Beyond who you know, the institution you attended, or your college GPA, personal and professional success is aided by how you apply your talents and skills in the marketplace. The choices you  make each day through your work ethic, mindset, and interactions with others form the essence of your personal brand.

To help cultivate and enhance your brand in the workplace or in  graduate/professional school, the Gateway Career Center offers the Gateway 8, a framework of core competencies that can prepare you for a successful transition no matter your industry, career path, or goals.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, launched its Career Readiness Initiative to define a shared understanding of what is needed to launch and develop a successful career, a common vocabulary to discuss needs and expectations, and a basic set of competencies upon which a successful career is launched.

The key competencies defined by the Gateway 8 rely on what NACE indicates as necessary for every Lafayette student to demonstrate by graduation.

Applying These Skills

While these skills are desired in the workplace and in graduate/professional school, the best way to cultivate them is using them on a daily basis in all areas of your life. There are many  opportunities to put them into practice.

  • Academically in classes, projects, and coursework
  • Research when supporting faculty or in your own thesis, independent study or other opportunities
  • Clubs, cultural, religious, and recreational groups as leaders or participants
  • Community engagement as a leader or volunteer
  • Athletics in varsity, club, or intramural sports activities, both on and off the field
  • Fraternity and Sorority life as a leader and member
  • As an intern, extern or employee of on- or off-campus jobs.

Use the Gateway 8 Passport Book to identify and document key experiences and achievements that contribute to your development of the Gateway 8 competencies all throughout your Lafayette journey.

If you need tips on how to best develop, cultivate, and model these skills, please schedule an appointment with your Gateway Counselor.

Access the Gateway 8 Brochure.