Career
Readiness

Calbright prepares students to not only get the job, but to thrive in the job — with skills that last a lifetime.

Career readiness is the process of developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully enter and grow within the workplace. This involves navigating the job search and developing durable skills.

Research shows that employers highly value durable skills in job candidates. Technical skills are not enough — it’s important to develop soft skills and personal characteristics like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.

Building career
readiness for success.

Career Readiness Defined

Career readiness is the process of developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully enter and grow within the workplace. This involves navigating the job search and developing durable skills.

Beyond Technical Skills

Technical skills are not enough. They must be complemented by the ability to adapt, problem-solve, and build strong relationships in the workplace.

Developing Soft Skills

It’s important to develop soft skills and personal characteristics like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.

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Importance

Why Durable Skills Matter

Universal Appeal
Durable skills are in demand for jobs across the workforce, regardless of educational attainment, industry sector, or geography.
Hiring Priorities
Seven of the ten most requested skills in job postings are durable skills.
Durable Advantage
Employers seek durable skills nearly four times more frequently than the top five technical or hard skills.
Career Must-Haves
91% of management jobs, 86% of business operations jobs, and 81% of engineering jobs explicitly require durable skills.

Approach

Dedicated to Preparing Students: Durable Skills

Durable skills (also known as soft skills) are transferable, long-lasting abilities that are valuable across industries and roles, regardless of technological or organizational changes.

Career-Ready Advantage

Calbright is dedicated to preparing students to gain both the technical knowledge and the in-demand durable skills employers are seeking, making them stand out as uniquely well-rounded candidates when they pursue new opportunities.

Integrated Curricula

Our approach offers a cutting edge, in-depth curriculum for each of nine durable skills based on data gathered directly from employers emphasizing the most desirable skills in the workplace. Most programs incorporate multiple durable skills modules.

Micro-Credentials

Students also have the opportunity to earn Durable Skills Micro-Credentials with badges that showcase their competencies to employers and colleagues. These micro-credentials provide students with the knowledge, work habits, mindsets, and character traits necessary to gain employment and succeed across industries. 

The nine durable skills taught at Calbright:

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
  • Growth Mindset
  • Intercultural Fluency
  • Integrity and Reliability
  • Digital Savvy

Job Search Micro-Credential

We also offer a comprehensive Micro-Credential on Job Search that includes the topics outlined below in order to provide you a foundation for successfully gaining employment. This module is a great starting point before you meet with our Counseling and Career Services department for individual support, resume and cover letter review, job search tools like Career Connect and industry-specific information.

The Job Search module covers:

  • Resume Basics
  • Cover Letter Basics
  • Networking
  • LinkedIn
  • Job Search
  • Interviewing

Questions?

The Durable Skills and Job Search Micro-Credentials will be launching soon! Keep an eye out for them in late 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact lead Career Readiness faculty instructor Ashley Odell ashley@calbright.org.

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