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Career Development/Week 1/Lecture 1 - Overview and Basic Skills.md

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+# Reflection
+
+Career Development is as important as any technical module on this course. I found the concept of just the acknowledgement of different soft skills significant; I had never thought of this effect before, even happening subconsciously. Awareness of a fact is the first step to changing or implementing.
+
+This lecture highlighted a weakness in my note taking, as I tend to not note down points I misunderstood, instead just making a mental note to investigate later and rarely adding retroactive points. Noting this is both an example of understanding I should change this, and how I should continue in the future.
+
+In addition, I found the concept of writing reflections helpful for not just this module, and not even just at university. I rarely reflect on past learning generally; this will help growth in most aspects of life continuing to reflect.
+
+# About
+
+Description of module and objectives. Practical aspects and assessments explained. Importance of soft skills in employability and different types of soft skills. Refresher on note taking and reflective writing.
+
+Career Development just as important as technical modules, soft skills are what get you hired and provide communication skills in the workplace.
+
+# Assessments
+
+## T1
+
+### Early Self Assessment Report (30%)
+
+Understanding and development of your soft skills so far (diary)
+
+## T2
+
+### Reflective Weekly Journal (50%)
+
+Weekly reflective entries on each lecture in T1 and T2
+
+### Final Self Assessment Report (20%)
+
+Reflection of your existing and soft skills
+
+These Assessments start as of this lecture.
+
+# Examples of Soft Skills
+
+- Communication
+- Teamwork, but also Independence
+- Time Management
+- Leadership
+	- Note: some people aren't built for leadership, and have to force it to make it.
+	- Very important to take charge, building confidence
+- Critical Thinking
+- Adaptability
+- Digital Literacy
+
+Just awareness of the skills existence is beneficial. Never thought of it this way, awareness is the first step to implementation.
+
+Review and correct notes, reflect. Add extra notes, look up sources of misunderstood information.
+
+# Reflective Writing
+
+A response to new experiences or information, and a valuable opportunity to growth. Not a purely descriptive method, but rather retroactive form of writing, using critical thinking to understand what has been learned or gained from an experience.
+
+Starting with a short description, write about goals and content. Reflect on what was interesting, useful, or relevant; why was this the case? Honest reflective writing often involves revealing concerns and weaknesses, along with strengths and successes. This shows understanding.

Career Development/Week 2/Lecture 2 - Placements.md

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+# Reflection
+
+Finding a placement would broaden knowledge outside of purely academia.
+
+# Applying
+
+- Need good CV, applicable CV
+- Need Cover Letter
+- Interview skills
+
+# Process
+
+On Placement:
+
+- Two Visits from Uni
+- Documentation and Presentation
+	- Weekly Log
+	- Interim Report
+	- Final Report
+	- Presentation at University
+		- Line Manager Present
+
+# Benefits
+
+- Gives more confidence
+- Work experience
+- Chances of employment increase
+- Chance to meet new people
+- Chance for company to gain new passionate employees
+
+# CVs
+
+- Aim to get interview
+- Prepare by reflection, and developed knowledge
+	- Skills audit (Week 3)
+	- Listing skills and abilities employers want
+- Opportunity to demonstrate skill matching requirements
+	- Marketing tool
+	- 2 pages max
+
+## Structure
+
+- Name, contact details
+- Personal Profile
+- Education
+	- Most recent first
+	- Don't simply list modules
+	- Write what was taught, or is taught
+	- Pre-Salford 2-3 lines
+- Action words
+	- Leading, Organising, etc.
+- Short sentences why candidate
+	- Employment History
+	- Responsibilities / Interests
+	- References
+	- Where key skills?
+		- Separate section or embedded, but highlighted
+- Check spelling -\_-, this is just common sense
+
+# Cover Letter
+
+- Read information supplied by employer, doing own research
+
+## Structure
+
+- Address to named individual, if possible
+- State post applying for and where advertised (Re: Software Engineer at BT Group)
+- Explain why want job, and why want to work for company - virtue signal pls
+- Draw attention to important points in CV
+- Explain weak points and what youre doing to address points
+- Indicate what you have done that makes you a preferred candidate
+
+# Interview
+
+- First impression
+	- Dressed, greeting, body language, how questions answered
+- Preparation, research company
+	- Know competitors, products, profitability
+- Dress appropriately
+- Body Language
+	- Eye contact, smile
+- Use opportunity to sell yourself
+- Practice before answering typical questions
+- Interviewers are typically interested in
+	- Teamworking
+	- Communication
+	- Leadership Skills
+	- Problem solving
+	- Time management
+		- STAR (Situation Task Action Result)
+		- If no situation, offer hypothetical
+- Have prepared questions
+- Take practice interview with Salford Careers

Career Development/Week 3/Lecture 3 - Employment Skills.md

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+This lecture has revealed that we should be reflecting on both our technical and employable skills - Computer Science careers are not purely based on technical ability, but also the ability to converse, communicate, work in teams, etc. University primarily trains technical skills, soft skills must be learned through experience, not just education.