Undergraduate Research: A Gateway to Career Readiness

Abstract

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) provide students with essential skills including critical thinking, communication and teamwork, highly valued competencies by employers across various sectors. UREs are a crucial form of workforce training, opening doors to diverse career paths beyond academia and strengthening the talent pipeline for innovation and economic growth, helping to address local, state, and national challenges. The Council on Undergraduate Research’s Career Readiness Resource Development Working Group created an Undergraduate Research Career Development Activities + NACE Career Readiness Competencies crosswalk for mentors and students to translate the career competency sample behaviors to URE activities that build these competencies.