Career Transformation

Module title	Career Transformation
Module code	MBAM900C
Academic year	2025/6
Credits
Module staff	Dr Donald Lancaster ()

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	X	X	X

Number students taking module (anticipated)	30

Module description

This module is focused on achieving clarity about career direction, and cultivating the tools, personal effectiveness and interpersonal excellence needed to effect career transformation and preparation for entering the workplace as an MBA Graduate. This module is launched at the start of the academic year and progresses alongside all other modules. Through a series of in class career sessions, workshops, working in 1:1s and small groups, cohort members deepen their understanding of themselves, identify their strengths, values and drivers that anchor and shape their life and career aspirations. Using an iterative process of reflection, cohort members review progress using feedback drawn from self-assessment, career coaches, mentors, academic tutors, module leads and MBA peers. Engaging widely and embracing career exploration is encouraged through networking and seeking opportunities to try out new skills to boost career confidence.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Career acceleration, career change, career pivot, career progression, business start-up. These are some of the many career transformations that MBA students typically go through. Whether you know what your next step is going to be after your MBA, have hit a career plateau, or want to explore where your next five to ten years might take you, this module is designed to help you gain the level of personal insight to identify your true vocation, and adopt the mindset, tools and techniques to get there and be highly effective in the workplace.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. create a professional development plan, using widely recognised tools and techniques to ensure the identification of professional development needs
2. connect to others by developing authentic, effective and productive relationships. Use emotional and social intelligence, active listening and open questioning to communicate effectively with others.
3. engage with constructive ways to address personal, organisational and social challenges. Identify appropriate tools and techniques to strengthen resilience and well-being, think critically and act with compassion.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. implement developmental insights and modify own behaviours in an ongoing process of improved self-awareness
5. critically appraise your personal effectiveness and use this reflection to produce tools suited to career enhancement
6. take responsibility for own professional development, using reflective practice to explore, identify, and record own development process.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. apply different forms of communication (written, verbal non-verbal, digital) and know when to use them. Tailor communication approach to stakeholders, able to facilitate cross-functional working and negotiation
8. demonstrate effective interpersonal skills; attentive listening, influencing techniques, negotiating and persuasion
9. develop resilience by identifying own needs, drawing on a range of appropriate resources to enhance personal effectiveness, and manage personal physical and mental wellbeing
10. crystallise and articulate an understanding of own core values, strengths and ambitions in the determination of sense of life and career self-purpose (raison detre).

Syllabus plan

Career Transformation concerns the development of self-insight, techniques and tools to:

identify authentic career goals
curate a personalised career plan to help you navigate career transitions
effectively market yourself to future hiring managers/line managers/recruiters and/or investors
have a positive impact in the workplace and beyond.

The syllabus covers:

Career transitions

Career transitions in theory and practice

Where am I and where do I want to be? Finding your mission and your why

Identifying your values, motivations, skills and interests
Identifying and reflecting on your life purpose
Designing your life: career prototyping, failing better.

How do I get there? Career transition tools and tactics

Career action planning

What does the world need?

Navigating the labour market
Job search tools and tactics
Hidden job market
How to use Recruitment Agencies
Sector insights

Personal branding

Creating your CV & Cover Letter
Acing application Forms
e-me - making your LinkedIn Profile work harder
Use of AI Tools

Networking

In person Training
Elevator pitch, small talk, operating like a digital native
Career mentoring

Conquering Online Tests

Tackling Face-to-face, Telephone & Video Interviews

Business Canvas Me
Case study interviews and assessments

Assessment centres

Know your worth: negotiating your offer

How do I flourish in my career? Pathways to professional success

Resilience and mindfulness
Workplace effectiveness
Career agility and career adaptability.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
75	0	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	75 (approx.)	The module is delivered through a series of workshops, asynchronous and synchronous e-learning, keynote events, small group action learning sets, and personal coaching sessions.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Outlining my personal development goals create a personal career plan	1-2 page PDP	1, 6, 7, 10	Career Consultant
Draft CV	One page CV	5, 7	Career Consultant
LinkedIn Profile	1 profile	1, 5-7, 10	Career Consultant
Mock Interview	30 minute interview	2, 4-8, 10	Guest interviewer
Resilience self-audit and personal self-efficacy plan	One-page audit, minimum 1 page plan	3-5, 9	Career Consultant

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment

Re-assessment notes

There is no re-assessment for this module.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Recommended text:

Burnett, B. & Evans, D. (2016) Designing Your Life. Build the Perfect Career, Step by Step. Penguin Random House: UK
Garcia, H. and Miralles. F. (2017) Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, London: Penguin Random House
Lees, J. (2014), Secrets of Resilient People, London: Hodder and Stoughton

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

You are encouraged to engage with a broad range of personal development resources - Podcasts: TED talks, professional articles and academic journals.

Key words search

Personal and interpersonal effectiveness, Self, manager, personal development, career.

Credit value
Module ECTS	0
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	n/a
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	07/09/2020
Last revision date	06/05/2025