Building and Managing Superior Skills

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/career-brand-development-self-coaching

Introduction

**Course Review: Building and Managing Superior Skills on Coursera** In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving job market, the ability to adapt and manage one’s skills is not just desirable—it’s essential. The Coursera course titled "Building and Managing Superior Skills" provides a comprehensive framework for professionals looking to enhance their career success by focusing on effective skills management. This review will detail the course's key components, discuss its relevance, and provide a recommendation for prospective learners. ### Overview "Building and Managing Superior Skills" is designed with the modern professional in mind. It offers transformative insights into strategies for skills-based hiring, equips participants with methods to identify and analyze job-specific skills, and fosters a systematic approach to auditing and advancing personal skills. Importantly, the course incorporates Generative AI as a tool for skills development, ensuring that learners are prepared for the future of work. ### Course Structure The course is divided into four key modules, each featuring insightful lessons and discussions led by experienced professors from SUNY Empire State University: 1. **Building a Powerful, Data-Driven Skill-Building Lab**: - The course kicks off with "Specialization at a Glance," offering an overview of career self-management and the essential skills one should focus on. For those familiar with previous courses in the specialization, this module serves as an excellent refresher. - You’ll dive into the current course specifics and start your practical work in the Career Development / Skills Management Lab, where tools like ChatGPT introduce generative AI into the skill-building process. 2. **Understanding Skills Assessment**: - This module tackles the common phenomenon of job applicants overestimating their qualifications. It emphasizes evidence-based, data-driven assessment methods, guided by expert techniques from Dr. Michele Forte. - Participants will familiarize themselves with various assessment tools and frameworks, followed by practical applications in skill assessment using Generative AI tools. 3. **Mastering Self-Assessment**: - In this module, learners gain hands-on experience in selecting and utilizing assessment tools for a data-driven self-evaluation of transferable skills. Dr. Kymn Harvin leads engaging discussions on effective self-assessment strategies. - Again, the focus on Generative AI tools is expanded, encouraging participants to integrate these technologies into their skills development plans. 4. **Putting Skills Management to Work**: - The final module equips learners for ongoing skill development and management. The course encourages a proactive approach to reviewing one’s skills portfolio and preparing for self-directed training. - With the knowledge of theoretical frameworks and hands-on instruments like SAGE (The Self-Assessment Grid for Evaluation), you will be better positioned to manage your career trajectory. Dr. John Beckem concludes the course with valuable insights into self-organization and continuous skills improvement. ### Why You Should Take This Course - **Relevance**: As workplaces continue to evolve, understanding and managing your skills is crucial. This course equips you with the knowledge to do just that. - **Expert Guidance**: With seasoned professionals leading the course, students benefit from their extensive experience and insights. - **Practical Applications**: By integrating tools like ChatGPT, the course ensures that learners not only understand theories but also learn how to apply them in real-world scenarios. - **Career Advancement**: Completing this course will enhance your marketability, equipping you with the tools to present your skills authentically to potential employers. ### Recommendation I highly recommend "Building and Managing Superior Skills" for anyone looking to take charge of their career development in a structured and informed manner. Whether you're entering the job market, considering a career change, or simply looking to enhance your current skill set, this course provides invaluable resources and strategies. The integration of Generative AI into the curriculum is a forward-thinking approach that prepares learners for future demands in the job market. In conclusion, this Coursera course is more than just a learning experience; it’s a pivotal step towards building a successful and adaptable career. Enroll today to embark on your journey towards professional growth and success!

Syllabus

Building a powerful, data-driven skill-building lab

The first lesson, "Specialization at a Glance," walks you through all stages of career self-management training and certification, giving you a bird's-eye view of the specialization. If you've already taken other courses in the specialization, you can either skip this lesson or skim through it quickly to refresh your memory. The second lesson provides an overview of the current Course 2 " Building and Managing Superior Skills." You will also begin working in your Career Development / Skills Management Lab. The latest addition to the lab activities is ChatGPT and other generative AI. In the third lesson, we describe our approach to skill development through self-quantification in a simulated, yet realistic job market scenario.

Job applicants frequently overestimate their qualifications for the desired position, according to research. Module 2 focuses on evidence-based, data-driven methods and techniques for assessing skills from the standpoint of subject matter experts. Professionals use a variety of tools and techniques to assess competency, including rubrics, frameworks, standards, and benchmarks. Dr. Michele Forte, Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State University, will introduce these methods this week. Then, we'll talk about and start using specific tools for skill assessment in CDL workouts, followed by a discussion about using Generative AI tools for skill assessment.

You will learn how to choose and use appropriate assessment tools to conduct a thorough, accurate, evidence-based, and data-driven self-assessment of your transferable skills. This week's guest lecturer, Dr. Kymn Harvin (Rutigliano), Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State University, will walk you through these topics. Then, you will participate in CDL workouts aimed at honing your skills and increasing your marketability by using specific instruments. We will continue the discussion about the use of Generative AI tools for skill assessment, self-assessment, and development, as we did in previous modules.

This Module will prepare you for ongoing skill-building and skills management. We anticipate that you will continue to develop your critical competency profile after completing this course. To that end, we recommend that you review your skills portfolio on a regular basis, perhaps once a month or as needed, and prepare for a self-directed training intervention. You are now well-versed in theoretical knowledge of skills assessment and self-assessment, as well as how to use SAGE ("The Self-Assessment Grid for Evaluation") and other instruments. You can also use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools. This week's exercises will assist you in self-organization. Dr. John Beckem, Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State University, is the guest speaker for this Module.