Career readiness provides a framework for addressing career-related goals and outcomes of curricular and extracurricular activities, regardless of the student’s field of study.
Career Readiness Competencies
Eight career readiness competencies are identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
Sample Behaviors
Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language, abilities.
Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
Communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand.
Frame communication with respect to diversity of learning styles, varied individual communication abilities, and cultural differences.
Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors, specialists, and others.
Promptly inform relevant others when needing guidance with assigned tasks.
Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Sample Behaviors
Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values.
Be present and prepared.
Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings).
Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals.
Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations.
Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work.
Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Sample Behaviors
Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.
Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities, and meet ambiguity with resilience.
Be accountable for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables.
Employ personal strengths, knowledge, and talents to complement those of others.
Exercise the ability to compromise and be agile.
Collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
Build strong, positive working relationships with supervisor and team members/coworkers.
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.
Sample Behaviors
Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.
Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.
Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice, and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.
Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth.
Keep an open mind to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking.
Identify resources and eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases.
Demonstrate flexibility by adapting to diverse environments.
Address systems of privilege that limit opportunities for members of historically marginalized communities.