CDI 101 for First-Year Students

In 2013, Bentley launched Career Design Introduction 101 (CDI 101) to equip first-year students with a comprehensive career toolkit and the ability to understand and “tell their story”. The course is the first step in a four year Hire Education program designed to support our belief that competence, confidence, and community lead to meaningful careers and lives. The optional 6-week non-academic class is designed and taught by the Undergraduate Career Development coaches and is only offered in the Spring of students’ first year.

CDI 101 enrolls over 95% of first-year students annually and addresses the foundational aspects of career development and design thinking including:

- Self-Assessment and Awareness: Identification of personal strengths/talents and how they impact career decision making and the development of effective job search marketing collateral
- Written Communication: Development of tangible self-marketing pieces: resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and electronic business correspondence
- Verbal Communication: Development of elevator pitch, networking, and interviewing skills
- Internships: Knowledge of internship search process and tools
- Career Resources: Knowledge and proper use of career exploration resources

Successful completion of the course is noted on students’ transcript.

Registration for begins in November on Workday.

CDI 201 for Sophomores & Juniors – MAJOR & CAREER PATH DECISIONS COURSE

In 2016, Bentley launched Career Design Introduction 201 (CDI 201) for students who are undecided in major and/or career path or want to discover career paths that align with their personal strengths, skills and interests and focuses on helping students determine appropriate major and career paths based on their strengths, interests, skills, and values. The curriculum is centered based on Design Your Life/Design Thinking pedagogy, advanced CliftonStrengths assessment & self-reflection, Strong Interest Inventory assessment & self reflection, identifying majors, career paths, industries, and companies based on students’ results, skills and values, and customized career action planning. This course is non-credit bearing and will not appear on the transcript and there is no homework or assignments.

The 4-5 week in person, non-academic class is designed and taught by Undergraduate Career Development Center coaches who are certified in StrengthsFinder and the Strong Interest Inventory, is only offered in the Fall to second and third year students, and covers:

- Applying Talent in Career Exploration based on students’ strengths (StrengthsFinder assessment)
- Identifying satisfying majors and career options that align with students’ interests (Strong Interest Inventory assessment)
- Major & Career Pathing Decision Making
- Customized Career Design Planning based on Design Your Life theory and strategies

Registration for begins in April on Workday.

CDI 301 Intensive Courses by Major for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

Starting in Fall 2018, an exciting addition to the CDI curriculum started to be offered – Career Design Intensive 301 (CDI 301). CDI 301’s are self-paced, asynchronous non-academic courses for those students who know what they want to major or career path in and are ready for advanced internship/job search education and interviewing preparation based on major/industry of choice.

CDI 301’s are offered for/by every major and you do not need to be declared in a major to enroll. CDI 301 is a free, non-academic, non-transcript bearing course offering video modules and resources that provide 24/7, on demand career coaching support for the duration of their matriculation at Bentley. There are no classes, homework, or assignments.

Nine specialized, self-paced, asynchronous CDI 301 courses are offered in the following major fields/industries of study every Fall & Spring and meet students career development needs on demand:

- Accounting, Information Technology in Accounting, Corporate Finance & Accounting – Accounting focus (AC/ITA/CFA-A – CDI 301-1)
- Bachelor of Arts in English, History, International Affairs, Language, Culture, and Business, Philosophy, Public Policy, and Sustainability Science, Health Studies, Psychology (BA – ENG, HIS, IA, LCB, PHI, PP, SS/HS/PSY – CDI 301-2)
- Creative Industries, Experience Design, Film & Media Studies, Marketing, Professional Sales, Public Relations (CI/XD/FMS/MK/PS/PR – CDI 301-3)
- Computer Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence for Innovation (CIS/AI – CDI 301-4)
- Consulting (any student can take this in addition to their major 301 course, but can only take one 301 per semester – CDI 301-5)
- Data Analytics, Actuarial Sciences, Mathematical Science (DA/ACS/MA – CDI 301-6)
- Economics-Finance, Business Economics & Quantitative Economics (EC-FI/BE/QE – CDI 301-7)
- Finance, Finance and Technology, Corporate Finance & Accounting – Finance focus (FI/FT/CFA-FI – CDI 301-8)
- Management, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Business Law (MG/DEI/BL – CDI 301-9)

CDI 301 courses will educate students about advanced job searching as it relates to their particular major, related jobs and industries, and recruiting timelines, and help students develop their career development toolkits, career management skills, and workplace readiness competencies as upperclassmen.

These asynchronous intensives are designed and taught by each major’s dedicated career coach. Topics to be covered include:

- Advanced Resume and Cover Letter Development reflecting major competencies and market demand skills and experience
- Major/Industry Recruiting Timelines
- Interview Preparation based on major related industries and positions
- Salary and Offer Negotiation
- Advanced Career Action Planning for Sophomore, Junior and Senior Year