The purpose of this unique module is to assist students in identifying their talents and transform these into active strengths to develop their human capital and facilitate greater employability and subsequent career development. The masters-level module will enable students to reflect upon their learning styles and develop important transferable skills and competencies appropriate for personal development, employability, and contribution to society and community. Niche workshops will provide customized, programme specific skills required at a masters level. The module will also introduce students to a formal approach of career research, management and development. The key aims of the module are to increase and enhance the ability of the student to operate in an independent and self-directed manner leading to greater employability and connectivity with industry by developing an appreciation of the needs, drivers and opportunities in the employment market. This is in line with the aims of the University's strategic plan - Pioneering and Connected to provide students with a distinctive learning experience through teaching programmes that are alive to the needs of the employment market and with the aims of the Broadening the Curriculum project which underlines the need to focus on transferable skills and career orientations.

Self-Assessment of skills, interests, value and motivations, Clearly defined goals, interpersonal skills, developing the art of communicating in different contexts, how to become an active listener, Developing self-confidence and motivation, how to present a positive image and increase visibility to create an positive impact, time and project management skills, strategies to initiate and sustain networks and relationships that may encourage or create opportunities for employment, Theories of career choice and development How employers define their hiring requirements, Self-Assessment personality preferences/profiles, Matching skills to employment opportunities, Recruitment dynamics in differing economic scenarios, Labour market trends and projected skills shortages, Expert group on Future Skills needs, Developing a career management style, Conducting employer research, Preparing for and conducting Informational Interviews, Networking strategies - online and offline, Goal setting and monitoring, Developing and communicating a career story, How Social media is changing the methods companies utilise to research and secure staff, Using Social Media for career development, Entrepreneurship and self employment. Employer presentations and or case studies.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Evaluate skills, motivations, interests, preferences and personality profiles through self-assessment 2. Differentiate between different theories of career choice and development. 3. Critically evaluate personal skillset and interests, including mapping them to those required for specific roles and careers. 4. Identify skills gaps and future opportunities by analysing and monitoring market activity.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1.Express the ways in which they will bring value to an employer 2.Formulate a personal career action plan that incorporates networking strategies aligned to career goals

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The pedagogical approach for CO6001 Mastering Your Employability 1 and CO6002 Mastering Your Employability 2 is student-centred, applied, and professionally authentic, aligned with the University of Limerick’s Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy, Action for Wisdom. These modules support postgraduate students in translating academic learning into career readiness through experiential learning, reflection, employer engagement, and applied professional development. Learning Environment The learning environment is research-led, challenge-driven, experiential, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary. Students are placed at the centre of learning through active engagement in self-assessment, simulated recruitment experiences, reflective career planning, and developmental feedback. The modules require active participation in authentic career development activities, fostering ownership of professional growth. Research-led Teaching and Contemporary Practice The modules are informed by contemporary research and developments in careers education, employability, graduate recruitment, and labour market intelligence. Students engage with evidence-informed employability frameworks linking theory to practice. Module sequencing mirrors graduate recruitment cycles, while employer participation ensures continued relevance to current hiring practices. Experiential and Authentic Learning Experiential learning is central to both modules. Students participate in realistic recruitment simulations and authentic professional development activities including assessment centres, interviews, networking, LinkedIn development, and career planning. These activities replicate graduate recruitment processes and build confidence, professional self-efficacy, and career decision-making capability. Collaborative and Cross-disciplinary Learning Collaboration is embedded through workshops, peer discussion, group exercises, and reflective activities. Diverse postgraduate cohorts and employer contributors enrich understanding of career pathways, labour markets, and workplace cultures. The modules reflect employment contexts where adaptability and transferable skills are increasingly valued. Technology-enhanced Learning Technology supports delivery and assessment through Brightspace, employability profiling tools, video interview platforms, LinkedIn, and virtual assessment technologies. This reflects the digital realities of graduate recruitment and career management. Graduate Attributes Articulate: Students develop the ability to communicate their skills, experience, values, and career aspirations through CVs, applications, interviews, presentations, and networking. Curious: Labour market research, employer engagement, and career exploration foster professional curiosity, self-awareness, and lifelong learning. Responsible: Reflective self-assessment and career planning promote professional accountability and ethical self-management. Agile: Exposure to evolving recruitment contexts develops adaptability, resilience, collaboration, and responsiveness. Courageous: Authentic professional challenges build confidence and the courage to pursue career opportunities.