Competency definition:  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.

NACE 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

Suggestions for additional observable behaviors:

• Articulate one’s strengths (skills, knowledge, dispositions) suitable to the work.
• Identify of one’s weaknesses and development of a remediation plan.
• Investigate career and occupational options and planful approach to goal setting.
• Effective creation of and use of professional persona to advance connections.
• Create and manage professional documents.

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

NACE Sample Behaviors:

• Understand the importance of an demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language 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 others when needing guidance with assigned tasks.

Suggestions for additional observable behaviors:

• Written/Digital
  • Write professional electronic/email communications that are clear, concise, grammatically correct, and free of spelling errors.
  • Ensure the receiver of email has all the necessary context to understand what the email is asking and provide specifics on what question you want them to answer. If you expect something back from someone, supply a due date so they understand your expectations.
  • Able to draft a well-articulated, written work product that is clear and concise. 
  • Communicate in simple language that is accessible without the use of jargon.
  • Effectively write reports, supported with research and data.
  • Being able to write a resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and other branding documentsx
  • Use social media effectively to convey a message.
    
    
• Verbal
  • Discuss differences and resolve conflict/negotiate. 
  • Give and receive feedback.
  • Carry on a face-to-face conversation and follow conversation without a prepared script.
  • Actively listen, avoid multitasking, and show interest using positive body language, eye contact and verbal responses such as “uh huh,” “ok,” etc.
  • Make people feel welcomed and respected by being authentic and honest to create a personal connection with others.
  • Ask clarifying questions and paraphrase to ensure understanding.
  • Speak on the phone with a clear voice and consistent greeting; being polite and provide quality customer service.
    
    
• Presentation/Group
  • Practice oral presentations without having to read from your slides.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Minimize use of “uhs, ums, and likes.”
  • Invite questions and discussions from your audience.
  • Know and understand your audience to adapt your message.
  • Present and communicate appropriately to all levels of the organization.
  • Present and convey the significance of data.
  • Actively participate in meetings.

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

NACE Sample Behaviors:

• Make decisions and solve problems using sound reasoning and judgment
• Gather and analyze information form diverse resources 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
• Effective communication actions and rationale, recognizing the diverse perspective and lived experiences of stakeholders
• Multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment

Students may build competency through:

• Classroom learning, i.e. debate, research papers, case studies
• Research
• Field experiences i.e. internships, practical, clinical placements
• Project-based service learning
• Student club/organization leadership

Competency definition:  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.

NACE 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.

Suggestions for additional observable 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.

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

NACE 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.

Suggestions for additional observable behaviors:

• Open communication
• Consistency and control of emotions
• Organized
• Ethical decision making
• Delegation and empowerment of others
• Project planning and time lining

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

NACE 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.

Suggestions for additional observable behaviors:

• Embraces integrity and personal accountability for self, others, and the organization.
• Creates a brand with value enhancement that aligns with both organizational and personal mission, vision, and values.
• Shows drive and initiative.
• Completes assignments or tasks on time.
• Self-imposes standards of quality.

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

NACE 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 supervisor and team members/coworkers.

Experiences to build competencies:

• Campus organization membership
• Athletic team membership
• Class projects
• Group service learning/volunteer projects

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

NACE Sample Behaviors:

• Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies.
• Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their 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.
• Display proficiency with relevant computer applications (e.g. spreadsheets, word processing)

Suggestions for additional observable behaviors:

• Identify and apply appropriate technologies to improve efficiency and productivity of work.
• Demonstrate an ability to make appropriate use of technologies to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, and conduct research.
• Exhibit digital citizenship through digital etiquette behaviors and recognizing impact of actions and words as a consumer and employee.
• Evaluate data privacy and security concerns to verify legitimacy of external requests for information.
• Navigate and assess changes in technology platforms to adapt knowledge and differentiate among options.
• Determine and practice personal boundaries to ensure well-being and balance through and with use of technology