1.2 Professional Characteristics: The Employers’ Perspective
Rachel Dolechek
It is important to develop professional characteristics as you pursue your educational goals before your first (or next) career move. These characteristics are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as core competencies for career readiness. There are eight NACE core competencies developed by employers to create a shared understanding and common vocabulary between academia and industry (National Association of Colleges and Employers, n.d.). The NACE core competencies framework is utilized by many Career Services offices, including Fort Hays State University Career Services, as a foundation for preparing students for the requirements in the workplace.
Table 1.1: Career Ready Competencies Defined by NACE
(National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2021)
| Competency | Definition |
| Career & Self-Development | Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization. |
| Communication | Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization. |
| Critical Thinking | Identify and respond to needs based on an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information. |
| Equity & Inclusion | Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism. |
| Leadership | Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals. |
| Professionalism | Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace. |
| Teamwork | Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities. |
| Technology | Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.
(National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2021) |
You may be thinking you are proficient or even excelling in some or all of the eight competencies presented in Table 1.1. From the employer’s perspective, there is still room for improvement with new graduates for each competency. In 2019, employers reported graduates to be least proficient in the areas that employers believed to be the most important (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2019). The greatest gaps in need versus proficiency were in the professionalism, communication, and critical thinking competencies, as represented in Table 1.2.
Table 1.2: Need vs. Proficiency
(National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2019)
| Competency | Percent of Employers Considered Essential | Percent of Employers Who Deem Graduates as Proficient |
| Professionalism | 95.1% | 46.5% |
| Communication | 93.2% | 49% |
| Critical Thinking | 99.0% | 60.4% |
The professionalism competency had the highest skills gap with a 48.6 percentage points difference. Why might graduates fall short in achieving proficiency with the professionalism competency in the eyes of the employer? The professionalism competency is difficult because it requires consistently achieving high standards and includes a variety of behaviors (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2021; MindTools, n.d.), such as:
- Acting equitably with integrity and accountability
- Being punctual, present, and prepared
- Working productively with others
- Managing time effectively to accomplish organizational goals and meet deadlines
- Showing attention to detail
- Having a professional work image and a positive personal brand
You now may understand what professionalism is and how important this competency is from an employer’s perspective. Take time to develop all eight NACE core competencies during your college experience. You can improve your proficiency in the professionalism competency by reviewing your social media accounts through the eyes of an employer. Perhaps complete a mock interview, internship, or experiential learning activity in class to gain experience with the professionalism competency.
AI Insight: AI Literacy Skills
AI literacy is becoming an essential skill for many professionals because AI is increasingly integrated into nearly every industry, changing the way businesses operate, communicate, and make decisions. In addition, AI models change quickly. Professionals who understand how AI works, its capabilities, and its limitations are better equipped to navigate this technological change and use AI tools effectively in their work. For example, AI-powered systems can automate routine tasks, analyze large datasets for insights, personalize customer experiences, and enhance decision-making processes, all of which can increase productivity and efficiency. However, to use these tools responsibly and effectively, professionals need a basic to advanced understanding of how AI functions and how to critically assess AI-generated content. Additionally, as AI raises important ethical issues—such as privacy concerns, bias in algorithms, and the potential for job displacement—having AI literacy helps professionals make informed decisions and contribute to conversations about the ethical implications of AI in the workplace. In short, AI literacy is not only about using AI tools but also about understanding their impact on business, society, and the future of work.
For more on AI literacy in business communication, read “6.1: AI and Workplace Communication.”
