Course: COLL TBD

Term: Fall - 2016

Room: TBD
Time: TBD

INTERNSHIPS, INTERVIEWS AND MORE: COMMUNICATING FOR YOUR CAREER

CONTACT INFORMATION
Instructor Avery Whitaker
Email: averywhitaker@rice.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Faculty Sponsor: Ivette Mekdessi, M.Ed.
Email: ifm2@rice.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Want an internship but dont know where to start? This course focuses on basic career skills
that are essential throughout life. With a focus on learning by doing, students will act both as
job seekers and recruiters, gaining a deep understanding of the job and internship search
process. Students will conduct mock interviews, practicing all relevant major interview styles.
Students will develop a competitive resume. Students will practice the skills of quickly writing
effective emails, cover letters, and thank you notes. This course is intended for students
without previous experience going through the interview process. Opportunities for practicing
specialized interviews such as business cases and software questions will be available for
interested students; this a very personalized course, and seeks to assist students in meeting
their career development goals.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Be able to model desirable interview communication and effectively present oneself for
professional networking events
2. Be able to quickly and effectively compose written material associated with the interview
process
3. Be able to recognize key steps in the interview process, career management strategies and
professionalism.
4. Be able to evaluate the hiring process and analyze decision making rational of all involved
parties.
LEARNING ASSESSMENTS
1. In class mock interviews with peers
2. Professional writing assignments
3. Exercises involving networking communication and skills
CLASS CREDIT AND GRADE

This is a one credit class, satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade. In my experience, students will

neglect assignments that dont impact their grade. Thus all assignments are required.
Students will be given opportunities to resubmit work deemed unsatisfactory, however it will
be given the late work penalty. Each week an assignment is late will count as one late
penalty, a student may acquire no more than three of these penalties. All work must be
submitted by the last class. Attendance is required each week. Students should email the
instructor ahead of time if they anticipate missing class.
A satisfactory grade will be given to students who successfully complete the following:
- Attend all classes (students who miss class but give advanced notice or are ill may
still be considered for a satisfactory grade)
- No more than three late penalties
- Satisfactorily complete all assignments
- Show use of networking skills outside of class (such as engaging with employers at
a career fair)
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A course webpage (either Owl-Space or Canvas) will be available through which assignments
can be viewed and submitted.
OPTIONAL READINGS
- Center for Career Development resources - http://ccd.rice.edu/guides/
- Steve Daltons The 2-hour job search: using technology to get the right job faster available at
Jones school library
- Kate Wendletons Packaging yourself: the targeted resume available at Fondren
COURSE POLICIES
Use of Electronics: Electronics should only be used when they are specifically required for a
class activity. When this is required, I will let you know in advance so that you can bring your
device to class.
Disability Support Services: If you have a documented disability or other condition that may
affect academic performance you should: 1) make sure this documentation is on file with
Disability Support Services (Allen Center, Room 111 / adarice@rice.edu / x5841) to determine
the accommodations you need; and 2) talk with me to discuss your accommodation needs.
Special Circumstances: If you have any temporary or long-term needs (academic, physical,
personal) please contact me. Do not wait until the last minute to inform us of a problem, as it
will be more difficult to come up with a solution. I am supportive and understanding of most
situations and in the interest of protecting your privacy, I dont always need details to find a
way to work it out.
Academic Honesty: In this course, all students will be held to the standards of the Rice Honor
Code, a code that you pledged to honor when you matriculated at this institution. If you are
unfamiliar with the details of this code and how it is administered, you should consult the Honor
System Handbook at http://honor.rice.edu/honor-system-handbook/. This handbook outlines
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the University's expectations for the integrity of your academic work, the procedures for
resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of
students and faculty members throughout the process. If you are questioning whether you
have documented or cited your sources properly, it is your responsibility to see us about these
issues prior to submitting an assignment. If you find yourself thinking about submitting work
that is not your own due to pressure, frustration, or any other reason, please talk with us. We
are here to help you resolve these issues before they could negatively affect your academic
career.
Syllabus Change: This syllabus is only a guide for the course and is subject to change with
advanced notice. Types of interviews conducted will be adjusted per students area of interest
and career aspirations.