In 2015, the Career Services Team started developing more focused and intentional employer and faculty partnerships through annual meetings. As a result of these meetings, several enhancements were made to the curriclum and career services programming. Including the annual Partnering For Success meetings starting in 2017, where industry partners, CBO's, faculty and Career Services staff come together to gain valuable suggestions on how to increase the effectiveness of the internship programs, enhance the field experience course requirements and inform the professional development workshops and career services provided to students.
Through the industry and faculty meetings several program enhancements have been achieved and keys skills for students identified:
Key skills to grow:
- Workplace etiquette – being aware of what’s appropriate to wear to work, being on time, learning organizational culture, and conducting yourself in a professional manner.
- Team work – working well with colleagues to complete assignments and share information is core to your success in the workplace.
- Interpersonal communication - interacting with professional colleagues is different than interacting with your friends and family, and should be clear, direct, and polite.
- Problem solving – proactively working through something you haven’t done before or a challenge that presents itself, and collaborating with colleagues to get help when you need it.
- Written communication – practicing written communication in the workplace from emails to memos, reports to newsletters.
Bigger picture objectives:
- Gain an understanding of how to create professional relationships and build a network
- Take time to reflect and increase your awareness of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of personal growth
- Expand upon your classroom learning with hands-on experience
- Build confidence in your abilities
- Practice completing assignments and managing time in a work setting
- Learn about longer-term career path or interest
- Receive mentorship from a supervisor or colleague
The National Association of Colleges and Employers released the NACE Career Readiness Competencies. These competencies are being incorproated into the work we do in Career Services and in the classroom.