National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE)

Document Title: Career Readiness Assessment

Document Description:
Career Readiness demonstrates requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the
college students for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.

Enables to identify the career readiness of students to provide them career

development plan

Created by: Harshada

Created on: 28th Jan'22
Updated by:
Updated on:

Implementation:

Stage 1: Beginner
Competencies required:
a. Career & Self Development
b. Communication
c. Professionalism
d. Technology
e. Team Work

Stage 2: Experienced/ Advanced

Competencies required:
a. Critical Thinking
b. Leadership
c. Equity & Inclusion
INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA COMMUNITY

Personal SWOT Analysis

Benefits of personal SWOT:
The biggest benefit to performing your own personal SWOT analysis is the structure it gives your self-evaluation. Individuals might think about what
they’re good at or what’s getting in the way of their personal growth, at least once in a while. However, abstract introspection doesn’t help us create
change. Action is built into the SWOT analysis in the opportunities section.

Secondly, the SWOT focuses on both positive and negative aspects. If you only focus on the good things, then you won’t have a clear direction of what to
improve or what needs to change. However, if you only focus on your weaknesses and threats, you might get overwhelmed and disheartened before you
make it to your action plan.

Thirdly, the SWOT analysis focuses on internal characteristics and factors that affect your opportunities. You’ll always have much more control over
internal factors compared to external ones.
When to conduct Personal SWOT:
Preparing for a Job Interview
Interview prep is one of the most common uses for a personal SWOT analysis. This is especially true since one of the most famous (or infamous) interview
questions is “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” A lot of people think it is hard to come up with a list of appropriate weaknesses for job
interviews, but forget that it can actually be difficult to create a good list of strengths as well. This is where the SWOT analysis can help before your job
interview presentation. In addition, generate a strategy based on a 30 60 90 Day Plan will help you to present a work plan and demonstrate proactivity in
front of employers.

After College Graduation

We have so much structure when we’re in college, that it can be a shock to graduate and lose it all. There are so many decisions to make about career,
living situation, relationships, goals, and even past times that many recent graduates feel lost and directionless.

If this is your case, try evaluation yourself through the personal SWOT analysis format to help you decide what you want to do, what you need to do, and
what the next steps are. The mere fact of going through this analysis as an exercise for personal assessment, could illuminate several aspects related to
your potential career.

When Deciding on a College Degree

There are lots of college degree options out there. For some, simply looking at their strengths and interests will be enough. For others, they’ll need
something with a bit more structure to help them decide what degree is best for them. Not only can you make a personal SWOT analysis to help you
decide what you would be best at, but you can use it to evaluate each prospective college degree as well.

During Job Self-Evaluations

Candidates in a job interview might have been asked to evaluate themselves at work before. It’s an uncomfortable experience, to say the least. Performing
a personal SWOT analysis can both help you format your evaluation and impress your boss at the same time.

Whenever Your Life Needs a Change

There isn’t always a reason or trigger for self-evaluation. Sometimes we just want change. You may be feeling bored, stagnant, or even dissatisfied with
your personal situation. Whatever the case, performing a personal SWOT analysis can help you figure out what needs to change and how to start changing
it.

Answer the following questions by going with your gut and mention the first things that come to your mind and avoid overthinking.
Parameters Example Questions Answers
STRENGTH “I am a hardworking What have been your biggest successes?
(Your strengths should professional, an imaginative (think school, sports, work, group project)
encompass both what you artist, and a compassionate What characteristics made those
are good at generally and person. I don’t get accomplishments possible?
what makes you special. If discouraged when something
you’re having a hard time doesn’t work out, but look for
solutions. I speak multiple What tangible qualifications do you have?
thinking of your strengths, (certifications, degrees, education, training,
then turn to other people languages. I can easily learn
and understand technical internships, etc.)
in your life.)
concepts.”
Creative What projects have you worked on and
Problem Solving completed? (whether in school, at work, or
Organized in your personal life)
Optimistic
What values do you have that others might
not have?
What knowledge-based skills do you have?
(languages, digital skills, software
knowledge, and other technical skills)

What soft-skills do you have? (teamwork,

leadership, dependable, hardworking)
What positive personality traits do you
have? (friendly, funny, empathetic,
enthusiastic, honest, patient)

What do other people in your life say are

your strengths? (friends, parents,
coworkers, bosses, teachers)

WEAKNESSES “I need to improve my self

(Before starting on your control, especially when it
weaknesses, keep in mind comes to doing things that What times have you “messed up”?
that the point of this are necessary like budgeting (school, work, relationships, with your
exercise isn’t to feel bad or cleaning up after myself. I family, etc.) What about you or what did
about your problems, but can be impatient and moody. you do to cause that issue?
to understand them so you My family says I’m messy.”
can work on improving Budget Are you missing any technical
them. If you want to make Don’t keep track of income qualifications from your education or
this personal SWOT and expenses well professional experience?
analysis as helpful as Follow-through
possible, you can also Better at brainstorming than
make notes of what you execution
can do to work on these Expression
weaknesses in this same Sometimes I don’t say what I
about your problems, but can be impatient and moody.
to understand them so you My family says I’m messy.”
can work on improving Budget
them. If you want to make Don’t keep track of income
this personal SWOT and expenses well
analysis as helpful as Follow-through
possible, you can also Better at brainstorming than
make notes of what you execution What situations and tasks do you usually
can do to work on these Expression avoid? Why? What does this say about
weaknesses in this same Sometimes I don’t say what I you as a person?
step. want to
Technical skills What bad habits do you have?
Try to be honest here. So Have more artistic skills than Have people ever complained about
that we can help you to technical you? (Keep in mind that not all
improve) complaints are true reflections of a
person) What have been the valid
complaints?
Think about things that aren’t
necessarily weaknesses, but things that
you could improve.
What would others say you could
improve?
OPPORTUNITIES - Work Work Opportunity: Jenny Are there any positions at your work that
(If you’re looking for jobs: works at Microsoft and could need filling? Are there any tasks that no one
Look at job descriptions on get me into an interview. else likes to do or is able to do that you can
LinkedIn or a career site. do or learn to do?
Look for jobs that call for Work Opportunity: If I
skills that match the ones improve sales by 15% I can
you put in your list. These get a promotion. Is there a new project starting at work that
could be opportunities for you could join and contribute to?
you.)
What potential could you have if you
improved one or two of your weaknesses?
What connections do you have that you can
leverage to find work opportunities?
OPPORTUNITIES- Education Opportunity: Ask people you know who have had
Education There’s a free online course different jobs that you’re interested in what
for learning how to make a they studied and what characteristics they
website. think people need for that job.

Education Opportunity: My
highest grades in high school
were in biology and physics. What potential jobs could you get if you
Could find success in a studied one degree or course compared to
science degree. another?
 Education Opportunity: My
highest grades in high school
were in biology and physics.
Could find success in a
science degree. What kinds of courses have you been good
at?

Do you know people who have gone to any

schools you’re interested in going to? Could
they tell you about their experience or even
get you into a meeting with someone who
works there?
OPPORTUNITIES - Personal Personal Life Opportunity: A
Life DnD group on the local What activities or hobbies could you start
Facebook page is looking for a doing or learn to do?
new member. Are there any groups you can join?
Personal Life Opportunity: What could you achieve in your personal life
The gallery downtown is if you improved on some of your
offering watercolor classes. weaknesses?
THREATS Whenever I’m with my Is there someone in your life holding you
(What barriers or college friends, I’m tempted back?
obstacles are keeping you to spend more money.
from achieving your goals I lose motivation at work Think about your weaknesses: Does anyone
and dreams? These threats whenever I have to work on in your life exacerbate these weaknesses or
could come from people, reports. encourage them?
organizations, policies, Working from home at my
situations, or even yourself family’s house is too Are there any new trends, technologies, or
distracting. processes that you can’t or haven’t gotten
My impatience often leads to involved in that are keeping you from
difficulties with people. advancing?

Are there certain tasks, errands, or projects

that bog you down and keep you from
advancing?

Is your job, education, or personal life

getting in the way of advancing in one of the
other areas?

Do any of your personal traits of

weaknesses directly lead to a threat to your
success?
Think about things that, if they were
different, would help you move closer to
achieving your goals. What are they?
INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA COMMUNITY

INDUSTRY AWARENESS
Industry awareness is an understanding of how industries and businesses work. It's
about knowing what's going on in the world and analysing the way it might impact
your chosen sector and company. You should demonstrate your industry awareness
through showing that you have completed a good amount of research on the employer
on the sector (particularly at interview, when answering questions or when asking your
own questions) and by whether you factor in commercial considerations when
approaching scenario-based.

Industry Awareness can be created by:

1. Networking
2. Reading industry publications
3. Getting Mentorship
4. Online research

Question Answer
Which industry do you want to work in?​
Why does this industry interest you? ​
What is the name of a business/research association
related to this industry? ​
What is the name of online resource within this
industry? ​
What is the industry trend?​
Name 3 companies in the industry you have chosen?​
Why are these companies interesting to you? ​
What are their primary products/services? ​
What kind of web presence do they have (website,
social media, etc.)​

Which are the Two entry-level positions related to this

industry that you could apply to after graduation (or
internships)​
what are 2-3 most required skills in your industry?