Communication Skills for Career Development (CMST 493)

Format/Modality: HyFlex: F2F, Online (Synchronous + Asynchronous)

F2F Meetings: CTE Conference Room, Morris Library 110 | T, R – 5:00 to 6:15 p.m.

Digital Technology: Microsoft Teams + D2L

Instructional Design: lectures, discussion, reading, writing, independent research, case studies, consulting

This accelerated hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) course is designed for senior-level and graduate communication students who want to apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) developed during their course of study to real-world career development scenarios. The course uses project-based learning and offers learners the opportunity to enhance their ability to use communication tools and techniques to improve their career portfolios and provide career coaching services from a communication perspective.

There is no textbook in this course; however, you need to purchase a subscription to LinkedIn Learning and will likely pay $35 for the term.

• Enhance learners’ ability to communicate effectively in different professional contexts, especially in online meetings, client consulting scenarios, presentations, and interviews with AIs or humans
• Increase learners’ ability to use digital communication tools, such as Microsoft Teams, to complete work-related projects effectively and to collaborate effectively with remote colleagues and clients
• Build learners’ confidence and competence in written communication, including resumes, applicant professional biographies, LinkedIn profiles, and presentation scripts
• Foster teamwork and collaboration skills by requiring learners to work in teams to generate client-facing work products
• Help learners improve their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and interviewing skills using a broad range of tools and realistic scenarios
• Teach learners how to leverage technology to enhance their communication skills in the workplace, such as using AI-powered tools to analyze and improve their and others’ writing and job search
• Provide learners with hands-on experience using LinkedIn to build and maintain their professional network, showcase their skills and accomplishments, and search for job opportunities
• Create career documents optimized for algorithms and AI bots by utilizing advanced features of Microsoft Word: formatting styles, document properties, alt text, and collaboration tools
• Increase learners’ LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) Score and resume scan (AI/ATS) scores

1. List communication concepts and theories relevant to career development activities
2. Explain the value of and features of digital tools and platforms needed to generate algorithmic and human-optimized written and oral communication in career contexts
3. Apply advanced search techniques (e.g., Boolean and AI ) to search and find relevant job advertisements effectively
4. Analyze job ads using communication-specific research techniques, processes, and tools to optimize language for persuasion in career documents (written) and presentations (oral)
5. Apply communication theory and rhetorical techniques to enhance a professional’s brand in a range of documents and contexts, such as resumes, applicant biographies, LinkedIn profiles, and videos
6. Collaborate effectively in a team environment to plan, create, and deliver high-quality project documents within a deadline
7. Explain the process and demonstration how to engage with a client through the phases of a career development project, including sourcing, onboarding, consulting, and offboarding
8. Demonstrate LinkedIn practices needed to create and maintain a comprehensive and search-optimized LinkedIn profile that increases SSI and competitive intelligence rankings
9. Demonstrate the application of appropriate and persuasive communication in various professional contexts, including online meetings, client-consultant meetings, presentations, and interviews