# NACE Career Readiness Competencies

**Source**: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/resources/nace-career-readiness-competencies/
**Parent**: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/channels/agriculture-green-industries/

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**Career Readiness** is the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace. While education and experiences are important, employers have identified the following eight competencies as necessary skills for any new college graduate.

**Critical Thinking**\
Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.\
*Employers are seeking students who are able to:\*

- Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgement;
- Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources

**Communication**\
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.\
*Employers are looking for students who:*

- Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills;
- Communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand;
- Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors and others

**Teamwork**\
Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively towards common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.\
*Employers are looking for students who can:*

- Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities;
- Collaborate with others to achieve common goals and employ personal strengths to complement others

**Leadership**\
Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.\
*Employers are looking for students who are able to:\*

- Seek out and leverage diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction;
- Use innovative thinking to go beyond traditional methods;
- Motivate and inspire others by encouraging them and by building mutual trust.

**Professionalism**\
Understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and  work place.\
*Employers are seeking students who:*

- Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior;
- Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization;
- Demonstrate dependability (i.e., report consistently for work or meetings;
- Be present and prepared

**Career & Self Development**\
Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships.\
*Employers are looking for students who:*

- Develop plans and goals for one’s future career;
- Identify areas for continual growth while pursuing and applying feedback

**Technology**\
Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.\
*Employers are looking for students who:*

- Navigate change and are open to learning new technologies;
- Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their work

**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.\
and religions.\
*Employers are looking for students who:*

Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change;\
Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups

\*Adapted from NACE Career Readiness Competencies

**\*Duplicate information available in attached handout.**

[View/Download Handout](https://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/2021/05/Career-Readiness-2-2-1.pdf)