#career-readiness

#career-readiness

Degree apprenticeships combining paid work, on-the-job training, and classroom instruction are expanding across 350 institutions, but remain concentrated in teaching and nursing with uneven access and limited availability at bachelor's and master's levels.

Employers hire signals of applied problem-solving, teamwork readiness, and clear decision-making; portfolios must show real-work projects, context, iteration, and impact to get hired.

Education must shift from training predictable, pattern-based tasks to teaching value creation, positioning, storytelling, and skills humans can't automate.

NACE's career-readiness competencies require advocacy of Equity & Inclusion, including anti-oppressive practices and addressing systemic privilege, as part of being career ready.

Most undergraduates feel prepared for the job market but need paid internships, stronger employer connections and clearer graduate outcomes to reduce stress and boost employability.

Intentionally structured gap years focused on self-exploration and career readiness can reduce wasted college time and costs while supporting purpose and planning.

Brandeis will launch a $25 million skills-focused liberal arts curriculum with required advisers, internships, applied learning, and a Center for Careers to improve career readiness.