In this episode of The Career Ready Podcast, hosts Rebecca Harrington and Jordan Rembrecht welcome Dr. Mary Gatta, Director of Research and Public Policy at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Dr. Gatta shares insights from NACE’s latest research, including:
- The 8 Career Readiness Competencies and why they serve as “career currency” for graduates.
- Which competencies employers value most—and where new grads often fall short.
- How skills-based hiring is changing the way employers evaluate candidates.
- New data on the impact of internships and experiential learning on long-term career success (hint: $15K salary bump on average).
- Trends around AI in recruiting, hybrid work preferences, and why students who use their career center report more job offers and higher starting salaries.
Whether you’re a student preparing for your first job, a faculty member supporting career readiness, or an employer navigating the talent pipeline, this episode offers research-driven strategies to help you succeed in today’s evolving job market.
Resource mentioned:
- NACE LinkedIn
(for the latest research & job outlook reports)
Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.
Send us YOUR Listener Questions at careerpodcast@cod.edu
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.