Career Readiness
Gold Career Readiness Purple Career Readiness
What is Career Readiness?
According to National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the definition of career readiness is...
“Career Readiness is the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace.”
On This Page:
» What is Career Readiness?
» Gold Career Readiness Application
» Purple Career Readiness Application
» NACE Career Readiness Competencies
Career Development announces re-designed and expanded Career Readiness Certification programs
The Center for Career Development announces that the GOLD and PURPLE Career Readiness Certification programs have been re-designed and expanded. Based mostly on the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Competencies and George Kuh’s high impact practices, the programs designs are to help students identify where their skills are being developed and how to better communicate those skills to employers.
Gold Career Readiness — Freshmen and Sophomores ›
The GOLD (freshman/sophomore) program emphasizes:
1) Exploring Interests and Getting Involved,
2) Planning and Skill Building, and
3) Introduction to the Career Ready Competencies.
Additional workshops help students on how to better articulate their skill accumulation on resumes and when answering behavioral based interview questions.
This extra emphasis on growing and identifying skills and being able to communicate those skills, assists in acquiring needed internships, co-ops and summer employment opportunities. Being able to discuss these skills with employers supports the student’s academic major, occupational goals and increases their chances for employment success. The GOLD program is perfect for those freshman level courses that are looking for initial career awareness and self exploration activities.
Purple Career Readiness — Juniors and Seniors ›
The PURPLE (Junior/Senior) program has also been expanded to offer segments on financial wellness, LinkedIn and personal
branding and image, skills deemed important when making a successful transition into
the world of work. The PURPLE program has heightened focus on helping students prepare
for their upcoming transition from Tech and is broken into:
1) Getting Experience,
2) Getting Ready for What Comes Next, and
3) Becoming Career Ready.
Resume writing, including tips on leveraging industry specific language is brought into focus as well as helping students understand the nuances of answering interview questions by using concrete examples of their skills and experiences. The PURPLE program makes an excellent companion program to professionalism courses where juniors and seniors are enrolled.
We advise all faculty considering these programs to let us know of your intent prior
to the start of the semester. You can do so by sending an email to rcoughenour@tntech.edu. For a full look at each program’s requirements please see the GOLD and PURPLE Career Readiness applications listed below.
See what students are saying about their experience!
I really liked doing the research project. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do when I started college so I just chose computer science. I didn't really know what I would be doing when I got a job. This research paper helped me to learn what I will be doing and I am glad I chose to come into this field.
Easy to follow the program with helpful information and positively affect my confidence going into an interview.
This program has allowed me to achieve a greater understanding of what employers look for in their employees. I now have a better understanding of what is required of me.
I enjoyed the program. I learned a lot about how important a resume is along with what informational interviewing is.
This career readiness program was helpful with resume and interview tips. I liked this set of questions to give me experience with possible ideas for interview answers.
I appreciate the talk you guys gave about interviews. It was really helpful to know what to actually do before, during, and after.
The career readiness program is a very important program as it helps give students a clue of where to start when it comes to searching for jobs/internships.
I like how we get to explain real life events that relate back to what we are learning in the classroom.
Thank you for this awesome program!
This has been a great program. It kind of forced me to do the things I had been procrastinating regarding my future and gave me motivation to get excited and get started.
I like that this program pushed me to think deeper about the skills I have attained.
I think that the career readiness program has pushed me to seek information I thought I didn't need. Going to the launchpads and different seminars help give me information that may aid in my future job search I've met many different people that have the same goal and through that goal a bonding experience occurs. I would definitely tell other people about this program and make sure to include it on my resume so that I can tell my future employers more about it.
This program has really helped me develop skills I lacked for interviews. My knowledge of interviews was extremely limited now I have a sense of what to do.
It was totally worth my time taking this program that gave me a lot of benefits that I didn't expect to get much from it.
This program has been very simple and user-friendly.
I am loving this program and the opportunities it is providing me. I feel more prepared for my future career! Thank you!
I like the way it made me to think and reflect about what I am already doing and how important it is to start building your qualities and skills at the college for your future.
Career Readiness Certification
Gold Career Readiness Application — Freshman/Sophomore
To apply for the Gold Career Readiness Program for freshmen and sophomores, please download and complete the following application, or complete the online application. Do not submit an online application until you have completed all requirements. Applications and all documentations need to be completed in Fall semester 2025 and turned in by November 21, 2025 at 8 AM. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
GOLD CAREER READINESS APPLICATION (PDF)
GOLD CAREER READINESS ONLINE APPLICATION
Purple Career Readiness Application — Junior/Senior
To apply for the Purple Career Readiness Program for juniors and seniors, please download and complete the following application, or complete the online application. Applications and all documentations need to be completed in Fall semester 2025 and turned in by November 21, 2025 at 8 AM. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
PURPLE CAREER READINESS APPLICATION (PDF)
PURPLE CAREER READINESS ONLINE APPLICATION
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
Career & Self-Development
Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.
Communication
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
Critical Thinking
Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logistical analysis of relevant information.
Equity & Inclusion
Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.
Leadership
Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.
Professionalism
Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
Teamwork
Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Technology
Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.