Career Essentials

We all want to feel confident and prepared when we step into our first job after graduation. What you’re learning now — not only technical knowledge, but also how you work with others — will make a big difference. Employers are looking for team players who can solve problems, communicate clearly, and act professionally. These “soft skills” are key to avoiding common workplace mistakes and standing out as a strong new hire. 

What are Career Essentials?

At MATC, we call these durable skills Career Essentials — they’re the habits, attitudes, and abilities that every student is expected to develop before graduating, getting a job, or transferring to another college.

No matter what program you're in, you'll focus on three Career Essentials skills:

• Effective Communication: Communicate effectively through writing, listening, and speaking to convey ideas clearly and respectfully in various contexts

• Effective Problem Solving: Solve problems efficiently and creatively by applying technical knowledge and structured problem-solving methods.

• Professionalism: Demonstrate professionalism by being reliable, responsible, respectful, ethical, and accountable in all interactions and tasks

How Will You Be Assessed?

Every class at MATC teaches you a Career Essential skill. In some courses, you will learn these skills for the first time through introduce and practice activities. Near graduation, you will complete an assessment in Blackboard. The assessment will help you track your personal growth in a Career Essentials skill. 

How Will You See Your Results?

Once your instructor evaluates your performance on the assessment, you may view the results in your Blackboard course's Gradebook. For cumulative scores across your courses, see Blackboard's Goal Performance tool in the base navigation. 

Got Questions?

If you’re not sure how Career Essentials are being used in your course or want tips on how to improve, just ask your instructor! They’re here to help you build the skills you’ll need to thrive in your future career.