Master’s course on professional writing and communication with employers
Introduction, course rationale, and aims of the course
In today's rapidly evolving job market, where competition is fierce and traditional career paths are being transformed, it is crucial for individuals to understand how to effectively represent themselves to stand out among their peers. This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a strong professional brand that aligns with their career goals and resonates with employers in the ever-changing job market.
Professional Writing and Communication with Employers acknowledges the dynamic nature of the job market impacted by advances in technology and prepares students to navigate the challenges it presents. By understanding the changing landscape, students will gain insights into the skills, qualities, and attributes employers value in the current job market.
Because effective communication is a cornerstone of professional success, the course places emphasis on developing strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey ideas, present oneself confidently in interviews, and build relationships with employers. Students will learn how to tailor their communication style to different audiences and contexts, enhancing their ability to articulate their unique value proposition. Students will learn how to assess their strengths, values, and career aspirations, and how to effectively convey these through various channels, including CVs, cover letters, and Linkedin.
In addition, this course provides students with strategies for effective networking and relationship building. Students will learn how to identify and engage with industry professionals, leverage informational interviews, and confidently participate in networking events to expand their professional connections.
Throughout the course, students will engage in hands-on activities, which will allow them to apply the concepts and strategies learned in real-world scenarios, preparing them for success in the job market.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Better understand and appropriately express their skills, strengths, values, and experiences in a professionally relevant way.
2. Approach a job or internship search in an organized and proactive manner which takes into consideration their career goals and the expectations of their intended field of interest.
3. Apply the principles and processes of professional communication, both written and spoken, and in-person or virtually.
4. Critically evaluate others’ professional communication.
5. Produce appropriately suitable CVs, cover letters, elevator pitches, as well as undertake a professional job interview with better preparation and less stress.
Course format and structure
The 5-day course aims to be practical and seeks to facilitate the acquiring and development of professional communication skills among participants. The entire course respects the principles of active learning with a stress on critical reading and thinking, group work, peer-learning, and process writing. Participants’ contribution to class work is essential for their successful learning.
Each of the five course days consist of three sessions (in most cases 90-minutes each), for a total of 22.5 contact hours. Afternoon sessions include teambuilding and writing assignments, done either individually or in groups.
The Comenius University Teams Classroom is used for online course management, with assignments and resources posted by the course instructors, completed assignments uploaded by participants, and feedback provided in Teams Classroom.
The course is open for 20 participants, 10 each from Comenius University and Masaryk University. Participants from Comenius University will receive an individual grant and travel grant and are expected to arrange their own accommodation and meals in Brno during the course.
Instructors
Jan Beneš - Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University (Czech Republic)
Lucia Grauzľová - Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia)
Jamie Hoversen - Central European University (Austria)
Ross Huffen - Nottingham Trent University (UK)
Linda M. Steyne - Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia)
Course dates and location
3-7 February 2025
Masaryk University Brno
3 sessions every day: 9-10.30; 10:50-12.20; and 13.30-15.00
Code of the course: FiF.KPED/A-moPE-052/23: Professional Communication
Credits: 3 ETCS
Eligibility
All students (with B2 English) currently studying in an MA programme or in their third year of a BA programme at the Faculties of Arts at Comenius University and Masaryk University are eligible to apply for the course. All students selected from Comenius University get a grant to cover their costs of travel and staying in Brno of about 500 eur.
How to apply
Applications must be in English.
A two- to three-minute video of the applicant answering the following questions:
· Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years’ time?
· How do you think this course will help you to achieve that?
Applications must be made through this form: https://forms.gle/A9i83zLMBaiP521S7
Important dates
Deadline for applications: Sunday, 10 November 2024
Notification of acceptance: Thursday, 19 December 2024
Criteria for selecting participants
Applications will be evaluated on the following:
· The applicant’s level of interest in and motivation for taking the course
· B2 minimum English language proficiency (as presented in the applicant’s video)
Assessment
Assignment | Criteria | Weight | Day due |
Attendance | Active participation | 25% | Every day |
Find 2 potential jobs/internships; research both organizations; list most important traits | List of 2 jobs/internships, links to job descriptions, notes on both organizations. | 2% | Monday |
Look more closely at the 2 jobs/internships you chose in the pre-course assignment. Analyse the job description closely; list the most important aspects of the job and the values of the organisation (complete the accompanying worksheet) | Completed worksheet, thoughtful self-reflection and analysis | 4.25% | Tuesday |
Create a CV (tailored to one of the jobs/internships from the previous assignment) | Clean, clear, tailored to your chosen job/internship | 6.25% | Wednesday |
Write a cover letter (tailored to the job/internship from the previous assignment) | Organizationally clear and convincing content | 6.25% | Thursday |
| Record an unscripted elevator pitch of 60 seconds or less (unscripted doesn’t mean you don’t prepare!) | Fits the time limit; unscripted; convincing and clear | 6.25% | Friday |
| Complete your portfolio with revised and improved versions of the previous assignments, taking into consideration the feedback you received (CV, cover letter, and elevator pitch) | All the above, edited and ready to submit for a job. Quality (i.e., Would it get the job?) | 50% | The following Sunday– 16 February |
Feedback from students who took the course in 2024
I feel confident giving networking and reaching out to professionals a try. The course helped me a lot because without it I wouldn't have known how to do it.
I have some problems when it comes to socialising with people in general so I cannot say I am 100% confident in my future attempts at networking, but the Professional Communications course has given me some confidence to just go out and try (and even made it sound fun).
[Networking is] still terrifying, but the course made me feel much more comfortable with talking to people that I don't know, which is a huge deal for me. I actually enjoyed our networking day a lot.
I think the course made me aware of a lot of the types of questions that they might ask in an interview, and I think now - if I just learn to think about my experiences in such a way - interviews won't seem quite so daunting.
If I prepare myself [for a job interview] I will be very confident based on what instructions and advice I was given. I would not be afraid of an interview after this course.
The course showed me the value of my volunteering skills and how transferable skills can help me to get the job I would want.
I feel confident in finding my skills and tailoring it the right way. I also feel more confident about how to answer interview questions that I was not able to understand before the course.
Contact
If you have a query, you can email Lucia Grazľová: lucia.grauzlova@uniba.sk
Acknowledgement
This course is supported by a generous grant from the European Union’s Erasmus+ program BELONG: Better Education through Long-term Investment into Inclusiveness and Student and Staff Wellbeing, project number 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000023528.