Career readiness is no longer a peripheral objective in higher education. It is central to institutional value, employer expectations, and student success. Yet many institutions struggle to move beyond passive programming toward measurable, competency driven development. This interactive workshop introduces an evidence based approach that blends gamification with structured assessment to enhance undergraduate career readiness in meaningful, measurable ways.
Presented by Coco Wu and Sherrie Cannon of Tennessee Technological University, this session explores how the “Level Up” professional development program integrates experiential learning, real time engagement, and competency based evaluation. The workshop demonstrates how gamified structures can increase student motivation while aligning with established career readiness frameworks.
At the core of the model is the NACE Competency Tool, which provides a standardized method for assessing employability skills across key domains such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, and leadership. Rather than treating competency development as abstract or anecdotal, this framework allows institutions to gather structured data that reflects real growth in student capability.
Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory and Career Construction Theory, the workshop bridges academic learning with workforce preparation. Participants will explore how gamification strategies, including structured challenges and real time feedback loops, create stronger engagement while reinforcing intentional self development. The use case walk through provides a transparent view of implementation, outcomes, and program design decisions.
From a management and program assessment perspective, the session offers practical tools for administrators and faculty seeking to align career services with measurable institutional outcomes. Attendees will examine how structured competency mapping, experiential activities, and technology integration can create scalable, adaptable professional development systems across diverse academic environments.
This highly interactive session includes collaborative discussion, a gamified audience activity, and actionable templates that participants can implement within their own institutions. Designed for career services professionals, faculty, employer partners, and academic leaders, the workshop emphasizes measurable impact, structured engagement, and sustainable program design.
By combining gamification with competency based assessment, this model reframes career readiness from a checklist to a developmental journey supported by data, theory, and intentional design.
Authors and Affiliation
Coco Wu, Tennessee Technological University
Sherrie Cannon, Tennessee Technological University
This in person workshop will be delivered in the Career and Professional Development track at the SAM International Business Conference. For more information visit www.samnational.org/conference.