Five Competencies
Career readiness is imperative to ensuring a successful transition from graduate school into the work environment. The best way to establish a pathway to a rewarding career is to develop the competencies employers are seeking in their new hires. Below are the core competencies the Professional Development Team has identified through a review of research by the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) and discussions with our partners. Professional development programs offered through The Graduate School focus on the following competencies to help our graduate students cultivate the talents, skills and strengths that will prepare them for a variety of positions and job functions.
Want to know which of these competencies are strengths for you and which need improvement? Take our Competencies Assessment to identify the areas you need to develop. From there, you can see on the Professional Development Dashboard the workshops to take to strengthen these competencies. We encourage you to use the Professional Development Dashboard to plan your professional growth and chart your progress towards building the skills employers want.
Oral & Written Communication
Communicating effectively involves both verbal and written forms.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Positive working relationships with teams and colleagues are crucial to the success of any organization.
Career & Self Development
Self-awareness is the foundation for understanding how one best operates in both personal and professional environments.
Leadership & Management
There is a difference between leading others and managing people.
Effectiveness & Well-Being
Knowing how to appropriately self-manage, respond, cope and work are imperative to being a productive employee.