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