Soft Skills

Career and life success starts with your personal power. This module shares the knowledge that will help you unlock your personal potential.

Lesson 1: 3 Factors for Career Success

• The three factors: job skills, work experience and relationships
• How Acadium gives you all three through courses, apprenticeships and mentor relationships
• Example: a marketer whose career grew from skills, experience and relationships
• Score yourself on the three factors with the career factors scorecard

Lesson 2: Goal Setting for Yourself & Your Career

• Why goal setting puts you in the driver's seat of your career
• How to set goals that are specific and measurable
• Example: how a well-known professional sets and tracks goals
• Write your career goals with the goal-setting worksheet

Lesson 3: State of Mind

• How fear holds us back from reaching our goals
• Building confidence and overcoming fear
• Example: someone who overcame fear at a turning point in their career
• Create your personal confidence plan with the worksheet

Lesson 4: Your Personal Story

• Why the story we tell ourselves becomes our identity
• How to spot and change a limiting story
• Example: a career reinvention told in the person's own words
• Rewrite your own story with the personal story worksheet

Lesson 5: Success Strategies

• Why every battle is won before it is fought
• Preparation strategies you can use at work and in life
• Example: how preparation shaped a well-known success
• Build your success plan with the downloadable planner

Lesson 6: Becoming a +1

• What it means to be a +1 in your interactions
• Practical ways to add value every time you work with someone
• Example: a team member who added outsized value
• Plan three ways to add value this week with your personal communication tracker

Finding a job after graduation can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially without the right guidance. This module shares several strategies to make your job search more successful.

Lesson 1: Resume 101

• What a resume tells employers about your work history and who you are
• How to write a resume that increases your chances of an interview
• Example: a resume before and after
• Write yours with the resume template

Lesson 2: Digital Marketing Portfolio

• Why a portfolio shows your work better than a resume
• What to include and how to present it visually
• Example: a strong beginner marketing portfolio
• Draft your portfolio with the portfolio outline template

Lesson 3: Cover Letter 101

• Why a cover letter is your chance to make a great first impression
• Techniques and strategies successful candidates use
• Example: a cover letter, line by line
• Write your own with the cover letter template

Lesson 4: Applying to Jobs

• Why applying the right way increases your chances of an interview
• Strategies for a faster, more efficient application process
• Example: a job search organized from first application to offer
• Set up your job application tracker

Lesson 5: Interviewing

• Why preparing beforehand calms interview nerves
• Common interview mistakes and how to avoid them
• Example: a mock interview walkthrough
• Practice with the interview preparation sheet

Your success as a marketer depends on how well you work with your mentor and understand their audience. This module explains best practices for working with a mentor and their business.

Lesson 1: Onboarding a Mentor

• Why the start of a project is the most complex and risky part
• How to onboard and communicate with your mentor
• Example: a strong first week of an apprenticeship
• Complete the onboarding checklist and start your personal communication tracker

Lesson 2: Relationship Building

• Why great relationships are the key to success in life and work
• How to build a relationship that lasts beyond your apprenticeship
• Example: a mentor relationship that turned into a job offer or reference
• Plan your relationship-building habits in your communication tracker

Lesson 3: Monthly Progress Report

• Why you must communicate the value you create
• How to report progress against a strategic plan
• Example: a monthly progress report that impressed a business owner
• Create your own with the monthly progress report template

Lesson 4: Offboarding a Mentor

• Why the end of an apprenticeship is a chance to finish on a stellar note
• Best practices for offboarding and securing a strong reference
• Example: a graceful apprenticeship wrap-up
• Prepare your offboarding checklist and reference request

The final exam has 10 multiple-choice questions. Pass with 80 percent to unlock your certificate and a LinkedIn-ready badge. You can retake it as often as you like.