Sample Competencies

The Ready NOWâ„¢ curriculum consists of various programs which reinforce the most popular “critical competencies” sought by employers, based on extensive research findings. The competency list and definitions below are derived from the “Are They Really Ready to Work” report (The Conference Board et. al, 2006):

[table caption=”Critical Competencies”]
Competency,Description
Thinking/Problem Solving ,”Exercise sound reasoning and analytical thinking; apply math and science concepts to problem solving”
Oral Communications,”Articulate thoughts, ideas clearly and effectively; have public speaking skills”
Written Communications,”Write memos, letters and complex technical reports clearly and effectively”
Teamwork/Collaboration,”Build collaborative relationships with colleagues; able to work with diverse teams, negotiate and manage conflicts”
Diversity,”Learn from and work collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, races, ages, gender, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints”
Information Technology Application,”Select and use appropriate technology to accomplish a given task; apply computing skills to problem-solving”
Leadership,”Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals; use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others”
Creativity/Innovation,”Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work; communicate new ideas to others; integrate knowledge across different disciplines”
Lifelong Learning/Self Direction,”Be able to continuously acquire new knowledge and skills; monitor one’s own learning needs; be able to learn from one’s mistakes”
Professionalism/Work Ethic,”Demonstrate personal accountability, effective work habits (e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time and workload management)”
Ethics/Social Responsibility,”Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior; act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind”
[/table]

This list is provided only as an illustration; it is not intended to be a definitive or exhaustive, since many competency models exist. In addition to competencies identified by employers, our programs conform to behavioral objectives and performance outcomes defined by local and federal academic standards.