Four ways community colleges can improve career readiness

Students choose community colleges for many reasons—affordability, excellent programs, and flexibility, just to name a few. And something that almost all students have in common is that they want to earn better wages and have increased social mobility when they are done with their program. In fact, 74% of recent community college students say their top reason for enrolling is to gain the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

Rising skepticism about the value of a college degree is also pressuring institutions to demonstrate their role in career success, but community colleges are well positioned to respond. With 48% of Americans expressing high confidence in community colleges—compared to just 33% for four-year schools— two-year colleges can differentiate themselves by emphasizing affordability, workforce relevance, and strong student support.

Why is it so hard to improve career readiness?

Community colleges aren’t ignoring the problem. Leaders and staff are committed—but they’re constrained by capacity limitations. Many career services departments are under-resourced, and it can be difficult to ask everyone on campus to contribute to career readiness efforts when they are already overwhelmed. And even if career readiness strategies are put into place it can be difficult for students to engage with them if they are balancing family, work, and commuting. For example, job shadowing programs are a great initiative (that institutions should absolutely keep doing), but they might be inaccessible to some students. In short, everyone—including students and staff—are pressed for time and resources.

The good news? Some colleges are implementing sustainable solutions—often powered by technology—that reach more students with fewer resources. Here are four strategies that are working for EAB partners.

Four strategies to improve community college career readiness

1. Starting Career Exploration Early

One of the hardest aspects of career readiness is starting the conversation sooner. It requires coordination between community colleges, parents, high schools, and employers, which can be tricky to facilitate. But it’s necessary, since many students arrive on campus with only a vague sense of their interests and little understanding of which careers align with their strengths or regional job markets. Unfortunately, only one-third of high school graduates say their schools helped them explore a range of career options.

That’s a major missed opportunity, because early exposure to different industries and roles helps students make informed decisions, stay engaged, and avoid costly missteps like switching majors or delaying degree completion.

Community colleges can play a role here by connecting with students before they even enroll, particularly through dual enrollment programs, embedded high school advising, and partnerships with employers. When students can see themselves in a future career early on, they’re more likely to stay motivated and committed to a path that suits their goals.

• Germanna Community College addresses this challenge by embedding career advisors on-site in local high schools. These advisors begin working with students as early as 10th grade to discuss future goals, explore academic pathways, and coordinate hands-on field trips or campus visits. As students dual enroll or apply for admission to GCC, their career interests and advising notes are tracked in EAB’s Navigate360 student CRM, ensuring seamless outreach and handoffs between the high school and college teams.

• At Wichita State University Tech, high school juniors and seniors can attend new FutureReady Centers where they gain practical experience in healthcare, manufacturing, and other high-demand fields. These students remain enrolled at their high school but attend the center part-time—where tuition, transportation, and textbooks are fully covered. Every student is guaranteed a work-based internship experience before graduation, giving them confidence and skills before college even begins.

2. Offer Continuous, Personalized Guidance

Career readiness isn’t a one-and-done activity. It’s a continuous process that spans career exploration, skill-building, networking, and on the job learning opportunities based on a student’s goals. But many students, especially working students or part-time attendees, miss out on opportunities like internships, job shadowing, and career fairs because of time constraints. Without regular check-ins and milestone tracking, students may drift toward programs that aren’t a good fit or graduate without being truly prepared for what comes next.

To address this, colleges are building “career journeys” that run parallel to academic plans. They’re using technology like Navigate360 to send nudges, track progress, and ensure students engage in activities like resume reviews, mock interviews, or internship applications. When students understand that career planning is a core part of their experience—and not just an optional add-on—they’re more likely to participate and follow through.

• At Dallas College, every first-time-in-college student is assigned a career and transfer counselor. These professionals guide students through a structured, three-tiered career planning journey housed in Navigate360. From the first semester, students set career goals, attend workshops, and log experiences like career fairs and internships. Counselors track their milestones and offer support via scheduled appointments and self-service tools, ensuring every student has a clear path to job or transfer success.

• Joliet Junior College builds career guidance into everyday operations by identifying undecided students and actively nudging them to connect with career services. Through Navigate360, the team sends texts and emails prompting students to schedule appointments, complete career assessments, or attend upcoming events. This strategy has helped—career appointments jumped 62% in just two years, allowing more students to receive one on one guidance.

3. Make the Classroom Feel Career-Relevant

Even when students are enrolled and progressing academically, they often struggle to see how their education connects to the real world. That disconnect is dangerous—it can lead to lower engagement, increased dropout rates, and skepticism about the value of their credential. In fact, students who don’t see a clear link between coursework and career pathways are more likely to question their educational investment.

Embedding career content directly into classroom learning can change that. When faculty incorporate real-world projects, job simulations, or employer feedback into the curriculum, students develop a better sense of direction. It also helps students develop the “soft skills” like communication and time management that employers consistently say are missing in recent graduates.

• At Borough of Manhattan Community College, accounting students use Forage’s free job simulations to explore career paths like tax preparation and data analysis. These online tools let students learn about specialized fields from home—without giving up time with family or work. After completing a simulation, students share their insights on a discussion board so peers can learn from each other’s experiences.

• Queensborough Community College enhances this model by linking Forage simulations to a broader, competitive tech apprenticeship pipeline. Students build technical experience through project-based modules and use those credentials to compete for paid placements with companies like JPMorgan Chase. With over 80% of applicants accepted into the most recent cohort—and most receiving job offers—this classroom-to-career alignment is proving to be a powerful launchpad.

4. Teach Workplace Entry Skills Before Graduation

The finish line of a student’s academic program is also the start line of their professional life. But that final transition can be intimidating—especially for students who haven’t had the chance to practice resume writing, interviewing, or navigating professional environments. Many employers report that new grads are underprepared in these areas, and students themselves say they want more guidance.

Workplace entry skills aren’t just about landing a job—they’re about sustaining one. Community colleges can improve outcomes by partnering with workforce organizations, offering employer engagement events, and creating safe spaces for students to build confidence through mock interviews or feedback sessions.

• Germanna Community College has partnered with Rappahannock Goodwill Industries to launch a job placement and internship initiative. Students receive support before, during, and after internships, including personalized job matching and career planning. The program also gathers employment outcome data to measure impact, aligning student success with broader workforce development goals.
• Joliet Junior College hosts Transition to Practice events for students in Nursing and Allied Health programs. These structured sessions bring in healthcare employers to explain first-year expectations, answer questions, and connect with students in a more informal networking setting. Career Services wraps up the event with a readiness workshop and invites students to book career advising appointments in Navigate360.

Where can my community college start?

With the right technology, the right partnerships, and a shared commitment across departments, colleges can build scalable, sustainable systems that support every learner with career readiness.

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With Navigate360, colleges can boost career readiness by guiding students through customized Journeys, streamlining communication across teams, and simplifying appointment scheduling. Forage complements this by offering virtual job simulations that let students explore employers and experience a “day in the life” of various careers. Together, these tools make career exploration more accessible—especially for students balancing jobs, family responsibilities, or transportation challenges.