Are you Professionally Ready?

There is now a professional readiness certificate that most Indiana college students can obtain while in school.  It's called the INdorsed Career Ready Graduate Certificate.  Currently there are 32 Indiana colleges that offer this certificate.  Click HERE to see if your college offers the certificate.

This statewide standard is used by Indiana colleges and universities to certify students’ preparation for professional work in several competency areas: professional identity, experience and skills. The certification provides consistency for core competencies while allowing flexibility for individual programs. Additionally, it offers students and employers an excellent benchmark for career readiness as they engage in the recruiting process.  Upon completion of the certificate, students are given the opportunity to submit their information for an online database.  Employers can recruit these career ready graduates HERE.

For IPFW students, please go to our website at http://www.ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/indorsed.html for more information about how to get started and who to contact with questions.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

There are 3 basic areas of competencies, with 2 sections in each area and suggested activities to complete each area and section.

Professional Identity area

Self Assessment: This section is required because often companies will ask you during an interview why you've chosen this given profession. Through the development of self assessment you will be able to answer this question in a way that demonstrates you thoroughly thought about your career choice.
Self Marketing: This section includes preparation of your resume and interviewing skills, plus one additional activity that will help to showcase you as a candidate and/or create a "brand" online image.

Professional Experience area

Professional Experiences: You should know by now that all companies are looking for college graduates
to have both a diploma and 1-3 internships throughout their college years. There are other ways to gain experience, like attending a professional conference, so get out there and develop yourself in the field/industry of your choice (which your determined in the Self-Assessment section).
Professional Practices: This additional section in the experiences area is focused on developing networking skills and experiences. Networking is the #1 way people find job opportunities because most jobs are found through the Hidden Job Market. Start connecting with alumni, through LinkedIn, or through your own personal connections.

Professional Skills area

Professional Skill Development: It's not enough to just show up to the internship and do what you're told. What new skills did you develop at the internship? If there are certain skills you want to use in the future, then request those responsibilities from your supervisor and find ways to develop them. Leadership, creativity, initiative, and communication skills are all top skills that companies seek.
Unique Selling Point: Have you ever heard the question in an interview, "why should we hire you?" or "what makes you stand out among the other candidates?" This section will help you identify your uniqueness that you can bring to a company and enable you to answer these questions with ease.  A unique selling point is a vast as snowflakes, as no one will be the same from student to student. Start by considering what you do really well, where you excel in the classroom, at work, on the sports field, etc. Once you determine your top strength then perform two activities that support it for the certificate. Some people start by evaluating their experiences and find a common theme to identify the unique selling point, too.