CAREER READINESS

Career Readiness

Core Competencies & Sample Behaviors

At Neumann, you can begin developing these competencies from your first year—through coursework, internships, student organizations, volunteering, and everyday experiences. The Center for Career and Professional Development offers a wide range of services and resources to help you build these skills, explore career paths, and prepare for the job market. Use the competencies and campus resources as your roadmap to strengthen your skills, stand out to employers, and confidently launch your career.

 

Career & Self-Development

Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

Sample Behaviors

• Show an awareness of one’s strengths and areas for development.
• Identify areas for continual growth while pursuing and applying feedback.
• Develop plans and goals for one’s future career.
• Professionally advocate for oneself and others; display curiosity and seek opportunities to learn.
• Assume duties or positions that support professional progression.
• Establish and leverage professional relationships; seek development opportunities.
• Participate in further education, training, or events to support one’s career.

 

Communication

Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

Sample Behaviors

• Demonstrate effective verbal, written, and non-verbal communication.
• Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
• Communicate clearly and in an organized manner for audience understanding.
• Frame communication for diverse learning styles, abilities, and cultures.
• Ask appropriate questions to obtain needed information; seek guidance when necessary.
• Promptly inform relevant others when requiring assistance.

 

Critical Thinking

Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

Sample Behaviors

• Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgment.
• Gather and analyze information from diverse sources and individuals.
• Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps.
• Summarize and interpret data while recognizing personal biases.
• Effectively communicate actions and rationale to varied stakeholders.
• Multi-task well in a fast-paced environment.

 

Equity & Inclusion

Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different cultures and backgrounds. Engage in anti-oppressive practices that actively challenge systems, structures, and policies of racism and inequity.

Sample Behaviors

• Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives.
• Contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence systemic change.
• Advocate for inclusion, justice, and empowerment for marginalized communities.
• Seek cross-cultural interactions that lead to growth and understanding.
• Keep an open mind to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking.
• Identify resources and remove barriers due to inequities and biases.
• Adapt to diverse environments and address systems of privilege.

 

Leadership

Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

Sample Behaviors

• Inspire, persuade, and motivate under a shared vision.
• Seek and leverage diverse resources and feedback.
• Use innovative thinking beyond traditional methods.
• Serve as a role model with confidence and a positive attitude.
• Encourage others and build mutual trust.
• Plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects.

 

Professionalism

Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Sample Behaviors

• Act equitably with integrity and accountability.
• Maintain a positive personal brand aligned with values.
• Be present and prepared; demonstrate dependability.
• Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish goals.
• Meet or exceed expectations with strong attention to detail.
• Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.

 

Teamwork

Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

Sample Behaviors

• Listen carefully; ask appropriate questions without interrupting.
• Manage conflict effectively; respect diverse personalities; show resilience.
• Be accountable for individual and team deliverables.
• Leverage personal strengths to complement others.
• Compromise and be agile; collaborate to achieve goals.
• Build strong, positive relationships with supervisors and coworkers.

 

Technology

Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Sample Behaviors

• Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies.
• Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Choose appropriate tools for specific tasks.
• Integrate information to support effective, timely decision-making.
• Adapt quickly to new or unfamiliar technologies.
• Manipulate information and use technology to achieve strategic goals.