Job ads are full of clues about what employers value, but many students and professionals struggle to translate their experiences into evidence of real skills. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to “read” a job ad, identify the skills behind the language, and build “skill receipts” that prove career readiness. Using real job postings, participants will crosswalk employer expectations with demonstrated skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, technology use, problem-solving, professionalism, and leadership. They will then identify what kinds of evidence could prove those skills, including class projects, research assignments, workplace experiences, portfolios, supervisor feedback, digital badges, and microcredentials. Students will leave with a stronger way to describe their skills for résumés, LinkedIn profiles, interviews, and applications. Faculty and staff will leave with a practical framework they can use in courses, advising, student employment, coaching, and professional development to help learners document and communicate the value of what they know and can do.

Learning Outcomes: Analyze a real job posting to identify required and implied career-readiness skills; Translate job-ad language into demonstrable skills such as critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, technology use, teamwork, professionalism, and leadership; Identify credible forms of evidence that can serve as “skill receipts,” including projects, work samples, portfolios, reflections, supervisor feedback, digital badges, and microcredentials.

Presenter: Dr. Christine Crefton

Faculty & Staff: Register for ILW events through Workday as well if you want professional development credits.