The paper is lecture and workshop based, and intends to prepare students for a work placement in the science professional workplace. The paper includes a focus on developing a CV to suit a professional science work setting, self-identified professional skill sets, skill gaps, and career direction. The paper also provides placement interview technique workshops, explains the requirements for workplace health and safety, and placement report writing. The paper discusses expected workplace norms and professional behaviour, and introduces the use of work portfolios, self-assessment, and reflective learning techniques. There will also be an overview of workplace management styles, budgets, and other relevant workplace structures.

• Assessment is based on the completion of four assessment items.
• Internal/external: 1:0
• Attendance at the workshops and completion of the CV assignment are compulsory in order to pass the paper.
• If any compulsory component is missed then a special consideration must be applied for directly in writing to the Paper Convenor, otherwise an IC grade (incomplete grade) will be given.

This paper has a Moodle page (http://elearn.waikato.ac.nz) where you will be able to access pdfs of lecture notes and powerpoints, and assessment materials. There are also discussion forums where you can both ask and answer questions. Your essay assignment must be submitted electronically through Moodle, no hard-copy submission is required.

PLEASE NOTE: Moodle will be used for class notices and it is your responsibility to check the site regularly and read the Moodle email notifications. Instructions provided on Moodle and in lectures are considered to be given to the class as a whole.

This paper includes 11 2-hour lectures and four 2-hour workshop activities. In addition, there will be one-to-one contact hours with your placement coordinator as part of the placement process - the amount will vary per student – and placement interview attendance.

There is an expectation that considerable outside classtime is spent on preparing for company background research and the workshops (especially the CV workshop). As the CV and cover letter are used to assist with securing a work placement, the expectation is that both assignments are completed to exceptionally high quality. If these assignments are not to high standard, even if a pass grade has been awarded, then the student will be required to do additional work to improve the quality.

This paper is the preparation required for the first science work placement (SCIEN371) (COMP371).