How to Know if You’re Career Ready
The National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight competencies that will give you a professional edge. Employers want to hire applicants who have these in-demand skills and strengths.
What Is Career Readiness
Career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.
Curious how career-ready you are? Head to the Am I Career Ready module in Student Resources under the Career Planning tile to find out!
Competencies for Career Readiness
Career & Self Development
Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
Critical Thinking
Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.
Equity & Inclusion
Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures and policies of racism.
Leadership
Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.
Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Teamwork
Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Technology
Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks and accomplish goals.
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Competencies for a Career-Ready Workforce