Ready Day One in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Employers want graduates who are ready to hit the ground running — ready to roll up their sleeves because they have knowledge AND know-how.
“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to our students in CBSS, providing every student the skills and knowledge to immediately pursue exciting and rewarding careers.”
– Dr. Ryan Schroeder, Dean
In the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS), it’s our mission to make sure our graduates are career-ready with the skills they need to do the job right. So, in partnership with the Office of Career and Professional Development, we’ve launched the Ready Day One program to do just that.
What is Ready Day One?
The Ready Day One program is a customized educational experience for students in CBSS. It weaves professional career development throughout your degree curriculum.
By the end of your studies, you will:
- Explore your interests and skills
- Examine your career path
- Seek out and complete career-relevant experiences
- Connect with potential employers
- Follow through on your career plans
All while you’re working on your degree!
The Ready Day One Certification
In addition to your career-based curriculum, students from all colleges and programs can earn a Ready Day One Certificate from the Office of Career and Professional Development. The certification is based on points that correspond to specific tasks. Students who complete all 12 points will receive the certification, which includes a graduation cord, a signed certificate and a certification badge for their LinkedIn or Handshake profile.
What Do Employers Want?
According to The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers ask for the following attributes in their hires:
- Career and self development
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Equity and inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
The Ready Day One Curriculum
The Ready Day One program will devote curriculum in all CBSS degree programs to career readiness training as you progress from freshman to senior. Your training will include the following.
- Year 1 (Career Assessment): You will use the FOCUS 2 Career assessment from Career Dimensions to help discover how your personal interests, skills and values can be used to select a desirable career path.
- Year 2 (Professionalism and Networking): To underscore the importance of professionalism in the workplace and the impact of professional networking on the job search, you will attend an in-person or virtual networking event or career fair, or complete an informational interview with a professional in your area of vocational interest.
- Year 3 (Interview Skills): You will be required to complete an online practice interview using Big Interview software. The Big Interview AI feedback tool will provide you with a customized action plan along with guidance on how you can improve your interviewing performance.
- Year 4 (Job Search): You will receive training on the essential elements of the job search process, including instruction on Handshake, CareerShift, LinkedIn and other tools. To gain experience, you will be required to download job search resources, complete a LinkedIn profile (or similar networking site specific to your area of interest), and begin one sample job search.