Get Career Ready by Building Your Skills
Career readiness, a framework for the skills and experiences that prepare students for career success, grew out of a shift in employer recruiting practices. Instead of academic discipline and GPA, employers have recognized that a more effective strategy is to focus instead on transferable skills, experience, and personal attributes.
Every day, you are building career readiness—in class, at student activities, at your internship or campus job, while volunteering in the community, and everywhere in between.
Eight competencies were developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) to connect career readiness to what students gain from coursework, co-curricular activities, and experiential learning. They are as follows:
- Career & Self-Development – Proactively managing your career, seeking out professional growth, and understanding your strengths.
- Communication – Clearly and effectively exchanging information with others through writing, speaking, and listening.
- Critical Thinking – Analyzing issues, making decisions, and solving problems using sound reasoning.
- Equity & Inclusion – Demonstrating the awareness, attitude, and skills needed to create inclusive workplaces.
- Leadership – Recognizing and leveraging strengths to motivate, organize, and guide others toward a goal.
- Professionalism – Acting with integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior in all work situations.
- Teamwork – Building collaborative relationships and working effectively with diverse teams.
- Technology – Understanding and using technology ethically to solve problems, complete tasks, and achieve goals.
