Defining Your Professional Identity

Forming a professional identity is a concept that goes beyond the education and professionalism necessary for a certain career to include how a person comes to think, feel, and act like a member of his or her profession. Chatham University’s Office of Career Development claims, “Defining and crafting your professional identity is key to maximizing your career opportunities and aligning them with your values.”  They go on to state that “taking the time to define and craft your professional identity will help you to create:

• A well thought out approach to your short-term career goals including what you have to offer and what you want to learn
• A succinct and compelling elevator statement
• A well-written, concise and relevant resume
• A cover letter that targets exactly how you are a good fit for a particular job
• Interview tactics that help you and the employer know if you are a good fit for the job”

The following video will help you learn more about professional identity.

The first step in forming your professional identity is seeking out the skills and knowledge needed to become a qualified member of your chosen profession and then determining your level of career readiness.

What is career readiness?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “Career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college-educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.”

NACE offers eight career readiness competencies:

• Career and Self-Development
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Equity and Inclusion
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Teamwork
• Technology