Going to college can sometimes feel like just another educational box to check after high school, as opposed to something that is meant to prepare you for a career. As a result, for many college students, entering the workforce after four years of classroom learning feels like a daunting challenge — especially if you’re the first generation in your family to go to college.
Iona University in New Rochelle solves this problem by integrating career readiness throughout the entire college experience.
“The overarching goal is to have career everywhere,” said Matt Cardin, assistant vice president for enrollment and career initiatives. “We don’t just want students employed at graduation; we want to equip them with the skills to be employable and manage their career for a lifetime.”
One long-running effort in supporting this mission is Iona’s student leadership curriculum, which connects student leaders with business and community leaders. These partnerships help students develop the leadership skills necessary to address the rapidly evolving and complex issues of our time.
Building the Skills Employers Want
Iona expanded its career-readiness strategy further in fall 2025 with two new academic courses designed specifically to build competencies employers value most. Taught by Cardin and the university’s Career Center staff, the courses emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and applied learning.
“These are core competencies that are in demand across all jobs, regardless of what career you choose,” Cardin said. “We aim to help students identify these skills, think about how they demonstrate them, and adopt strategies to further develop them over time.”
Professional Skills 1 is designed for sophomores and introduces students to the concepts of career readiness, and Professional Skills 2 for juniors builds on the lessons from the previous class. Both course sections reinforce the lessons students are taught by creating an environment of workplace-style expectations.
Students are expected to arrive prepared, be on time, meet deadlines, communicate professionally, and notify instructors in advance if they will miss class — habits that directly translate to successful workplace behavior.
To support Iona’s first-generation students in particular, the courses also cover topics such as professional appearance, workplace conduct, and how to stand out in a competitive hiring process. Industry experts and HR professionals visit the classes to provide insights and guidance.
Career choice is another key component of the classes. “Early on in the course, I show students a framework of value-based decision-making so they can identify a career path that aligns with what’s important to them,” Cardin said. “For young adults, choosing a career can feel overwhelming. I want students to see that careers aren’t a straight line. When you know what’s important to you, you can navigate every change with purpose and build a meaningful career over time.”
Another recent example of Iona’s career focus is Education in Real Life, a pilot program that will take place for the first time in the summer of 2026. The three-credit course is free of charge and students receive a thousand-dollar stipend to help make up for any lost income from summer work.
“We’re going to bring in industry leaders in construction, hospitality, and others to talk about how AI is transforming their workplaces,” Cardin said. “Students will spend time at these organizations learning how AI is augmenting roles and influencing the future of work.”
Through initiatives like these, Iona University continues to expand its commitment to preparing students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of professional growth. By embedding career readiness across the college experience, Iona ensures graduates step confidently into a rapidly evolving workforce.
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