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Kennesaw State University

Career Options: Exploring a New Career

Kennesaw State University via Coursera

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Overview

This course is for you if you are interested in researching a new career and acquiring the skills necessary to succeed in it. You will be asked to reflect on your experiences and critically evaluate what you currently know, what you need to acquire, and how to go about getting it. You will then identify groups and individuals that can serve and support you in exploring a new career. During this course, you will identify the elements of a well-structured career plan and evaluate career options by individual fit to determine how to effectively engage your network in your career journey. You will design a tactical career plan and identify pitfalls in behavior, communication and appearance that can derail a new career. You will also develop a targeted cover letter and resume using a proven business format. Your experiential learning can also be a valuable asset, linking your personal experiences with your chosen career. We will help you define your career objective statement and align this with your strengths and goals. Finally, you will be challenged to research and identify your personal values inventory, and evaluate how to best navigate the current job market by using an innovative approach called career rockclimbing.

Syllabus

  • What is Career Planning? Career Exploration Infographic
    • Welcome. You are beginning an important and evolving journey toward building a meaningful and sustainable career. In today’s rapidly changing world of work—shaped by technological innovation, globalization, and the rise of artificial intelligence—career planning is no longer a one-time decision, but an ongoing, adaptive process. This course is designed to help you develop a career plan that can launch a new path, strengthen your early career, or support a strategic pivot. You will be encouraged to think critically about your professional values, strengths, and long-term goals while also considering how emerging technologies, including AI, are transforming industries, redefining roles, and creating new opportunities. Throughout the course, you will research in-demand careers and the evolving skills needed to succeed in them, including both technical and human-centered capabilities that complement AI. You will reflect on your experiences, evaluate your current knowledge, and identify gaps that may require further learning or upskilling. You will also explore how to use modern tools—including AI-powered platforms—for career research, networking, and decision-making. In addition, you will identify individuals, communities, and professional networks that can support your career journey. Learning from others—both locally and globally—will help you better understand real-world career paths, expectations, and possibilities. Career planning can be a deeply enriching and empowering experience, especially when approached with curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to grow alongside change. We are pleased to support you as you take these next steps. Module One introduces you to the course, explores the scope of career planning in a rapidly evolving workforce, and examines the diverse expectations people have of careers today, including how technology and AI are influencing those expectations.
  • Hot Careers and Job Trends: Where the Future Lies
    • In this module, you will research current career trends and learn how to evaluate a field through its job market outlook, areas of demand, salary potential, and entry requirements. You will use these insights to identify and describe the different career tracks available in your chosen field, while also considering how artificial intelligence is changing which skills are valued, how jobs are structured, and what employers expect from new candidates. A major part of the module is connecting with a Bridge Person—a professional already working in the career field you are exploring. You will learn how to identify and contact a bridge person through LinkedIn, alumni networks, or a professional or business association, then schedule a career conversation and prepare thoughtful questions. In today’s job market, these conversations are even more valuable because they help you understand not only traditional entry paths, but also how AI is influencing hiring, workflows, and the skills that set candidates apart. By the end of this module, you will be able to use labor market trends, professional networking, and career conversations to make informed decisions about a college major, training program, or possible career change. You will also be better prepared to judge where your strengths fit in a rapidly changing market, including roles where AI is replacing routine tasks while increasing demand for human judgment, communication, adaptability, and domain expertise.
  • Marketplace Realities: Who Am I Relative to the Job I am Seeking?
    • In this module, you will explore who you are relative to the job search, and your industry of choice. You will examine issues related to career choices and career planning, as well as learn which jobs have the greatest and least employment potential. Research careers and see the growth rate for each, view earnings at different levels of experience, and compare different regions. Research employment rates for people with your skills in different locations. This process matters more than ever because artificial intelligence is changing how work is organized across industries. AI is automating routine tasks, reshaping entry-level jobs, and increasing demand for workers who can combine technical knowledge with human skills such as communication, critical thinking, and adaptability. Career planning is no longer just about choosing a job title; it is also about building skills that can grow with technology.
  • RightPathing Your Future: The Importance of Whole-Life Career Planning
    • In this module, you will learn how to think about career planning as both a lifelong and "whole-life" activity. You will learn about whole-life career planning by watching Rachel, a 20-year old college student, discover her unique talents and interests using the RightPathing Your Future approach. At the end of this module, you will learn the importance of assessing and understanding your hard-wired behaviors, work values, skills and passions, and then aligning them with both your personal and professional goals.
  • My First Steps: Defining Your Career Objective and Action Plan
    • In this module, you will learn why a Career Objective Statement still matters in a rapidly changing job market and what elements make it effective. You will identify the career field categories and organizational category that best align with your interests, strengths, and goals. You will also reflect on your general and specific skills to create a skills inventory that connects with the industry, organization, or field you choose. You will examine potential careers related to your interests, including the education or experience required, job outlook, salary, and benefits. This research is especially important because artificial intelligence is changing how jobs are structured, which skills are in demand, and how employers evaluate candidates. AI may automate routine tasks, but it also increases the value of human strengths such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and ethical judgment. At the end of this module, you will be able to create a Career Objective Statement that fits your professional level and clearly communicates your goals, value, and direction. A strong objective statement should be specific, realistic, and aligned with your Career Exploration Infographic, while avoiding vague or outdated language. It should reflect not only what kind of job you want, but also how you plan to contribute in a workplace where technology and human skills increasingly work together. Use your objective statement to show how your strengths and talents connect to the changing world of work, and how you are preparing for a career path that can grow with you over time.
  • Research and Values: Identifying Your Best Options
    • In this module, you will explore different research sources and choose the best ones for learning about your career interest. You will share what you found, note any unanswered questions, and think about how your personal values and workplace values connect to your research. Today, this is especially important because AI is changing how people search for jobs, gather information, and make career decisions. As you research, think about how your career choice may change over time and what skills will help you stay ready for the future.
  • Career Rockclimbing: A Tactical Approach to Reach the Top
    • In this module, you’ll be introduced to the idea of “career rock climbing,” which has replaced the old concept of “climbing the corporate ladder.” In today’s job market, career paths are no longer straight lines up a ladder; they’re more like climbing a rock wall, where you move in different directions, try new routes, and adapt as conditions change. Career success—whatever that means to you—requires creativity, flexibility, and the ability to think innovatively as you build and carry out your career plan. Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping industries, job duties, and how people advance in their careers. AI can automate routine tasks, accelerate hiring, and open new opportunities, but it also means workers need to stay nimble, learn continuously, and bring human strengths that technology can’t replace. This module will help you become more innovative and creative as you explore career options, build your skills, and prepare for a future where change is constant.

Taught by

Elke M Leeds, Ph.D., Ana T. Baida, Ed.D., Wes Rhea, J.D. and Dan Stotz

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Reviews

4.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

4.1 rating at Coursera based on 53 ratings

Start your review of Career Options: Exploring a New Career

  • Profile image for Amit Kumar Sarangi
    Amit Kumar Sarangi
    4
    Quite a good course for those who intend to learn about searching for new careers or improve in their existing careers or changing careers. The course is full of relevant resources and informational websites. Thank you.
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