What are Carleton’s Career Competencies?

Career Management

Definition

• Identify and articulate skills, strengths, knowledge and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals and identify areas necessary for professional growth.
• Through openness and curiosity is able to navigate and explore job options, understands and demonstrates a level of adaptability while taking the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Communication: Communicate personal strengths to classmates, professors, or professional contacts
• Self-awareness: Identify and articulate skills from course assignments and projects
• Showing Ambition: Develop strategies and goals for your career journey

Communication

Definition

• Explain information, ideas and opinions effectively in a clear and concise manner; both verbally and in writing.
• Express ideas to others and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Written Communication: Write a research paper/essay
• Verbal Communication: Lead a Q&A session after a class presentation
• Visual Communication: Design slides using a software

Community Engagement

Definition

• Social and civic responsibility demonstrated by meaningful links within the community.
• Establishes mutually beneficial relationships with community members.
• Demonstrates consideration of the welfare of community members in decision- making.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Communication: Writing a Policy Brief
• Research: Conduct Community-Based Action Research
• Facilitation: Facilitating a group meeting with a client

Digital Literacy

Definition

• Ethically and efficiently, solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals, while leveraging the existing digital technologies.
• Adaptability to new and emerging technologies.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Creativity: Use of digital tools and software to display information
• Technical: Email with professors and classmates
• Research: Perform online research for assignments, reports and projects

Discipline-specific Knowledge

Definition

• Acquire knowledge related to academic discipline as well as job and/or industry-specific knowledge.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Critical Thinking: Develop arguments from various perspectives
• Problem Solving: Work with classmates to solve a complex problem in a project
• Research: Find appropriate resources for a research paper in a library

Diversity and Intercultural Awareness

Definition

• Build and manage inclusive relationships and collaborate on a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary level, as well as with local and global engagement.
• Demonstrate an openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and respect towards all people and understand individuals’ differences.
• Substantive knowledge of Indigenous peoples and their history through discipline-specific studies and activities.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Personal Management: Demonstrate positive attitudes, through behaviours, initiatives, and energy
• Intercultural Awareness: Research or learn about the history of a culture and/or country
• Teamwork: Show interest and openness in learning about others and learning about their unique perspective

Innovation and Collaboration

Definition

• Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and solve complex problems.
• Obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts and data in this process and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
• Work within a team structure and can negotiate and manage conflict.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Teamwork: Working with a group for an assignment
• Communication: Presenting ideas to a class
• Conceptualizing ideas: Design mock-ups for a class project

Leadership

Definition

• Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others.
• Assess and manage their emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Active Listening: Listen to group members ideas, while checking in for understanding
• Time Management: Manage school and personal workload
• Teamwork: Contribute to group work, levering the strengths of others

Research and Analysis

Definition

• Demonstrates the ability to access, analyze and apply knowledge and skills from various disciplines.
• Strategically applies knowledge and skills from past experiences to new situations.
• Assesses situations and identifies problems in order to evaluate solutions and make decisions.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Analysis: Interpreting data and its implications to the real world
• Problem Solving: Use sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems
• Research: Use of different resources and research methodologies to effectively gather, and interpret facts, data, and knowledge

Professionalism and Work Ethic

Definition

• Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits.
• The individual demonstrates integrity, ethical behavior and acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind.

Sample Transferable Skills in the Classroom

• Productivity: Plan, organize and prioritize course work, in addition to having effective study strategies and techniques to complete course work and prepare for exams
• Showing respect: Having open and honest discussions and learning from others
• Organization: Bring all the required materials and books for class, labs, presentations, tutorials, etc.