Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course provides students with a framework to use to in their final semester of study to highlight personal capabilities in leadership and self-management in preparation for career transition from university to work and into the future. Both academic research on careers and transition will support practical application of knowledge and skills. Thus it provides a critical bridging between academic study in field(s) of study and individual career pathways.
Hello and a very warm welcome to Career Transition,
Your career decisions and your success are very important to you and to UQ. Therefore we offer you this very different course - this course is about you, for you, for your continued success! We have put together a teaching team with experience in career management from practice, research and personal experiences that we hope to share with you to assist you as you commence your own career management.
This course directly supports you as you begin the transition to this new stage in your life - the start of your chosen career. For these reasons Career Transition is offered to you as a compulsory course completed in the final year of the Master of Business program. The course draws on practical research inside organisations, from academic research, from observing organisations and new graduates beginning their careers. You will observe and apply perspectives on careers, career transitions and employability to your own career objectives. This course aims to support your successful transition from university life to working and developing a career in a global environment. Thus, the course is crucial for your preparedness for developing and advancing your career, including seeking a job, acquiring a job and successfully transitioning into the new environment.
Grounded in a student-centred approach, the course is conducted via seminars and professional development workshops utilising a range of individual, team-based and peer-coaching learning activities. These professional development workshops are in three phases:
1. Professional Development - to explore your knowledge, skills and abilities and how they may fit your chosen career.
2. Career Planning - to commence your plan and create a career identity.
3. Portfolio Development - to create your portfolio showcasing your skills and abilities and suitability for your career, and a job within that career.
You will engage in reflective practice to identify gaps in your career learning which you can then focus on during the course. You will build your self-awareness of your skills and attributes against those required by organisations. You will develop a unique personal brand and an employability profile to enhance self-presentation of your skills, both in written and oral form.
You will explore career theories and concepts such as the changing world of work, career stages; the development of a global career; career image, identity and personal brand; psycho-social constructs in relation to employability; and career resilience and adaptability. The reason for this exploration is to provide a framework for your career thinking.
You will be guided in a learning environment of support and collaboration by this team of dedicated staff and by learning from other students. You will build a Career Plan, which outlines your career ambitions. You will create a Career ePortfolio to capture and organise information to showcase your skills, accomplishments and strengths to prospective employers and potential clients. You will focus on the graduate attributes and relevant professional skills such as strategic thinking, coping with complexity, developing reflective practice, future thinking and managing emotional intelligence.
You will hear from others who share their personal experiences of career transitions. There will be discussions that reveal industry and business requirements such as work readiness of graduates, what new employees can expect during the first few months in a new organisation, support offered during this transition phase and support for your continuing professional development. Individual and group coaching and mentoring are provided by the teaching team throughout the course.
We look forward to working with you and supporting you to be the best you can be as you manage your transition to your career.
Course requirements
Restrictions
Students in final semester of Master of Business program.
Course staff
Course coordinator
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff doﾠnotﾠhave access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you emailﾠbusiness.mytimetable@uq.edu.auﾠfrom your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This capstone course aims to equip final year Master of Business students to present themselves in the global marketplace as valuable knowledge workers who will add value to organisations and contribute significantly to economic growth, as well as be confident in their ability to pursue their desired career with a range of organisations.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Apply career and career transition theory to your own employability strategies and related activities.
LO2.
Identify your personal Career Vision, articulating the gap between your current situation and your desired future, and present your plan for future action.
LO3.
Maintain emotional resilience during your career search activities, reflect on your personal successes, and develop options to navigate changing job and global market conditions.
LO4.
Develop your own Personal Brand based on your career image, identity and adaptability.
LO5.
Build your Career ePortfolio to showcase your skills and experience to prospective employers under scenario conditions.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Reflection |
Professional Development Reflective Journal
|
50% |
14/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Portfolio | Career ePortfolio | 50% |
9/06/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Professional Development Reflective Journal
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Reflection
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
14/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Longitudinal.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Professional Development Reflective Journal
Task Description:
Assessment Task Description Summary (Please see the full Task Guide)
There are three important outcomes of your Professional Development Reflective Journal (PDRJ):
- To generate self-awareness of your strengths, attributes, and abilities.
- To identify your career preferences and choices, leading ultimately to career decisions and identity.
- To prepare you for reflective writing in your profession in performance appraisals, promotion, and career changes.
This assessment contains two parts:
The detailed requirements for this assessment task will be discussed in the seminars and will be outlined in the Professional Development Reflective Journal Task Guide provided.
PART 1 – Summary
- You are required to complete a self-evaluation questionnaire/activity before or during the seminar weeks 2-6.
- Using the self-evaluation questionnaire/activity you are required to reflect on your results. Then you will complete your Professional Development Reflective Journals on the template provided week by week. They are to be around 600 words.
- It is important that you do this every week as you will have the time, support, and guidance in the seminar workshops.
PART 2 - Summary
After writing your weekly Professional Development Reflective Journals you are required to assemble, compile, and integrate the small stories in your 5 weekly PDRJs into one coherent 2000-word reflective journal. You are required to review all your Professional Development Reflective Journals and the feedback you received.
- You will submit a 2,000-word overall Professional Development Reflective Journal. You will use and combine all of the small stories from your weekly PDRJs. You will make one story of your career progress to date.
- Each of the 5 weekly reflections must be REVIEWED, SUMMARISED AND DISCUSSED within the 2,000 words.
- You will be expected to draw upon the underpinning theories and concepts for each of the career self-assessments to support your reflections, using at least five relevant readings from the course reading list.
- Suggested headings and format for the report will be provided.
Task Description:
Your overall task is to write a 2,000-word final Professional Development Reflective Journal (PDRJ) drawing on what you have learned about yourself, through writing weekly Professional Development Reflective Journals are based on self-evaluation questionnaires and activities in seminars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 combined with the ongoing feedback provided in discussion.
Each week from 1-6 you will write your Professional Development Reflective Journal (PDRJ) of around 500 words. The first PDRJ will be a practice one. You will use a Professional Development Reflective Journal Template which will be provided. You will improve on your PDRJs using the developmental advice and feedback given in the workshop discussions.
This assessment will assist you to develop the professional skill of reflection, self-profiling and career planning and management. These evaluations and journals are essential for completing Assessment Task Two, your Career ePortfolio or website. Also, professional reflections and evaluations are used in employment, for example, in recruitment, in performance reviews, promotion applications and may be useful as you make your many career transitions.
Submission requirements.
- The Final Professional Development Reflective Journal is worth 50%
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted your work correctly.
AI Statement:
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission in two separate parts via TURNITIN on Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Career ePortfolio
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Portfolio
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
9/06/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04, L05
Task description
A. Please see the Career ePortfolio Task Guide Semester 1 2021 for more detailed guidance.
This assessment task requires you to develop your personal Career ePortfolio based on what you learned about yourself through Assessment Task 1 Professional Development Reflective Journal, your ongoing career planning and management and what you have learned in the Course.
Otherwise known as a Professional Portfolio (Harrington & Hall 2007), an ePortfolio is used to capture and organise information to showcase your skills, accomplishments, and samples of your professional work to prospective employers and potential clients. It is a way of documenting or recording who you are, what you have to offer and what you are seeking, or “marketing yourself” (Harrington & Hall 2007 p 74).
The process of planning and creating your e-Portfolio, will assist you to prepare for transitioning to the next stage of your career and help you to articulate your knowledge more effectively, skills, other qualities (KSOQ’s) to employers and clients. This task will also provide you with the experience of preparing a competitive job application for your chosen career field.
For this task, based on information in your Career Plan, you are required to create an ePortfolio, which includes the following items, which you will have worked on during class:
- Job advertisement or position description – to assess how well your resume and cover letter match the selection criteria (non-assessable). An original job ad in English.
- Resume (2-3 pages)
- Cover letter (1 page)
- Elevator pitch (30 seconds presented in a Word document).
- Personal video (no more than 2 minutes)
B. Source material guidelines for developing your ePortfolio are discussed in the seminars, shown on Blackboard, and outlined in the following sections. Please see the reading list and associated videos.
C. How to submit your Career ePortfolio
Step One - SIMILARITY Check - VIA TURNITIN:
- This step is compulsory. For this Step One, please compile your Resume, Cover Letter and Elevator Pitch into one, single Word document. Then, click on the link shown to submit your Word document to Turnitin.
Step Two - Submit the 5 elements, which comprise your Career ePortfolio VIA BLACKBOARD:
- Please name each of your 5 files with your student name and the element name (e.g. Keanu Reeves_Resume.doc).
- Then, you are required to upload your 5 individual files:
- Submit the original (unchanged and unedited) job advertisement with all job details as a ‘screen shot’ or printed to a .pdf file.
- Resume (as a single Word Document)
- Cover letter (as a single Word Document)
- Elevator pitch (as a single Word Document)
- Personal video (Submit via Kaltura - see video instructions provided)
It is your responsibility to ensure your work is submitted correctly.
- Take a copy of the submission receipts and keep them.
AI Statement:
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Turnitin and the Blackboard platform.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
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| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Introducing career management Introductions and course overview What is a career? Definitions of career success Introduction to (Professional Development Reflective Journal) PDRJ writing PDRJ WORKSHOP (PRACTICE) 1. What does a career mean to me? 2. Your personal evaluation of the applicability of two items of literature on careers and career success Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Understanding How Careers Develop
Knowledge, skills and other qualities PDRJ 1 WORKSHOP Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Enhancing Your Employability
Maximising your skills and other qualities PDRJ 2 WORKSHOP Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 |
Seminar |
Preparing for the Future of Work Workplaces of the future and employment The Future of Work The importance of Networks and networking PDRJ 3 WORKSHOP Attributes and Skills. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 |
Seminar |
Designing Career Goals and Career Strategies
Career goals, career strategies, job search, career decisions PDRJ 4 WORKSHOP Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 6 |
Seminar |
Building Your Personal Brand
Career image and identity PDRJ 5 WORKSHOP Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 7 |
Seminar |
Developing a Sustainable Career Managing your own career Sustainable careers E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 2 Career plan and organisational exploration Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 |
Seminar |
Working in a Global Environment Diverse workplaces Building cultural competence and cultural intelligence Seeking employment overseas E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 1 Your SMART career goals. Good Friday Public Holiday - Friday 18 April 2025 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester Break |
Week 9 |
Seminar |
Navigating Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment and selection practices in Australia and other countries E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 3 Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 10 |
Seminar |
Planning for Career Transition Strategies for managing career transitions Career transitions The phases of career transition Personal development planning E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 5 Elevator pitch Video Academic references Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 11 |
Seminar |
Onboarding and Socialisation Onboarding - what to expect Proactive socialisation in your new role Case study Liminality E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 4 Preparing for transition Designing your identity. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Week 12 |
Seminar |
Networking into Career Communities From graduate to professional E-PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 6 Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Week 13 |
Seminar |
Personalised Career Coaching Personalised discussion and advice about specific career choices and strategies. EPORTFOLIO assessment Q&A Final farewells Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.