Chapter 4: Career Exploration & Pathways
Professional Identity
Defining Your Professional Identity
Forming a professional identity is a concept that goes beyond the education and professionalism necessary for a certain career to include how a person comes to think, feel, and act like a member of his or her profession. Chatham University’s Office of Career Development claims, “Defining and crafting your professional identity is key to maximizing your career opportunities and aligning them with your values.” They go on to state that “taking the time to define and craft your professional identity will help you to create:
- A well thought out approach to your short-term career goals including what you have to offer and what you want to learn
- A succinct and compelling elevator statement
- A well-written, concise and relevant resume
- A cover letter that targets exactly how you are a good fit for a particular job
- Interview tactics that help you and the employer know if you are a good fit for the job”
The following video will help you learn more about professional identity.
The first step in forming your professional identity is seeking out the skills and knowledge needed to become a qualified member of your chosen profession and then determining your level of career readiness.
What is career readiness?
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “Career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college-educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.”
According to the article, “Problem-Solving Skills Top Attributes Employers Seek on Resumes” by Kevin Gray, employers responding to the NACE’s Job Outlook 2022 survey indicate problem-solving, analytical/quantitative skills, and the ability to work on a team as the top three attributes for employees. Communication skills, initiative, strong work ethic, technical skills, adaptability, detail-oriented, and leadership round out the top ten attributes. You can see all the attributes mentioned by employers within NACE’s eight career readiness competencies:
- Career and Self-Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity and Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
Think about the courses you are taking this semester. How have you or will you practice the above competencies in your course assignments and activities? Making these connections now can help you as you look to improve and develop your professional identity. You can also think about how to represent what you are learning in employer-friendly language for resumes and job interviews. Make a commitment to yourself to build “future you” by deciding what competencies you will work on.
Remember Career Services at MCC offers resume help, mock interviews, and more
Are you career ready?
NACE’s Career Readiness Competencies Self-Assessment Tool
This self-assessment is designed to help you recognize what professional competencies you already possess and those you may need to develop and practice to be career-ready and experience workplace success.
Career and 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.
Sample Behaviors:
- Show an awareness of one’s own strengths and areas for development.
- Develop plans and goals for one’s future career.
- Assume duties or positions that will help one progress professionally.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
Sample Behaviors:
- Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language abilities.
- Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
- Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors, specialists, and others.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.
Sample Behaviors:
- Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning, and judgment.
- Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem.
- Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Equity and 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.
Sample Behaviors:
- Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.
- Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth.
- Identify resources and eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.
Sample Behaviors:
- Serve as a role model to others by approaching tasks with confidence and a positive attitude.
- Motivate and inspire others by encouraging them and by building mutual trust.
- Plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understanding and demonstrating effective work habits, and acting in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Sample Behaviors:
- Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
- Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals.
- Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Sample Behaviors:
- Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.
- Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities, and meet ambiguity with resilience.
- Build strong, positive working relationships with supervisor and team members/coworkers.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Technology: Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.
Sample Behaviors:
- Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies.
- Use technology to improve the efficiency and productivity of their work.
- Quickly adapt to new or unfamiliar technologies.
Based on the definition and sample behaviors, select a ranking from the following:
Need to Develop Currently Developing Excelling
Why did you select your ranking?
What are your goals for developing this competency?
Overall, what competencies do you feel strong in, and which ones will you commit to developing during college?
