This article is all about the Job Readiness stage of the career development journey. In this article we will cover what it means to be in the job readiness stage, examples of what it looks like to successfully move through this stage, and resources to help you in this stage.

What does it mean to be ready for work?

Job Readiness is the stage of career development that looks at preparing you for the world of work. This is the foundation of your career development. When you have successfully passed through the job readiness stage, you will have the basics of being ready for work and will be ready to build additional skills to make you even more employable. 

When we talk about job readiness, we often use the acronym MRD. MRD stands for Motivation, Reliability, and Dependability. Someone who is ready for work will have these three foundational traits. 

What does MRD look like?

Motivation means having the desire to act. In this case, it means having the desire to do your job. Motivation can look like: 

• Being prepared for the work day ahead (making a to-do list, ensuring you are properly dressed, etc)
• Contributing in workplace meetings and discussions
• Giving your tasks your best effort

Reliability means that people can be confident in the fact that you can do what you are supposed to consistently. In this case, it means that your boss and co-workers can rely on you showing up day in and day out to do your job. Reliability can look like: 

• Showing up for work on time everyday
• Responding appropriately to workplace communications 
• Ensuring you have completed what was assigned to you before moving on   

Dependability means that people can trust you with important responsibilities. In this case, it means that your boss and co-workers can trust you to handle the projects or tasks expected of you. Dependability can look like: 

• Meeting project or task deadlines
• Asking for help with tasks and/or clarification when you need it 
• Being available for tasks during the work day

Developing these skills may seem daunting if you do not have experience with them, but once you have these skills in your toolkit you have the foundational skills to get a job. If you need help developing these skills, check out this article

If you’re unsure what stage of career development you are in, check out our #WhereDoIStart page here. 

Happy Career Month! #wheredoistart