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Last updated:

April 7, 2022

Duration:

Unlimited Duration

FREE

This course includes:

Unlimited Duration

Badge on Completion

Certificate of completion

Unlimited Duration

Description

Welcome to the badged course, Returning to STEM. This course is here to help you get back to work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics

The course is intended for anyone who wants to get back into STEM work after having a break, whether to care for family, because of redundancy or for other reasons.

Watch the following video in which Dr Sue Black OBE introduces the course.

There are case study videos placed throughout the course to show you how other people have navigated their own unconventional careers. Importantly, you will hear about how they have got back to STEM employment after a career break.

Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they're a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development.

Once you are signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition, you can download and print your OpenLearn Statement of Participation – which also displays your Open University badge.

The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course before you begin, in our optional start-of-course survey . Once you complete the course we would also value your feedback and suggestions for future improvement, in our optional end-of-course survey . Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to others.

This course is supported and recommended by STEM Returners , a programme that helps to facilitate a start in or return to STEM careers.

It can be used to provide evidence of continuing professional development but is not accredited learning. We are unable to provide formal learner verification services for participation in our open online courses, which are provided freely by The Open University as self-directed CPD.

Anyone wishing to provide evidence of their enrolment on this course is able to do so by sharing their Activity Record on their OpenLearn Profile, which is available before completion of the course and earning of the Statement of Participation.

Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • Identify key experiences and attributes, and know how to use online tools effectively to be visible
  • Identify long-term goals and create an action plan and CV to achieve these
  • Know about future trends in STEM employment and where to find STEM jobs online
  • Identify mentors and networks that can help with returning to work
  • Understand work–life balance solutions and know more about different types of flexible and agile working.

Course Curriculum

  • Introduction and guidance 00:15:00
  • What is a badged course? 00:15:00
  • How to get a badge 00:15:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • What this course can offer you 00:15:00
    • Why STEM? 00:15:00
    • Reflections on your working life 00:10:00
    • Your career lifeline 00:15:00
    • Telling your story 00:15:00
    • Identifying your career drivers and values 00:05:00
    • Managing your digital footprint 00:20:00
    • Strategies for returning 00:15:00
    • Foot in the door 00:15:00
    • Networking 00:15:00
    • Retraining 00:10:00
    • Helping hand 00:10:00
    • Back to basics 00:15:00
    • What do you want to get out of this course? 00:10:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Further reading 00:15:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • Presenting yourself online: LinkedIn 00:10:00
    • Why LinkedIn for STEM? 00:15:00
    • About LinkedIn 00:10:00
    • Privacy and security 00:10:00
    • Making the most of LinkedIn 00:20:00
    • Creating your online profile 00:20:00
    • Your profile 00:20:00
    • Unpaid or voluntary work 00:15:00
    • Expanding your voluntary work 00:15:00
    • Creating a network 00:15:00
    • Building connections 00:15:00
    • Expanding your LinkedIn reach 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:15:00
    • Introduction 00:10:00
    • Employment trends in STEM 00:20:00
    • Skills shortage – where will the jobs be? 00:15:00
    • Eight great technologies 00:15:00
    • STEM occupations and skills 00:15:00
    • Update your skills or study for another qualification 00:15:00
    • Creating a CV 00:20:00
    • Good places for women to work 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • What is a career? 00:15:00
    • Being flexible: what it means in the workplace 00:15:00
    • Part-time working 00:15:00
    • Job share 00:15:00
    • Making a flexible working request 00:15:00
    • Remote working: when home is your workplace 00:20:00
    • Working for yourself 00:15:00
    • Flexible working: the employer perspective 00:10:00
    • Steps to returning 00:10:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • Changing priorities: the ABC model 00:15:00
    • Where does your time go? 00:15:00
    • Creating the work–life balance you want 00:10:00
    • Time 00:15:00
    • Location 00:10:00
    • Childcare and other caring responsibilities 00:10:00
    • Caring for elderly or other dependants 00:15:00
    • Money 00:10:00
    • Balancing work with the rest of your life 00:15:00
    • What does it feel like? Coping with conflicting roles 00:10:00
    • There are only so many hours in a day 00:15:00
    • Time management 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:15:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • Getting back your confidence 00:10:00
    • Mentoring 00:05:00
    • How can a mentor help you? 00:20:00
    • Networking 00:20:00
    • Exploring your personal networks 00:20:00
    • Networking using LinkedIn 00:15:00
    • Developing your face-to-face networking skills 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • What’s out there? Finding job vacancies 00:10:00
    • Job hunting online 00:10:00
    • Job vacancy sites 00:10:00
    • Job seeking using LinkedIn 00:10:00
    • Using recruitment agencies 00:10:00
    • Getting the job 00:10:00
    • Improving your CV 00:10:00
    • Your amended CV 00:15:00
    • Covering letters and speculative letters 00:10:00
    • Speculative applications 00:10:00
    • Drafting a speculative letter 00:10:00
    • Interview confidence and preparation 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • Strategies for returning to STEM 00:10:00
    • Reviewing your progress 00:05:00
    • Where next? 00:10:00
    • Update your skills or study for another qualification 00:05:00
    • Volunteering and returnships 00:20:00
    • Setting your goals 00:10:00
    • Creating your action plan 00:15:00
    • Goals as SMART objectives 00:15:00
    • What if I don’t succeed? 00:15:00
    • Summary 00:10:00
    • Tell us what you think 00:10:00

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