CORE-03 · Foundations

Self-Management, Onboarding, and Workplace Navigation

Teaches students how to onboard into a new organization rapidly, navigate workplace dynamics, and manage their own time, energy, and career development. Covers the practical skills of being effective in a professional setting from day one — skills that are rarely taught explicitly but determine success in the first 90 days of any role.

25 Hours

9 Learning objectives

Analyze Bloom's ceiling (?)

5 Competencies

What You'll Be Able To Do

Learning Objectives

Objectives

Depth

Execute a structured first-week onboarding process: account setup, documentation review, 1:1 scheduling, and organizational context mapping Apply
Navigate messy or outdated internal documentation to extract actionable information, distinguishing current from stale content Apply
Conduct structured information-gathering 1:1s with colleagues, managers, and stakeholders using prepared question frameworks Apply
Build a rapid mental model of an organization's business model, value chain, revenue drivers, and competitive position Analyze
Identify informal power structures and decision-making patterns through observation of communication patterns and meeting dynamics Analyze
Prioritize and sequence multiple concurrent tasks using explicit criteria (urgency, impact, dependencies, energy requirements) Apply
Manage personal energy and attention across a workday: peak-hour allocation, task batching, break timing, diminishing-returns recognition Apply
Communicate proactively when timelines slip, including reason, impact assessment, and proposed adjustment Apply
Maintain a 30-day reflection practice that builds career evidence and calibrates self-assessment against external feedback Apply

Levels: Remember · Understand · Apply · Analyze · Evaluate · Create — highest demands most original thinking.

Core Competencies

What You'll Master

Rapid Onboarding

First-day through first-month effectiveness in a new role or organization.

Organizational Literacy

Understanding how organizations actually work: power, incentives, culture, decision patterns.

Time & Energy Management

Prioritization frameworks, sequencing strategies, energy calibration.

Proactive Communication

Timeline updates, risk flagging, asking for clarity before problems escalate.

Career Self-Management

Reflection practices, evidence collection, goal setting, self-directed professional growth.

Portfolio Artifact

What You'll Build

Onboarding Playbook — Student creates a personal onboarding protocol tailored to their chosen major: a checklist for day 1, week 1, and month 1 at any new job. Includes: 1:1 question templates, a business model analysis framework, a time/energy management system, and a 30-day reflection template. Tested by applying it to a simulated onboarding scenario with feedback.

Tools You'll Use

Industry Tools, Not Toy Projects

Notion / Google Docs

Documentation and template creation platforms for building onboarding playbooks and reflection systems.

Google Calendar

Time blocking and scheduling tool for implementing energy management and prioritization systems.

Claude

AI assistant for research, planning assistance, and building organizational analysis frameworks.