Professional Preparedness
What is professional preparedness?
Professionally prepared graduates will demonstrate career readiness by embodying a
diligent work ethic and effectively implementing their experiences of collaboration,
problem solving and communication. Graduates will embrace agile learning for lifelong
career development in an ever-expanding diverse and global workplace.
Developing Professional Preparedness
Examples could include:
- Works effectively as a member of a team
- Collaborative Projects: Students can demonstrate their ability to thrive in team environments by actively participating in collaborative projects throughout their academic coursework and involvement.
- Joining a Club or Student Organization: Participating in clubs often involves working on collaborative projects or initiatives with fellow members, allowing students to develop their teamwork skills while also expanding their network.
- Internship or Part-Time Job Opportunities: Internships and part-time jobs provide in valuable hands-on work experience by allowing students the opportunity to collaborate closely with their peers and colleagues in their departments. Students will develop both soft and transferable skills.
- Solves problems through critical thinking
- Research Endeavors: Research projects offer students a chance to sharpen their problem-solving and critical thinking skills by exploring intricate questions, examining data and finding innovative solutions to important research problems.
- Case Studies: Analyzing case studies relevant to their field and career interests allows students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations, identify key issues and propose solutions through critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Communicates effectively in writing and verbally
- Presentations: Students can improve their verbal communication through giving presentations in their classes, student organizations, internships, conferences, seminars and in many other professional settings.
- Development of Effective Communication Strategies: Through taking courses related to communication, students can refine their skills and receive feedback on areas they can improve upon in their written and verbal communication.
- Gets things done through diligent work
- Work Experience: Internships and part-time jobs play a crucial role in shaping students by exposing them to real-world expectations, professional standards and hands-on involvement, laying the foundation for a strong work ethic that will benefit them throughout their career.
- Student Engagement: Being heavily involved in co-curricular activities provides valuable opportunities for students to develop their work ethic by learning to handle multiple tasks and priorities effectively, all while managing their academic coursework.
Explore the competencies
In addition to professional preparedness, learn more about each of the additional
competencies that make up the Ideal Graduate.