Career Readiness Program

Achieve More With Your Education

Career & Self Development | Communication | Critical Thinking
Equity & Inclusion | Leadership | Professionalism | Teamwork | Technology

Students will achieve and demonstrate competency in all eight of the skill areas as they move through the three levels of the program. You will work directly with your Saint Michael’s Career Coach who will guide you through the program. Each level builds upon the experiences of the previous and completing each one earns you a Career Ready badge for your résumé and LinkedIn profile, telling employers you are prepared to excel above other candidates.

We seek to prepare our students for their life after college and employment in a diverse workplace. Through each level of the badge, participants will engage in activities that will enhance their career preparedness and require experiences that will broaden service to the community and exposure to a variety of cultural differences.

The capstone of each level of the program will be earned through service to the community. Service can be achieved through participation in a wide range of campus, local, or hometown organizations and will be approved by a Career Coach. These experiences will be broadly defined and can range from MOVE Programs to student government or the food shelf to residence life. Community engagement is an important component of the Saint Michael’s experience and is a valuable avenue to gain career ready skills and preparation for a diverse workplace.

Level 1

Participants will actively engage in their early career education process and will reflect on their learning.  Students will begin the process of investing in their career success through experiences and opportunities that lead to a future of doing well and doing good.

You will lay the groundwork for your career readiness and understand more about your potential career tracks covering:

Self-assessment | Career coaching sessions
Networking skills | Professional documents and online profile

Badge Requirements

Join a selected campus, local or hometown service organization.

Complete at least four of the following and work with a Career Coach to track your progress in Canvas and have it verified.

• Complete a self-assessment tool (TypeFocus and/or CliftonStrengths) and discuss it with a Career Coach to identify career interests, skills and values.
• Meet with a Career Coach to discuss your major choice/s or options for a major/s.
• Develop a college-level resumé, cover letter and online professional profiles (including Handshake, SMC Connect and LinkedIn) and have them reviewed by a Career Coach.
• With a Career Coach, explore experiential learning options such as internships, study abroad and faculty-led research and meet with appropriate advisors for these programs.
• Work on or off campus in a resumé-building experience (see a Career Coach to determine this).
• Join the alumni network in LinkedIn and connect with at least two alumni for networking purposes.

Verification:

• Complete the online reflection form for Level One in Canvas. Reflection forms will focus on the eight career readiness skills.
• Provide self-assessment results through TypeFocus or CliftonStrengths.
• Work with a Career Coach to verify your completion of these criteria.

Level 2

Participants will demonstrate active engagement in learning outside of the classroom which may include attending career events, completing experiential learning and utilizing Career Education Center resources. Students engage in experiences that explore prospective career opportunities and demonstrate a curiosity and drive to find their passion.

You will further hone your skills and knowledge and begins to develop your professional network and experience. You will meet alumni in your field and partake in activities like:

Career symposia | Job shadowing
Practice interviews | Informational interviews

Badge Requirements

Completed Level One badge.

Take a leadership role in your selected campus, local or hometown organization.

Complete at least four of the following and work with a Career Coach to track your progress in Canvas and have it verified.

• Complete two informational interviews with alumni or someone in your targeted career field identified through SMC Connect and/or LinkedIn.
• Complete a practice interview with a Career Coach.
• Complete an experiential learning option such as an internship, study abroad or faculty-led research.
• Attend the November Career Symposium (on campus), the New York Career Seminar or Boston Career Seminar in January.
• Work with a Career Coach to complete a job shadow in your field of interest.
• Research your post-graduate options such as graduate school, employment or service with a Career Coach.
• Work with a Career Coach to find and connect with a mentor in your field of interest.

Verification:

• Must have earned and accepted the Career Ready Level One Badge and completed your Credly* profile.
• Complete the online reflection form for Level Two in Canvas. Reflection forms will focus on the eight career readiness skills.
• Upload to Credly* at least one example of your work that demonstrates your skills/achievements.
• Work with a Career Coach to verify your completion of these criteria.

Level 3

With level one and level two badges completed, participants will utilize those skills and experiences to take on leadership roles on and off campus. Students will also continue to actively engage in the career education process, as well as assisting others through clubs/organizations with career-related initiatives. The attainment of the third badge culminates with the confidence, wherewithal, and determination to lead them to their post-graduate career endeavors.

The final level of your career-readiness work involves applying your career skills and tools and developing leadership experiences and a desire to serve the greater human good. These activities will include:

Internship experiences | Leadership with a campus, local, or hometown organization | Applications for employment, graduate school, or service

Badge Requirements

Plan a career-related event on-campus or with your local or hometown organization, which could include an alumni/ae guest speaker. For example, a speaker to talk about non-profit management at a MOVE program or a panel on leadership for residence life staff.

Complete at least four of the following and work with a Career Coach to track your progress in Canvas and have it verified.

• Connect at least twice with your mentor (if completed in Level Two) in meaningful conversations (via SMC Connect, phone, LinkedIn or in person).
• Complete applications for employment, graduate school or service.
• Attend the Career Symposium in November, the New York Career Seminar or Boston Career Seminar in January.
• With a Career Coach, develop a career branding plan with updated online profiles and resumé; optimize LinkedIn and SMC Connect profiles, build a target network and engage.
• Attend at least two career-related events on campus including workshops and career panels (not including the Career Symposium).

Verification:

• Must have earned and accepted the Career Ready Level One and Level Two Badge.
• Complete the online reflection form for Level Three. Reflection forms will focus on the eight career readiness skills and all eight must be completed for Level Three.
• Demonstrate leadership through participation in a club or organization, community service, or employment.
• Demonstrate career preparedness through a career branding plan.
• Upload to Credly* at least one example of your work that demonstrates your skills/achievements.
• Work with a Career Coach to verify your completion of these criteria.

* A digital credential network for professional development and higher education. Learn more at https://info.credly.com/.