{"id":19432,"date":"2020-12-03T21:57:13","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T21:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/blog\/what-is-career-readiness\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T03:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:50:43","slug":"what-is-career-readiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en-ca\/resources\/blog-posts\/what-is-career-readiness\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Career Readiness and How You Can Weave it into Your Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ensuring students are equipped with career readiness skills starts at school. Here\u2019s why (and how) you need to think about bringing career readiness into your classroom.<\/h2>\n

When you think of career readiness, it\u2019s hard to imagine looking into the cherubic face of a kindergartener and imagine them leading a meeting about third-quarter numbers.\u00a0<\/span>
\nOr collaborating with colleagues to solve complex problems that can save lives on a global scale. Or tossing out the playbook and coming up with an entirely new game plan when their industry suddenly has to pivot.<\/span>
\nBut these\u2014and other impossible-to-predict workplace scenarios\u2014will be the reality for today\u2019s students as they grow into adults and enter an ever-changing workforce.<\/span>
\nUnfortunately, employers are increasingly reporting that it\u2019s difficult to find career-ready candidates. A <\/span>2019 study<\/span><\/a> found that 73 per cent of employers perceived that it was \u201cvery or somewhat difficult\u201d to find qualified candidates for jobs. And about 34 per cent reported that <\/span>schools have not properly prepared students for jobs.<\/span><\/a>
\nPreparing students for the workforce<\/span><\/a> isn\u2019t something that educators have historically considered part of their role, but career readiness is a vital part of learning and skill-building. We owe it to our students (yes, even those kindergarteners!) to prepare them for their futures, beyond college.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read ACTE Whitepaper: Delivering Real-World Experiences Through Work-Based Learning<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

What\u00a0is Career Readiness?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Career readiness<\/span> refers to the ability to find an appropriate job (in any industry, at any level), understand the responsibilities of that role, successfully report and relate to colleagues\/customers\/management\/stakeholders, and grow professionally within the role.\u00a0<\/span>
\nMost districts and schools have <\/span>college and career readiness<\/span> programs designed to prepare students to make educated decisions about their futures.\u00a0<\/span>
\nThese might include <\/span>technology tools like Xello<\/span><\/a>, which help students reflect on their passions and strengths, research careers that would be a good fit for their personality and skills, and access resources to develop a pathway to qualify for that career.<\/span>
\nOn its own, the \u201ccareer\u201d portion of the college and career readiness education often refers to building technical and\/or 21<\/span>st<\/span> century skills that are required in modern workplaces.\u00a0<\/span>
\nWhile many districts associate career readiness with CTE programs, employers tend to have a broader perspective. Many report that current candidates aren\u2019t coming prepared with the soft skills that help them carry out multi-functional roles that are part of every workplace.\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn fact, a <\/span>LinkedIn Learning 2020 Workplace Learning Report<\/span><\/a> mapped the most in-demand soft skills among more than 20 million jobs and found that creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence top the list.\u00a0<\/span>
\nCareer readiness skills can also include:<\/span><\/p>\n