We Are Career Ready

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 a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem.
• Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps.
• Accurately summarize and interpret data with an awareness of personal biases that may impact outcomes.
• Effectively communicate actions and rationale, recognizing the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of stakeholders.
• Multitask well in a fast-paced environment.

Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts and perspectives with people inside and outside an organization.

Sample Behaviors:

• Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written and non-verbal/body language and abilities.
• Employ active listening, persuasion and influencing skills.
• Communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand.
• Frame communication with respect to diversity of learning styles, varied individual communication abilities and cultural differences.
• Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors, specialists and others.
• Promptly inform relevant parties when needing guidance with assigned tasks.

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

Sample Behaviors: 

• Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.
• Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities and meet ambiguity with resilience.
• Be accountable for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables.
• Employ personal strengths, knowledge and talents to complement those of others.
• Exercise the ability to compromise and be agile.
• Collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
• Build strong, positive working relationships with supervisors and team members/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 of work.
• Identify appropriate technology for completing specific tasks.
• Manage technology to integrate information to support relevant, effective and timely decision-making.
• Quickly adapt to new or unfamiliar technologies.
• Manipulate information, construct ideas and use technology to achieve strategic goals.

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

Sample Behaviors:

• Inspire, persuade and motivate self and others under a shared vision.
• Seek out and leverage diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction.
• Use innovative thinking to go beyond traditional methods.
• Serve as a role model to others by approaching tasks with confidence and a positive attitude.
• Motivate and inspire others by encouraging them and by building 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 to self, others and the organization.
• Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values.
• Be present and prepared.
• Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings).
• Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals.
• Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations.
• Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work.
• Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.

Career and 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 inside and out of one’s organization.

Sample Behaviors:

• Show an awareness of own 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. Seek out opportunities to learn.
• Assume duties or positions that will help one progress professionally.
• Establish, maintain and/or leverage relationships with people who can help one professionally.
• Seek and embrace development opportunities.
• Voluntarily participate in further education, training or other events to support one’s career.

Equity and Inclusion: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures and policies of racism.

Sample Behaviors:

• Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.
• Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.
• Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.
• Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth.
• Keep an open mind to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking.
• Identify resources and eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases.
• Demonstrate flexibility by adapting to diverse environments.
• Address systems of privilege that limit opportunities for members of historically marginalized communities.