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Many young professionals prepare to enter the workforce while completing high school, college, or university programs. To learn the skills necessary for a successful transition from student to employee, some may participate in career readiness initiatives. Understanding the ways you can prepare yourself to enter the workforce can help you develop the skills hiring managers are looking for in candidates. In this article, we explore what career readiness is, discuss the benefits of participating in this process, and provide steps you can take to prepare yourself for a career.

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What is career readiness?

Career readiness is the process of preparing yourself to enter the workforce, including developing the skills required to find and secure a role and grow within that position. High school, college, or university students may develop their abilities to function in the workforce as they prepare to graduate and seek employment. Becoming ready for a career involves learning new skills, developing your goal-setting abilities, and preparing your mindset for the transition from student to employee. This preparation can help you find success in your workplace, teach you how to manage your career, and plan for career growth.Actively developing your skills and becoming career ready can also appeal to employers and influence their hiring decisions. Showcasing your skills and competencies can help you develop your resume and application to appeal to hiring managers. You can advance your skills through various practices, including mock interviews, career fairs, internships, volunteer opportunities, and resume writing workshops. Here are the skills that you can gain through career preparation programs and practices that can help your chances of securing an interview and job:

• Financial literacy

• Teamwork and collaboration

• Professionalism

• Communication

• Career planning and development

• Leadership

• Problem solving

• Critical thinking

• Career-specific software skills

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Benefits of career readiness

Here are the benefits of participating in programs that help you prepare to enter the workforce and begin your career:

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Eases the transition from education to employment

Some graduates may find it challenging to shift their mindset from student to employee upon graduation. By committing time to develop skills that may ease the transition, these individuals can manage the responsibilities of their new role more independently. Developing your skills to interview, begin work, and apply your abilities to the role can help you feel more equipped for success when you gain employment.It's important to develop skills that can help you establish relationships with your colleagues, work as a team, and communicate effectively. Recent graduates and others looking to enter the workforce may also benefit from understanding their role and place within an organization. Being adaptable, having a collaborative attitude, and being open to feedback are essential skills for students looking for work.

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Helps you find a fulfilling career

As part of your career preparation, you may conduct extensive research on the various jobs available and the career outlook for these positions. Evaluating potential career paths in advance can help you find a fulfilling career after graduation and plan the steps you can take to reach your goals. This research can help you prepare to enter the workforce successfully in a field that interests you. Career preparation encourages you to identify and develop the skills and expertise required for the position you want to achieve.

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Enables the development of foundational skills

Career preparation courses and practices can help you develop the foundational skills that equip you for success in the workplace. Regardless of the position you wish to secure, there are many transferrable skills that apply to several career paths and industries. You can develop leadership, communication, analytical reasoning, and collaboration skills to apply to different positions. Career preparation also focuses on developing the capabilities required to obtain employment, including resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, and professional communication skills.

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Helps you gain confidence

When you actively prepare for your career, you gain the confidence required to enter the workforce successfully. Having confidence in your abilities and career goals can help you communicate with potential employers when applying and interviewing for jobs. By researching positions, understanding the required capabilities, and improving your related skills, you can feel confident that you possess the required knowledge to perform your duties successfully. This increased confidence allows you to enter the workforce and perform your duties effectively and independently, which appeals to employers and hiring managers.

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Addresses the skills gap

The skills gap can make it challenging for individuals to secure employment and for employers to find skilled employees. Career preparation can help address this gap by encouraging those entering the workforce to learn more about their desired position and the required skills. The practice of career readiness is mutually beneficial for graduates and employers, as there's a common understanding of what a role entails and what's required for success. Showcasing that you researched and developed the required skills for a role appeals to hiring managers who attempt to find suitable candidates to fill positions within organizations.

How do you become career ready?

Here are the steps you can take if you're interested in preparing for your career:

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1. Start early

It's becoming increasingly popular to begin preparing to enter the workplace as early as high school. Some schools have programs to help you determine your ideal career path, explore the methods of achieving your goals, and develop related skills. There are also many opportunities in college or university to become career-ready through various extracurricular activities, co-op placements, or internships. The earlier you prepare for your career, the more opportunities you may encounter to broaden your skills before applying for positions.

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2. Commit to learning

It's important to commit to continuous learning to learn new skills, gain additional industry knowledge, and develop professionally. It's helpful to develop a career plan and assess any personal skills gaps that might challenge your ability to achieve your goals, and find ways to develop these essential skills. Even after you enter the workforce, you can continue to engage in professional development training or attend conferences to further hone your skills and knowledge. Here are some ways you can continue to expand your professional abilities:

• Earn an advanced degree.

• Pursue professional certifications.

• Learn new, practical skills.

• Build a professional network.

• Find a mentor.

• Consider professional feedback.

• Subscribe to industry magazines or journals.

• Attend conferences.

• Explore online learning options.

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3. Learn how to set goals

It's important to create goals to prepare for your ideal career path. Learning about goal-setting before you enter the workforce is a practical skill that can equip you for success. When setting goals, you can develop your organization, prioritization, self-motivation, and personal development skills. You can practise developing goals while you're still in school by creating study goals, setting objectives for grades, and ensuring you're meeting your assignment deadlines.

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4. Collaborate with others

Whether you're collaborating with colleagues, interacting with different departments within an organization, or working with external contractors, it's important to know how to work together to achieve success. In many careers and workplaces, collaboration is an essential skill that can help you develop teamwork abilities that you can transfer to your professional career. Here are some additional skills you may learn from collaborating with others:

• Interpersonal communication

• Teamwork

• Leadership

• Active listening

• Responsibility

• Compromise

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5. Develop your technological skills

It's increasingly important to understand how to use technology effectively to complete tasks and optimize your workflow. Many industries require candidates to have a basic understanding of various technologies, while requirements may vary by position and industry. Having a working knowledge of operating systems and industry-standard programs can help you secure employment and enhance your efficiency at work. Here are some general technological skills that you can develop to help you become career ready:

• Typing proficiency

• E-mail etiquette

• E-mail programs

• Spreadsheets and databases

• Virtual meetings

• Internet navigation and research

• Basic computer and operating systems

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6. Learn how to think critically

To increase your career preparedness, you can develop critical thinking skills, as fostering this ability can have positive effects on your professional growth. Many positions in various industries rely on critical thinkers to make ethical, responsible, and informed decisions. Enhancing your abilities to consider various solutions or opportunities can help you develop your career as you continue to implement these abilities at work. Here are some strategies you can use to develop your critical thinking skills:

• Identify the problem to be solved and the obstacles that might keep you from solving it.

• Consider all possible outcomes of a situation or decision.

• Conduct thorough research before making a choice.

• Acknowledge your personal biases or opinions that might affect your critical thinking abilities.

• Assume you don't have all the answers and be accepting of differing perspectives.

• Deconstruct a problem to better understand it.

• Start with the solution in mind and work backwards to determine steps to achieve the goal.

• Draw conclusions with concrete evidence to explain your choice to others.

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(See full article at Indeed.com)