Build Your Professional Skills & Competencies
Your degree program will provide you with many opportunities to develop skills, knowledge, and experience, but chances are you will need to develop additional skills to stand out as a qualified job candidate. There are lots of ways you can acquire and build your skills and competencies. First, read job postings from your career areas of interest to learn what employers are looking for in job candidates. This will help you determine which new skills to acquire or current ones you can highlight.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) identifies eight competencies that employers typically seek in job candidates and the National Postdoc Association (NPA) identifies six core competencies.
- Career & Self Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity & Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
- Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge
- Research skill development
- Communication skills
- Professionalism
- Leadership and management skills
- Responsible conduct of research
Consider UConn-based and other resources to learn about opportunities to gain skills and competencies.
Center for Excellence in Teaching
If you have never taught, or you would like to sharpen your existing teaching skills, consider enrolling in various workshops offered at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
UConn eCampus
Explore UConn eCampus for all online courses, post baccalaureate certificates, graduate certificates, and graduate programs at the University of Connecticut.
InterSECT Job Simulations
InterSECT is an online platform that allows PhD-level scientists and humanists, regardless of professional stage, to explore future career options through true-to-life simulation exercises.
