The gist of Career Readiness at Metro State are the Career Competencies and Career Steps. The Career Center wants you to use your time in college as a launch pad for your career transition. Rather than wait until graduation, start right away, and as you progress in your education and Career Readiness work, you will achieve both goals of graduation and better work.
Career competencies
What Employers Want: Career Competencies – 10 bundles of skills, personal qualities, and strengths you want to develop and have at the ready.
This list of 10 career competencies can be thought of as a skill set that, in theory, you should be able to put on a résumé or talk about in an interview by the time you graduate. The idea is that, as you work toward your degree, you can gain clarity and confidence to be able to describe how specific classes — as well as internships and other college experiences — helped develop a palette of skills, personal qualities, and strengths.
1. Professional communication
The ability to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly with people both inside and outside the organization. Strong communicators are proficient in interpersonal conversations, public speaking, and writing effectively. They are also great listeners which we think is at least as important as verbal abilities.
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
The exercise of different points of view in analyzing issues, making decisions, and overcoming problems. People good at thinking critically and solving problems know how to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data to reach a goal or outcome. Since there are usually multiple valid points of view or solutions, there is room for originality and inventiveness here.
3. Ethical decision making
Acting ethically is the right thing to do, but it's not always easy. Often, conforming to a high standard of conduct is not about clear-cut right and wrong decisions. It is the ability to collect and evaluate information, develop alternatives, and foresee potential consequences and risks. Ethical decision making is the process of assessing the moral implications of a course of action, such as generating and sustaining trust; demonstrating respect, responsibility, fairness and caring; and consistent with good citizenship.
4. Innovation and creativity
The practice of looking at the world differently, generate new ideas, and make connections between things that seem to be unrelated. This competency will demand a certain originality and energy to take a leap, try new things, and go beyond conventional approaches.
5. Leadership and followership
In organizations, most everybody is both a leader and follower depending upon the circumstances. Leadership is the ability to leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals. The individual is able to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work. Followership is the ability to take direction well; to be part of a team and to deliver on what is expected. Good followers are diligent, motivated, and pay attention to detail.
6. Teamwork and collaboration
The cultivation of positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers and an understanding of their perspectives, insights and diverse viewpoints. This competency requires a person to consider the needs, abilities, and goals of each group member. The individual is able to work easily within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict civilly.
7. Cultural Agility, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism
Human beings are a complex species, and no one person will ever have complete mastery of all of the myriad dimensions of diversity, inclusion and cultural competence. The ability to acknowledge the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of everyone by honoring diversity and promoting social justice is critical and valuable. Creating an inclusive environment involves the ability to explore and respect multiple cultural perspectives or worldviews, challenge individual biases, and participate in what may be difficult dialogues.
8. Community engagement
Actively building an awareness of how communities impact individuals, and in turn, how individuals then impact, serve, and shape communities. Community Engagement involves partnerships and coalitions to help serve as catalysts for identifying and addressing issues affecting well-being, and to influence change in policies, programs, and practices.
9. Digital literacy
The effective use of existing technologies to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals. Someone who demonstrates this competency is willing to learn to utilize new tools, adapt, and keep up with emerging technologies.
10. Continuous learning and career management
The active engagement in an ongoing process of exploring opportunities, gaining experience, and building skills that help one clarify their career goals and reach them. An individual effective at career management will know themselves and the Career Competencies well and be ready to articulate how their personal strengths and qualities, combined with and shaped by their liberal arts education, lead to career success. A certain curiosity about the world of work and a willingness to invest in networking connections, will lead to growing confidence and a meaningful, resilient career.