This interdisciplinary module serves several functions. Firstly, students will develop an understanding of their degree in the context of the wider world and specifically the graduate jobs market. Students will come to understand the employability and career-development opportunities that are available to them during and after their time at Essex, and they will begin the life-long process of continuous professional development with a firm grounding in the practical skills and reflective practice involved.
The module is divided into two parts: career-development learning led by Lynne Jordan from the Employability and Careers Centre (E&CC); and Speaker Weeks, when a LiFTS member of staff will interview guest speakers about their careers in fields that are allied to the arts and humanities. These will cover a range of career areas that may be of interest to humanities graduates in general: from media, arts, journalism, education, publishing, to entrepreneurship in related areas. These weeks are intended to be inspiring but also full of practical tips and ideas, with an emphasis on showing how careers develop over time, and what pathways students can explore to get to where they want to be; as well as what kinds of extra-curricular activities students can engage in now to open more doors professionally before and after graduation.
In the career-development learning part of the module, students will cover topics such as the Graduate Labour market, the Humanities graduate, self-reflection and personal development, and how to research and apply effectively for jobs. Skills such as CV writing and interview technique will be covered. Two-hour interactive lecture/seminars will introduce students to careers resources and ideas, but will also include discussion and group work.
There will be an opportunity throughout the module to reflect on disciplinary differences, as well as the connecting threads of critical analysis, research skills, creativity, writing ability, language and communication that connect arts and humanities subjects, and make the Humanities or Arts graduate a sought-after employee. The title of the module derives from the fact that every subject in the Department requires an engagement with writing on some level, and an understanding of the role that written and verbal communication serves.
Finally, students will have the opportunity to work together in small groups to prepare a 10 minute presentation on an aspect of the module that interests them