What does it mean to be a Wildcat?
At Indiana Wesleyan University, career readiness is more than landing a job—it’s about becoming who you’re called to be. These eight core competencies equip students with the habits, skills, and character needed to thrive in work and life. Rooted in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Competencies and the IWU Wildcat Way, the framework integrates career development, spiritual formation, and life calling, preparing students for both what they will do and who they are becoming.
Students grow in self-awareness and purpose by exploring their answers to “Who am I?” and “Who do I want to be?” Integrity and agility are the throughline—shaping how they steward their evolving strengths, desires, and resources with vocational clarity and personal congruence in both private and public life. They practice reflection, goal-setting, and proactive decision-making to navigate their academic and career journey.
Students develop the skill of communicating clearly, kindly, and courageously, sharing their story and purpose with others. They practice active listening, intentional curiosity, emotional intelligence, and thoughtful expression, recognizing communication as both witness, sharing, and service. They refine professional communication across digital, written, and verbal formats—learning to adapt messaging for interviews, networking, and collaborative settings.
Students seek excellence in thought, intrigue, and decision-making, integrating Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. They weigh problems not only analytically but holistically and humbly, considering what is redemptive, just, and life-giving for the world, turning consideration into action as they consider “What am I here to do?” and “How do I get there?” They analyze complex issues, synthesize information, and apply creative problem-solving in real-world and work-related contexts.
Students learn to honor the dignity of every person and foster spaces of welcome. Their calling as World Changers includes advocating for justice and belonging, embodying Christ-like hospitality and valuing diverse perspectives in collaboration and leadership. They cultivate inclusive mindsets, cultural competency, and the ability to work respectfully across difference in professional environments.
Leadership is reframed as transformational service and vocational courage. Students step into influence with humility, innovation, and conviction, leading from their unique purpose and being willing to take risks in faith for the sake of others. They practice initiative, decision-making, and vision-casting—preparing to lead teams, projects, and ideas with clarity and integrity.
Students cultivate habits of reliability, timeliness, and ethical behavior—not out of performance, but as a reflection of integrity and vocational commitment. They ask, “How do I get there?”—developing the daily disciplines and professional posture needed to move toward their calling. They demonstrate accountability, workplace etiquette, and an understanding of industry expectations and norms.
Students practice mutual respect, conflict resolution, and shared mission, recognizing that their calling is rarely solo. They discern their role within teams and communities with grace, humility, clarity and agility, while fostering belonging. They learn to collaborate effectively, contribute to group goals, and navigate interpersonal dynamics in diverse team environments.
Students use technology not just as a skillset but as a means of redemptive innovation—developing ethical, efficient, and imaginative solutions to serve others and advance their vocational impact. They build fluency in digital tools, data literacy, and emerging platforms that enhance professional agility and career readiness.
