Your master provides you with knowledge and analytical skills to succeed in a professional career. However, superior academic knowledge is not enough. This course provides you with tools to orient yourself on the job market, and offers you a series of workshops to develop skills to become a more effective worker. Employers often seek candidates who possess a broad set of professional skills; these include writing and presentation skills as well as intercultural knowledge and understandings that are necessary to gain employment and to be successful in a job. Especially in a highly competitive labour market, employers prefer candidates who possess certain professional skills. Professional skills thus are not only tools to be successful in your job, they can also help you getting one.
 
Course contents
The course includes two components. First, you are challenged to reflect on yourself as an individual, and develop a plan to act. This part includes a self-evaluation, analysis of personal strengths and weaknesses, and a plan for self-development. Evidence for this exercise will be embodied in a self-reflection report.
 
Second, the course offers a range of workshops covering a wide range of skills and capabilities that will help you to develop yourself, and become a better candidate to potential employers. Our (preliminary) list of modules includes: Intercultural communication, Time management, the art of job application, Consultancy skills, Leadership, Pitching, Presenting, Speedreading, Memory techniques, and Influencing people. (Please note that this overview can still be subject to change)
You will have to take four workshops to pass the course.
 
Literature
No specific literature is required for this course.
 
Format
All activities related to this course (self-reflection meetings, workshops) are organized in pre-determined dates throughout the year.  In periods 1, 2 and 3 single days will be dedicated to the course, usually on Fridays. Anticipate half-day or full-day sessions. Workshops will be given by professional trainers.
More details will be shared in the course manual that will be posted on Blackboard in advance of the course.

Assessment
No grade will be given. In order to pass this course, the students should:
1.     Attend four workshops.
2.     Develop and hand a satisfactory self-reflection report – the reflection report will be graded ‘pass’ or ‘fail’