Every class, job, internship, and leadership position you participate in at Boston College is preparing you for a meaningful personal and professional life. We're here to help you recognize and articulate how those experiences have helped you develop the skills employers are seeking, while also identifying skills you need to develop further.
Learn the Core Competencies
The following are the skills/competencies employers are most seeking in their entry-level candidates.
| Show an awareness of one's own strengths and areas for development. |
| Identify areas for continual growth while pursuing and applying feedback. |
| Develop plans and goals for one’s future career. |
| Professionally advocate for oneself and others. |
| Display curiosity; seek out opportunities to learn. |
| Assume duties or positions that will help one progress professionally. |
| Establish, maintain, and/or leverage relationships with people who can help one professionally. |
| Seek and embrace development opportunities. |
| Voluntarily participate in further education, training, or other events to support one’s career. |
| Engage in lifelong learning and the continuous pursuit of truth. |
- Academic courses that focus on writing and presentation skills
- On-campus jobs
- Internships
- E-board of a student organization
| Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language abilities. |
| Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills. |
| Express ideas -- verbally and in writing -- in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand. |
| Frame communication with respect to diversity of learning styles, varied individual communication abilities, and cultural differences. |
| Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors, specialists, and others. |
| Promptly inform relevant others when needing guidance with assigned tasks. |
| Demonstrate effective public speaking skills through presenting information relevant to the intended audience. |
- Academic coursework
- Research (on- or off-campus)
- E-board of a student organization
- Jobs and internships
| Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgment. |
| Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of credible and valid sources and individuals to fully understand a problem. |
| Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps. |
| Accurately summarize and interpret data with an awareness of personal biases that may impact outcomes. |
| Effectively communicate actions and rationale, recognizing the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of stakeholders. |
| Multi-task well in a fast-paced environment. |
| Think creatively, brainstorm, and ideate multiple solutions to a problem before making a decision. |
| Reflect on and learn from mistakes; pivot and adapt based on that learning. |
- Cultural student organizations
- Study or work abroad
- Participate in new cultural experiences at 51²è¹Ý and beyond
- Academic courses that focus on social justice
| Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions. |
| Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change. |
| Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice, and empowerment for historically marginalized communities. |
| Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth. |
| Keep an open mind to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking. |
| Identify resources and eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases. |
| Demonstrate flexibility by adapting to diverse environments. |
| Address systems of privilege that limit opportunities for members of historically marginalized communities. |
| Use active listening skills to increase empathy for others, including those from backgrounds that are different from one's own. |
| Commit to continuous and lifelong learning on global issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. |
- LeaderShape
- Residential Assistant
- E-board of a student organization
- Teaching Assistant
- Mentor
- Athletic involvement
| Inspire, persuade, and motivate self and others under a shared vision and goals. |
| Seek out and leverage diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction. |
| Use innovative thinking to go beyond traditional methods. |
| 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. |
| Incorporate unique strengths, skills, and values into one's own authentic leadership style. |
| Seek opportunities to serve as an active ally and elevate the voices of others. |
- On-campus jobs
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Academic courses/faculty interactions
| Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization. |
| Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values. |
| Be present, prepared, and dependable (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings). |
| Critically assess oneself and one’s work in relation to goals, while also inviting and incorporating feedback from others. |
| Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals. |
| Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations. |
| Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work. |
| Show a high level of dedication toward continuous growth and professional development. |
- Athletics
- Group projects (in jobs, internships, or courses)
- Student organization involvement
| Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting. |
| Effectively manage conflict and learn how to effectively work with diverse personalities. |
| Be accountable for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables. |
| Employ personal strengths, knowledge, and talents to complement those of others. |
| Exercise the ability to compromise, be agile and be resilient. |
| Collaborate with others to achieve common goals. |
| Build strong, positive working relationships with supervisor and team members/coworkers. |
- Academic coursework
- Research
- Internships
| Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies. |
| Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their work. |
| Identify appropriate technology for completing specific tasks. |
| Manage technology to integrate information to support relevant, effective, and timely decision-making. |
| Quickly adapt to new or unfamiliar technologies. |
| Manipulate information, construct ideas, and use technology to achieve strategic goals. |
| Demonstrate digital safety and ethics. |
- Pulse
- Volunteer work
- Civic engagement
- Retreats
| Articulate how your individual strengths and skills can be used to help others and serve the greater good. |
| Seek out opportunities to help others with no expectation of personal reward |
| Share resources such as time, talent, and money with those in need |
| Make civic-minded decisions, prioritizing the common good over personal gain |
| Articulate how one's intended career benefits society or helps others |
| Demonstrate personal responsibility and commitment to dismantling systems of oppression |
| In the spirit of cura personalis (care for the whole person), acknowledge and holistically support the individual needs of people in your community and workplace |
Reflect on Your Career Readiness
Connect all of your jobs, internships, campus involvement, and academics to the skills employers are seeking to help you discern your interests and prepare for your search. Utilize our worksheet to help guide your reflection.Â
It's a Lifelong Process
51²è¹Ý alumni offer advice for navigating and managing your career throughout your time at 51²è¹Ý and beyond.