Professional Development
Your Game Plan
YourGamePlan’s mission is to ensure that every learner has the confidence and support they need to make the best decision about their future and career.
They believe soft and employability skills are paramount and guidance on improving these skills should be available to everyone, for free. They also partner with top UK employers to create sector specific courses, enabling learners to understand more about career options available to you.
All of their courses have been checked and certified by the CPD so not only are these courses providing you with skills relevant to the workplace but they also look great on your cv! This is why we have chosen YGP to help support your development.
Make sure you have signed up for your free account and then click the title of the course to start working on your personal and professional development!
if you have any questions please email: kayleighnorris@suffolk.ac.uk
1.Career Planning
If you are just starting out or considering what courses to take in college, now is the time to determine what career is best for you and why. If you have been in your career for a long time and want to make a change, you can also use this career planning course to help you determine what career is best for you and why.
You Will Learn:
The different career options available to you
What you might be good at depending on your skills
The skills that employers look for
How to determine strengths and weaknesses (and how to improve them)
Questions to ask yourself to determine the right career for you
How to research career paths
How to create a SMART goals list and create an action plan
Benefits of Taking This Course:
Learn about career sectors and the various careers within them
Learn what skills employers desire
Learn to determine your weaknesses and how to improve them
Learn what steps to take to find the right career for you (including educational requirements)
Learn what things might hinder your success or make it more challenging
Learn that it is okay to change your career path or goals as often as needed to find the right fit for you
Skills builder frame work: Aim High
ePASS: Positive work ethic, Stand out from the crowd
2.Application & Interview
One of the best things that you can teach yourself is how to have success during an interview. Interviews are very intimidating for most people, because they are so important. You can’t get a job these days without going through the interview process – and that one moment can make or break your chances of getting the job of your dreams.
When entering the job market for the first time, creating an effective CV is the first step to securing your ideal job.
This course will give you a comprehensive overview of how to write a CV that will distinguish you from the competition, as well as explain what employers look for when they read a CV. It will also describe how to write a cover letter that will improve your chances of finding the right job. Furthermore, you will understand how employers screen applications, what they are looking for at all stages of the recruitment process and how to demonstrate that you are the perfect person to fill the position.
You Will Learn:
The purpose of a CV and what employers look for
What a good CV looks like
How to tailor your CV for a specific job role
How to write a CV when you have little or no work experience
CV errors to avoid
How to get help with your CV
Benefits of Taking This Course
Know how to create a professional CV
Understand how to highlight your knowledge and skills
Improve your chances of finding a new job
Secure more interviews and appear more confident throughout the selection process
Skills Builder: Speaking
ePASS: stand out from the crowd, Communication
You Will Learn:
Why there are different types of interviews and what happens at each type
The steps that you should take in order to fully prepare yourself for the interview
What you should wear to an interview, based on your gender
What the most common interview questions are and how to answer them in a way that impresses the interviewer
What you should do in the hours and days following your interview to ensure success
Benefits of Taking This Course
Learn more about the interview process and why interviewers ask certain questions
Understand how to make a great impression with the interviewer, no matter what type of interview you are doing
Learn about what questions you can ask to impress the interviewer and also, what type of answers they are looking for to their own questions
Understand the proper things to do following an interview to boost your chances of getting a job
Learn how to get feedback if you are passed over by another candidate
Skills Builder: Speaking, Listening
ePASS: Stand out from the crowd, communication
3.Workplace Behaviour
Learning how to talk to everyone you encounter, from familiar colleagues to new contacts, is a skill that you must cultivate and develop if you want to get ahead in any industry. It involves learning how to socialise with others, even when you are not overly keen on engaging in conversation yourself. It also requires the ability to be selfless in conversation, asking more questions than you answer and letting your partner dominate the conversation at times.
Over the past few decades, psychologists have come to accept that the ability to recognise and manage emotions in both the self and other people are important in predicting personal happiness. This ability is known as emotional intelligence.
The following courses will provide you with knowledge on workplace behaviour that you may not have thought about but are important for your own personal and professional development.
You Will Learn:
Why you need to learn how to be a successful talker if you want to get ahead
The basics of any successful conversation with anyone
The importance of being able to easily engage in conversation with strangers
The importance of social talk
Tips on talking to anyone at any time in any place
Benefits of Taking This Course
Gaining more confidence in yourself and your speaking abilities in all contexts
Learning the best way to strike up a conversation with a stranger
Learning the three key rules of engaging in any social talk
Tips on how to engage in conversation when you do not know anyone at an event
Understanding the characteristics that successful talkers possess
Skills builder: Speaking
ePASS: Communication & Teamwork, Stand out from the crowd
You Will Learn:
The difference between IQ, EQ and EI
A brief history of the concept of emotional intelligence
The five pillars that make up emotional intelligence
How emotional intelligence is measured
How you can improve your own emotional intelligence
Benefits of Taking This Course
This course will give you practical tips that will boost your overall happiness
If you have an interest in psychology, this course will introduce you to one of the most influential theories of intelligence
This course will help you feel calmer and more self-confident, so will be of benefit to anyone suffering low self-esteem or depression
The knowledge you gain on this course will help you understand why some people seem more in tune with themselves and others, which can be helpful if you are looking to improve your relationships
Skills Builder: Leadership & Staying positive
ePASS: Self Management, Leadership & Positive work ethic.
You Will Learn:
How to identify and manage negative people and attention seekers
How others view or treat you do not stem from you
You are just as important as anyone else
Difficult situations don’t have to consume your life
That you should value your opinions and hold steadfast in your convictions
Benefits of Taking This Course
You can develop valuable skills that can help you handle any type of contentious situation
You will be equipped to identify difficult people and respond to them effectively
You can understand the importance of your own mental health when talking to negative people and being in bad situations
Skills Builder: Staying Positive, Teamwork & Leadership
ePASS: Self Management, Leadership, positive work ethic, Team work & Communication.
4.Skills For the Workplace
Sound communication skills are vital to your success in the workplace. Unfortunately, many people find it hard to communicate or decode spoken and written messages. This can give rise to arguments and misunderstandings. These courses will help you develop not only communication skills but how to manage conflict, team work and leadership skills which are all vital for the workplace and your career.
You Will Learn:
How to identify and manage negative people and attention seekers
How others view or treat you do not stem from you
You are just as important as anyone else
Difficult situations don’t have to consume your life
That you should value your opinions and hold steadfast in your convictions
Benefits of Taking This Course:
You can develop valuable skills that can help you handle any type of contentious situation
You will be equipped to identify difficult people and respond to them effectively
You can understand the importance of your own mental health when talking to negative people and being in bad situations
Skills Builder: Speaking & Listening
ePASS: Team work & Communication, Self management, Leadership
You Will Learn:
● The different styles of communication and where assertiveness fits in
● The common barriers to becoming assertive and how to overcome them
● The misconceptions about assertiveness and understanding the true definition
● Practical ways to begin your journey to assertiveness
Benefits Of Taking This Course:
● You will earn respect from loved ones, fellow students and co-workers
● You will reach your goals and achieve your full potential
● You will be free from the frustration and anxiety that comes from bottling things up
● You will discover who you are and what you want to achieve in life
Skills Builder: Listening, Speaking, Teamwork
ePASS: Team work & Communication, Self management, Leadership, Positive work ethic
You Will Learn:
Different types of conflict you can encounter at a workplace
How to deal with a tough manager
How to diffuse a situation with a hard to deal with co-worker
The different types of resources available to you
Benefits of Taking This Course:
You can learn that you have a treasure trove of skills to help you eliminate office conflict
Discovering how simple it is to get rid of disagreements at all levels in your workplace
You are now ready to implement these skills no matter the situation you are in
You are going to come out a better employee with a healthier mindset
Skills Builder: Leadership & Teamwork
ePASS: Team work & Communication, Self management, Leadership, Positive work ethic
5.Mental Health & Wellbeing
Mental health awareness has definitely improved over recent years; however, many are still uncertain what good mental health really is and how to cope with different conditions. Improving your mental health will take time and there will be moments where you feel worse rather than better. People who do take the time to learn about mental health often reap the benefits of their efforts with an improved sense of self-worth, better self-care habits and a firmer understanding of mental health.
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is important in the workplace to help you feel healthy energised and productive.
You Will Learn:
The factors that define good mental health
Good mental health habits
Which areas to focus on that will help you improve your mental health
Bad mental health habits to avoid
The benefits of an improved mental state
Some steps to help get you started with improving your mental health
Benefits of Taking This Course:
Your self-confidence will improve
You will be able to adapt or overcome your depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions
You will be able to learn new ways to better yourself mentally
Learning how a positive mindset can improve your outlook on life and yourself
Understanding your mind on a deeper level than before
Skills Builder: Staying positive
ePASS: Positive work ethic, Self management
You Will Learn:
How to use breathing and meditation to relieve stress
All about Tai-Chi, Yoga and other relaxation disciplines
The everyday ways to unplug from technology and take proper breaks
How to reduce stress by expressing yourself properly
Alternative stress relief through laughter, dance and animal therapy
Benefits of Taking This Course:
You will be able to handle any type of stressful situation
You will learn how to be more productive by minimising distractions
You will learn how to be more comfortable and confident in everything you do
You will improve your relationships at home and at work
You will learn techniques to reduce specific stress as it happens
Skills Builder: Staying Positive, Leadership
ePASS: Positive work ethic, Self management, Leadership
You Will Learn:
What your subconscious mind is, and why it deserves your attention.
How to set positive goals.
How to use affirmations to improve your outcomes.
Why meditation is a useful tool for anyone wanting to programme their mind for success.
How to adopt a healthy attitude towards failure.
Benefits Of Taking This Course:
If you aren’t sure how to clarify your personal goals, this course will help you clarify your vision.
If you want to lift your mood and adopt a more positive outlook on life, this course will help change your perspective.
This course will help you feel empowered to make changes in your life.
You will learn how to improve your emotional stability, which will help you succeed at work and home.
You will be more willing to take risks because you will no longer fear setbacks.
Skills Builder: Aiming High
ePASS: Positive work ethic, Self management, Leadership, Team work & Communication.