Skip to main content

Are You Ready for the World of Work?

By

The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently provided a definition of career readiness as "the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace."


These competencies are:

  • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
  • Oral/Written Communications: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.
  • Teamwork/Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict.
  • Information Technology Application: Select and use appropriate technology to accomplish a given task. The individual is also able to apply computing skills to solve problems.
  • Leadership: Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to assess and manage his/her emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.
  • Professionalism/Work Ethic: Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time workload management, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and is able to learn from his/her mistakes.
  • Career Management: Identify and articulate one's skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals, and identify areas necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate and explore job options, understands and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.
To be successful in the workforce, you need to develop in all of the above areas.  Here are some tips on how you can prepare:
  • Meet with a Career Advisor in C-102 to discuss your career goals.
  • Attend a Workplace Etiquette workshop
  • Join the National Society of Leadership and Success to develop your leadership skills
  • Take a speech class to develop your oral communication skills
  • Schedule a mock interview
These are just a few of many steps you can take to market yourself to employers.  Stop by C-102 today to get started!

http://www.naceweb.org/


NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.

NACE provides its members with high-quality resources and research; networking and professional development opportunities; and standards, ethics, advocacy, and guidance on key issues.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Leave us a comment! We love hearing from our readers.

Popular posts from this blog

Dress for the Job You Want

By
A lot of times we look at our closets and think "What should I wear for work today?" or "Is this appropriate for this interview?" Well what we fail to realize is that what may be accepted in our eyes, is not accepted in the eyes of a professional. Here I will tell what to wear for your job or for future jobs to come. Men's fashion: Solid color button down shirts(black, blue brown and gray) Solid color ties (no Bow ties) Black, gray or blue pants are accpeted Black or brown dress shoes *all clothes must be ironed Women: Blouses and button downs shirts Dresses and skirts minimal knee length Black, gray or blue pants are accepted Solid color flats or heels are accepted as well *all clothes must be ironed Absolutely no  jeans, sneakers or shorts are allowed to be worn, hair and nails must be work appropriate, and offensive tattoos can not be shown on display. Both of these are prime examples of what to wear the next time you look at your cl...
7 comments
Read more

DEI & The Workplace

By
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace:  1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...
Post a Comment
Read more

Resume Mistakes That Are Stopping You From Getting an Interview

By
Landing a job interview can feel tough, but sometimes the problem isn’t your experience it’s your resume. Your resume is your first impression, and even small mistakes can make employers move on to the next candidate. Many people don’t realize that hiring managers look at a resume for less than 10 seconds, so anything unclear, unprofessional, or poorly written can hurt your chances immediately. On top of that, most companies now use software to scan resumes before a human even sees them. This means if your resume doesn’t have the right keywords, format, or structure, it might be rejected automatically even if you’re fully qualified. That can feel discouraging, but the good news is these problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for. A strong resume should clearly show your skills, highlight your achievements, and make it easy for employers to understand why you’re a great fit. But many people accidentally include too much information, use outdated styles, or forget to tailor ...
Post a Comment
Read more