The Career Success Program from GRCC’s FutureTech Careers offers digital credentials to students to recognize experiences and learning that equip them with workforce-ready skills. These badges are provided through Credly and can be posted on LinkedIn and referenced in resumes to showcase their achievements to a wider audience.
Digital badges have three components:
- An image that represents the badge on your Credly profile, social media such as LinkedIn, and elsewhere.
- A description of how the badge is earned and what it recognizes.
- An outline of the skills that the badge earner has demonstrated.
Overview of Career Readiness Badges
Aligned with the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ career readiness competencies, FutureTech’s badge offerings demonstrate involvement in work-based learning, skill development workshops and other co-curricular activities designed to prepare students for the workforce.
Each badge is broken down into levels: Core, Applied and Advanced. Each level demonstrates a different level of expertise with Advanced being the highest level. To achieve Advanced credentials, a student must participate in every activity that falls under the badge’s specific career competency.
Badge Breakdown
Professionalism
Aligned with NACE’s Career Competency of Professionalism, this badge series focuses on building skills and knowledge that equip students with the ability to conduct themselves appropriately in a professional setting.
Activities that fall under this badge series include our Career Success Program (a module-based soft skill training program), resume workshops and networking events.
Professionalism Badge Requirements
Level 1 — Core:
- Attend one Career Conversation or Community Networking Event.
Level 2 — Applied:
- Attend five Career Conversations and/or Community Networking Events.
- Complete a resume workshop with FutureTech’s Job Developer.
Level 3 — Advanced:
- Attend 10 Career Conversations and/or Community Networking Events.
- Complete a resume workshop with FutureTech’s Job Developer.
- Complete all modules of the Career Success Program.
Communication
Aligned with NACE’s Career Competency of Communication, this badge series focuses on building student’s ability to clearly exchange information in a workplace setting.
Activities that fall under this badge series include cover letter workshops, communication workshops and networking events.
Communication Badge Activities
Level 1 — Core:
- Attend one Career Conversation related to communication, networking or interpersonal skills.
Level 2 — Applied:
- Attend two Career Conversations related to communication, networking or interpersonal skills.
- Attend a cover letter workshop with FutureTech’s Job Developer.
- Complete the CSP module focused on email etiquette/professional communication.
Level 3 — Advanced:
- Attend three Career Conversations related to communication, networking or interpersonal skills.
- Attend a cover letter workshop with FutureTech’s Job Developer.
- Complete the CSP module focused on email etiquette/professional communication.
- Attend a technology or advanced manufacturing conference.
Career and Self Development
Aligned with NACE’s Career Competency of Career and Self Development, this series of badges focuses on improving student’s understanding of their passions and strengths and how they correspond to their intended career path.
Activities that fall under this badge series include internships, career exposure events and 1:1 career coaching meetings.
Career and Self Development Badge Requirements
Level 1 — Core:
- Meet with a FutureTech Coach or Job Developer to discuss your career journey.
- Attend one Career Conversation or Community Tech Event.
Level 2 — Applied:
- Meet with a FutureTech Coach or Job Developer to discuss your career journey.
- Attend three Career Conversations or Community Tech Events.
Level 3 — Advanced:
- Meet with a FutureTech Coach or Job Developer to discuss your career journey.
- Attend five Career Conversations or Community Tech Events.
- Complete an internship .