Career Strategies

"Successful careers are not planned. They develop when people are prepared for opportunities because they know their strengths, their method of work, and their values" (Druker 1999).

This course supports students in discovering and understanding the value of their competencies in the labour market to prepare for and gain confidence to actively pursue their professional goals.

The course uses a learner-centred approach with active participation so that students assume responsibility for developing their own professional toolkit to effectively communicate their competencies. The emphasis on forming a professional image and developing professional skills allows students to "own" the process and thus learn how to effectively "manage oneself" for continued employability. Starting with a self-assessment that leads to CV development and social media presence, the course then addresses networking, methods of research for the job search, the use of AI tools, and communication skills. Students participate in mock interviews in a "speed rotation" style to refine their presentation skills and receive immediate feedback. The strategic aspect of matching job requirements is emphasised throughout. The course culminates with students presenting themselves to a panel of alumni, providing both valuable feedback and networking opportunities. In today's fluid labour market, this is an essential skill for optimising opportunities within a role or when seeking new positions.

The course is designed to provide USI students with techniques, tools and hands-on skills that can be applied in different contexts to foster their future careers. 

Students who successfully pass this course will be able to demonstrate that they can:

• Use critical thinking, adaptability, and flexibility to:
  - Assess personal skills, values, and beliefs.
  - Filter personal traits with regard to career options.
  - Develop a "self-branding" concept linking competencies with opportunities.
• Be an effective communicator to:
  - Create a professional toolkit to transition to the labour market.
  - Employ best practices in writing and speaking with contacts, including etiquette, timing, and content.
• Demonstrate commitment to excellence to:
  - Ensure that all career-related materials are of the highest quality.
  - Take personal responsibility for one's career.
• Incorporate business acumen and leadership skills when networking and researching practical experience opportunities to:
  - Give and receive feedback.

In presence

The course will consist of 7 meetings of 2 hours each.

Compulsory attendance for at least 80% of the classes

The course will be taught partly in English, partly in Italian.

Continuous assessment measures performance in the course by the degree to which a student fulfils the expected learning outcomes through assignments, participation in-class activities, peer- and self-evaluations of interviews and presentations (the pitch), and professional skills.

As the course focuses on developing skills for managing one's career, emphasis is placed on professional skills. These include listening, articulating thoughts and ideas, acquiring and applying knowledge, goal setting, showing initiative and responsibility, and accountability. A discussion on professional skills will be held in the first session explaining the assessment method.