Career Ready Skills

Employers want YOU…to be career ready. Sounds obvious, but what does that really mean? Beyond developing course-based knowledge in your field of study, beyond a solid GPA, employers want to know you’ll be able to perform on the job. Regardless of industry or job function, organizations are demanding a common set of competencies from college students and recent graduates:

Know It. Grow It. Show It.

Learn more about what each competency entails, uncover strategies for developing these skills while you’re at TU, and see examples of how to communicate your competencies with employers. Students who develop and can articulate their in-demand competencies have a clear advantage in the job market. Use this resource to gain your competitive edge!

*Based on Career Readiness Competencies developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and elements adapted with permission from the Clemson University Center for Career and Professional Development.

2026-2027 TU Career Communities Micro-Grant Award for Student Organizations

Maximum Award: $500 

The Career Center provides fiscal support for TU student organization led program activities that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and promotion of the center’s Career Communities network while emphasizing the critical importance of Career Ready Skills. 

Mission

The TU Career Center leads a collaborative career-readiness ecosystem that enables transformational connections, experiences, and learning for TU Tigers. 

Vision
Every TU Tiger is empowered to confidently navigate their career journey. 

Guiding Principles 
Maximum Reach & Impact • Data-driven • Relationship-centered Approach • Student Empowerment • Practice Care & Belonging 

Strategic Priorities of TU Career Communities

All TU Tigers will: 

  • Explore career options and design a plan for their career mobility  
  • Engage in hands-on activities that complement desired career path  
  • Gain skills needed to accomplish the work they will do in their initial chosen career path  
  • Build relationships with alumni/employers/community who work in fields of interest, provide advice & opportunities  
  • Know how to articulate their skills and launch an effective job/internship search campaign in their career domain

Micro-Grant Application

Student Organizations that are committed to intentionally strengthening TU Career Communities and advancing the Career Center’s collective mission, vision, and guiding principles are welcome to apply.

  • Grant activities must spotlight one or more essential Career Ready Skills 
  • Proposals should clearly align with the Career Communities strategic priorities that focus on knowledge, experiential learning, and career connections

Award recipients must agree and will be required to:

  • Communicate in all marketing and reporting materials and at the program site: “This Career Communities Initiative is made possible by the support of the TU Career Center”
  • Share grant program photos and related media posts
  • Track and submit program attendance details, including participant names and  TU ID numbers
  • Utilize and complete a TU Career Center Capture Sheet for Progress Reflection and Post-Program Insights
  • Submit final summary report materials no later than 3 weeks after completion of the funded program activity.
    • The final report must include a discussion highlighting the specific career ready skills of the program, career learning outcomes, and the impact of the grant.
    • The format and delivery date of the report will be decided during the pre-award meeting and specified on the post-award checklist.

If you indicated that this proposed activity would receive additional funding from external or campus resources, please include details in the budget spreadsheet template that can be found in the application form.

Micro-Grant Proposal Budget Form Template (Excel)

Note: Proposal requests must not exceed $500. Funding requests ranging from $100 to $500 are welcome. Partial funding for grant activities will also be considered by the review committee.

Applications open August 31 for proposed activities for Academic Year 2026-2027 and will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Proposals will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or until the application closing date of December 1, 2026.  In addition to this online application, individuals will need to upload a proposed detailed budget outline using a template provided. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

TU Career Communities Micro-Grant Application

Micro-Grant Application for Student Organizations

Additional Resources

  • Check out TU’s Career Communities resources to help students understand and articulate how their experiential learning in the classroom and co-curricular spaces are building the transferable skills and preparing them to enter the world of work with confidence.
  • Learn more about engaging with our Financial Well-being Career Community that supports programming for TU Tigers along the road towards financial stability, monitoring college expenses, and setting financial goals.
  • Explore professional development resources connected to our Student Employment Career Community that supports programming for TU Tigers who are actively seeking or currently employed in part-time employment.