Career Preparation (for CS Majors) | CRD 200

list Preamble

Course Title: Career Preparation (crd 200)
CRN: 11842
Credits: 1
Prerequisites: None
Days: Mondays
Time: 11:20 am – 12:10 pm
Room: 316, Charles A Dana Hall (map map)
Dates: 23 January – 1 May 2023
Professor: Roy Vanegas (pronounced “vuh-nay-gus”) sound_detection_loud_sound
Email: vanegas at hartford dot edu
Phone: 860.768.5925
Office: Charles A Dana Hall, 310B
Office hours: I meet students via Zoom on the following days (click here for details):
- Monday: 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Tuesday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 – 11:00 am

info Description

Career Preparation helps students explore the most common career and graduate school options for cs/cse/hcid majors. Job seekers learn how to locate the most appropriate entry-level jobs in the tech sector, while students wishing to pursue graduate studies understand how to find the best fit at the research, academics, faculty, and scholarship levels. Students also learn to prepare a polished résumé or cv, establish a professional online presence, and develop best interviewing practices — for the tech sector and academic institutions. Additionally, students learn – with the support of Career Services – how to use job-searching tools, such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed. We’ll also discuss how to network with others and how to obtain internships.

list Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will understand...

how to use web sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor to secure employment;
how to locate the most ideal academic fit for graduate school;
how to author and shape cover letters specific to job titles;
how to compose and improve a personal statement for graduate school;
how to maintain and increase social and professional networks for job-gain purposes;
how to deconstruct your yearly salary in order to calculate your private sector/freelance hourly salaries;
and, how to create and maintain a professional and up-to-date résumé/cv.

calendar_month Schedule

Important Notes

Career Studio is holding multiple important events between Jan–April of the spring 2023 semester. You’ll be able to take a professional headshot to use in your employment social media accounts, get help with your résumé/cover letters, and even attend a mock interview. Some events are virtual, while others take place in the Career Studio space in Gengras Student Union. All events are announced on their online event calendar.

Notable Dates

Career Readiness Academy ⎨career studio⎬: Wednesday, 22 February, 5:30 – 7:00 pm; held virtually and required of all students enrolled in the various sections of Career Preparation.

No class (spring recess): Monday, 13 March, and Wednesday, 15 March.

Last class: Monday, 1 May 2023.

Week	Topics	Homework
One	We do not meet in this first week of classes, because the week starts on a Wednesday, but you do have an assignment.	Visit the Career Studio event calendar and register to take a headshot, attend a résumé boot camp, and participate in a a mock interview.
Two	Course breakdown. Individual introductions. GitHub intro.	Open a GitHub account. Reply to the Microsoft Group thread requesting your GitHub username. Create a private GitHub repo called `career-prep` and add me (`code-warrior`) as a collaborator.
Three	Self-assessment (“Am I studying what I want to study, or what someone else wants? Shall I pivot towards a different career path than my major? What job will make me happy?”). Skills assessment (“What am I good at? Do my grades reflect this?”). Past work experience (“Have my last jobs been simply rote-type jobs about which I don’t care? Is there anything about my past jobs that really excite me?”).	In a basic text file, compile all the items that will be required for your résumé/cv, such as name, contact info, your willingness to relocate, school info, GPA (if it’s above 3.0), etc. Name the file `resume-content` if you’re a job seeker, `cv-content` if you’re looking to go to grad school. Add the file to your `career-prep` GitHub repo.
Four	Getting organized Have unofficial transcripts at the ready. Have at least two official transcripts mailed to you, but don’t open them. Create a digital calendar that syncs with your computer.	Take the 60-question interest profiler at ONet (Occupational Information Network) Interest Profiler. Visit ONet and do an “Occupational Search” for the work you’d like to do. Also visit The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook and search for your occupation. Create the first draft of your résumé/cv, formatted for 8 ½" × 11" paper, and upload it to your private repo. Prepare to share with us all during next week’s class.
Five	First round of résumé/cv critiques, or crits. Letters of recommendation Requesting letters of recommendation; ask for strong letters of recommendations; ensure you know your recommender(s) well. Secure at least 2 recommenders for a job search, 3 for graduate school.	Open an account on Glassdoor. Open an account on Indeed. Open an account on LinkedIn. Open an account on GitHub.
Six	Second round of résumé crits. Using Git to revision control your résumé and cover letters.	Attend Career Readiness Academy ⎨career studio⎬ Using Microsoft Word, prepare a list of all past jobs. Gauge the technical skills you’ve acquired at school or learned on your own, then, also using Microsoft Word, prepare a separate list of those skills.
Seven	Preparing cover letters as sections. Preparing personal statements as sections. Putting cover letters/personal statements under Git control.	Have second draft of résumé/cv ready to share for next week’s class. Preparing content for job-related media profiles.
Eight	Preparing LinkedIn profiles and networking with classmates. Using pictures that observe a high face-ism ratio. Take a set of pictures for your LinkedIn/Glassdoor/Indeed/GitHub profiles. Consider having a friend take the pictures.	Polish up your GitHub profile and the code hosted there.
Nine	Spring recess.	None
Ten	Understanding salaries. Mapping your salary to your gpa.	Have third draft of résumé/cv ready to share for next week’s class.
Eleven	Calculating salaries for working in the private sector as a full-time employee or a contractor.	Prepare deliverables for next week: Update résumé/cv, per feedback; create a cover letter/personal statement; and, finish LinkedIn profile, complete with a profile picture.
Twelve	Polish LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed accounts.	Research backup/redundancy options, like Time Machine, File History, and Backblaze, to ensure your data, including all the deliverables for this course, are never lost.
Thirteen	The importance of backing up your work and keeping detailed notes about your job search.	Put professional headshots on LinkedIn, Indeed, and even GitHub.
Fourteen	Job searching advice.	Have last draft of résumé/cv ready to share for next week’s class.
Fifteen	Final crit of deliverables; Q&A.	Put finishing touches on all deliverables for our last class.
Sixteen	Evaluations and closing notes.	Submit deliverables: a final résumé/cv, cover letter/personal statement, LinkedIn profile, GitHub profile, and a post-graduation action plan.

assignment Homework

There is no grade for this course; it’s pass/fail. In order to pass, students must meet all three of the following criteria:

Participate in the course. This means attending every lecture.
Attend the virtual Career Readiness Academy event on 22 February 2023.
Complete a résumé (for employment) or cv (for graduate school); a cover letter (for employment) or personal statement (for graduate school); and, establish a post-graduation action plan.

balance Class Policies

Masks. I don’t require students to wear masks in class, per university policy dictated in spring 2022: Effective immediately, masks are now optional in most University facilities and settings. They [masks] will continue to be required in the classroom or personal office spaces, unless otherwise specified by faculty members or staff. And, of course, you’re welcome to wear a mask in class, should you feel more comfortable doing so. You may read more about the policy regarding face coverings here.
Consuming food in class. There is no eating inside our classroom, either during class or while on break. Eat before or after class. Drinks in covered containers, however, are allowed.
Digital devices. Silence your mobile devices before class starts.

accessible Students with Disabilities

Read about how The University of Hartford supports students with disabilities: https://www.hartford.edu/academics/academic-support/accessibility-services/default.aspx

balance Title IX and Sexual Assault

Sexual violence and other forms of sexual misconduct and harassment, including stalking and intimate partner violence, are prohibited under Title ix, federal and state law, and University of Hartford policy. Information on the University’s policies against sexual violence can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/policies/title-ix/. Resources regarding sexual violence can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/policies/title-ix/on-off-campus-resources.aspx

Note: University of Hartford faculty, staff, and ras are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Title ix Office (title9@hartford.edu). For further information on the University’s policies and resources, please contact Jason Martinez (860.768.5255; jamartine@hartford.edu) or Justin Bell (860.768.4880; jbell@hartford.edu).

psychology Mental Health and Well-Being

Mental Health is an important aspect of students’ wellbeing and integral to positive academic experience and success. If during the semester you experience difficulties and would like support, consider contacting the University of Hartford’s caps. caps offers a range of short-term counseling services available to full-time undergraduate students at no additional cost, and to part-time undergraduate and graduate students for a small fee. caps is located in Gengras Student Union, Room 313, and can also be reached by calling 860.768.4482 or emailing Liz Inkel at inkel@hartford.edu. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

info Advice on Succeeding in Class

Read over the following to understand procedures for maximizing your chance of succeeding in class.

Advice for Succeeding in Class (in Markdown)
Advice for Succeeding in Class (in pdf)

door_front Office Hours

Office: Charles A Dana Hall, 310B
Office hours: I meet students via Zoom on the following days (click here for details):
- Monday: 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Tuesday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 – 11:00 am

If neither of the aforementioned times agrees with your schedule, we can make alternate arrangements to meet.

contact_mail Contact

Nowadays, I only use email for emergency situations, such as a pet emergencies, personal tragedies, etc. For matters related to our course, you’re advised to see me before or after class, during my office hours, or by appointment. My contact info is listed in the Preamble.