Professional Goals Assignment

Planning Your Next Two Years - Preparing Skills for Resume Building

Due date: September 5 (Monday.),  2pm  (by email)

Assignment: Your second graded assignment for Junior Colloquium is to develop 3 lists of professional communication related skills -- ones that you currently possess, ones that you wish to improve upon, one that you would like to add to your "skill set."

• Begin this project by reviewing some resource materials to stimulate your thinking on what sorts of communication related skills and abilities you have now or might want to develop during your last two years of college.  Check out our page, Skills and Knowledge Often Developed by COMM Majors that are Valued in the Post-Graduate World.  You might also find the materials at the Missouri State Career Center site on the field of Communication useful as well.
   
• Now brainstorm a list of communication related skills and abilities you have already developed over the last several years.  The list may include skills and abilities you have gained through classes and assignments, through co-curricular activities or through various jobs and leadership positions you have held.  {Don't be modest!!]  Type up this list and label it "Current Skills and Abilities." 

   

  • For each item on this list briefly mention where you developed this ability and what evidence you might use to show this ability.  A few words is sufficient (e.g. "Can construct effective persuasive messages -- COMM 339 Persuasion -  Campaign Plan"). This list will be section one of the goals assignment.
     
• Look over your list of "Current Skills and Abilities" and identify several that you think you should develop further as you move toward graduation and a career..  Make a second list and label it "Abilities for Further Development." 

   

  • For each item on this list indicate briefly what about this ability you want to improve on and why.
     
• Finally, based on your long-range plans, reading of the NCA's "Why Communication Is Important," other links and  thinking you have done, make a third list and label it "Skills and Abilities to Develop in the Future."   This is a list of skills you want to plan to get before graduation that you don't currently possess.

   

  • For each item on this list attach a description of where you hope to be able to develop this ability  (e.g. Internship at a PR agency or department). A sentence or even a phrase is sufficient. This list will be section three of the goals assignment.  Some of these items may come from courses you are taking or will take; some may come from internships/independent studies or co-curricular experiences. All of them should be abilities that you expect will be of particular value to you personally or in your career. 

Put all three lists (sections) together into a single paper (Word file) and send one copy to me by the due date.  Three to six primary items for each section is probably sufficient but you could include more.  Give a second copy to your COMM mentor (once mentors have been assigned) and discuss the list with him/her in terms of your plans and how we can help you reach your goals.  

The goals you develop for this assignment may well show up as "Professional Abilities" on your resume later.