Career Skills to Develop Through Your Post-Secondary Programs and Beyond
If you are considering what kind of post-secondary direction you may want to go, you are probably thinking about what kinds of credentials, degrees or skills will make you most competitive in the workforce. As you research training programs, colleges and universities, look carefully at the skills they are arming their graduates with, and how they do it. According to the (US) National Association of Colleges and Employers, here are your most important Career Skills and example behaviors that employers are seeking.:
- Career and Self-Development – be curious; show self-awareness; seek our opportunities for growth and feedback; voluntarily seek additional training and education; be willing to take on roles that lead to progression;, self-advocate; build relationships
- Communication – verbal, written and body language; active listening and influencing; being clear and organized in communications; show sensitivity to differences in culture, learning style, and communication abilities; formulate appropriate questions
- Critical Thinking – be able to identify, source, analyze and summarize appropriate data and information; show sensitivity to diverse stakeholders and perspectives when sharing information; solve problems and make decisions based on inclusive reasoning and judgement; anticipate needs and proactively address them
- Leadership – serve as an example to others through positive and confident approach to tasks; inspire, motivate, and persuade others; build trust; draw from various sources and perspectives in taking direction; think beyond traditional approaches – “outside the box”; plan and initiate, manage and complete projects
- Professionalism – show integrity, accountability, and equity; align with the organization’s values; show up, be present and prepared, dependable and thorough, with dedication to doing each task with little or no error; prioritize goals and tasks, and meet and exceed expectations
- Teamwork – listen to others without interrupting and ask questions to clarify communications; collaborate, compromise, and manage conflict with respect; utilize your strengths in compliment to others’ and be accountable for your own and the team’s responsibilities and goals; build relationships with peers, supervisors and those you supervise
- Equity and Inclusion – be adaptable and open to diverse perspectives; seek global, cross-cultural experiences to build understanding and knowledge; actively contribute to and advocate for inclusion; strive to identify resources and remove barriers to individuals based on differences; identify systems of privilege that place limitations on others who are marginalized
- Technology – be open to new technologies, quick to adapt and utilize them to improve productivity or efficiency; manage effective implementation of technology; identify appropriate technologies for completing specific tasks; manipulate information, construct ideas and use technology to meet strategic goals
