The Ready Day 1 Certification Program is designed to recognize high-impact practices that students complete during their study at Georgia Southern. The certificate will identify students to potential employers as a graduate who has gained core career readiness competencies by completing activities such as internships, study abroad, sponsored research, participation in career and networking events, and one-on-one meetings with a Georgia Southern Career & Internship Advisor.
*Special thanks to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS) for serving as our pilot college in this initiative. More about Ready Day 1 in CBSS may be found here.



“Career readiness was a crucial component of college and the entire reason I enrolled in the first place. When I arrived, that translated into securing on-campus working opportunities, internships, and attending career events. My steps towards being ready for employment looked like securing an internship every semester during the last year of undergrad and working an on-campus job that allowed me to network at career fairs and events.”
Aysia Berry, Fall 2023 ‘Ready Day 1’ Certified Graduate
How the Program Works
You receive Ready Day 1 certification by collecting 12 or more points during your undergraduate study at Georgia Southern.
Three (3) Core Program Points
You must complete three (3) core program points, which can be satisfied through:
- Activating your student account in Handshake (1 point)
- Having your résumé reviewed and approved in Handshake (2 points)
- Meeting with a member of the Office of Career and Professional Development team by appointment (2 points)
Nine (9) or More Additional Program Points
You obtain the additional nine (9) or more program points by successfully completing:
- GSU 2131: Career Exploration (4 points)
- GSU 2132: Professional Development Seminar (4 points)
- A professional internship or other professional experience (4 points)
- Approved for academic credit within student’s major OR
- Recorded in Handshake and approved by the Coordinator of Experiential Learning
- A study abroad program (4 points)
- Subject to university policy governing earned credits
- Faculty-sponsored research or participation in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) (4 points)
- Subject to university policy governing earned credits
- Participation in the Eagle Mentoring Program (2 points)
- Attending an Office of Career and Professional Development career fair or networking event accessible in Handshake (1 point each, maximum 4 allowable)
- A job shadowing experience (1 point)
- A practice interview via Big Interview (2 points)
- An on-campus interview with an external prospective employer for an internship or professional position (2 points)
Most experiences are automatically tracked for completion through Handshake, Banner, or the Office of Global Engagement. However, a couple of items require student submission to receive credit. See below for those items.
When you complete 12 or more points you will be awarded a signed Ready Day 1 Certificate as well as a Ready Day 1 graduation cord! We encourage you to record the completion of your Ready Day 1 certification in Handshake, on your résumé and on your LinkedIn profile.
Outcomes to Date
763
Total Graduates
45
Different Majors
8
Colleges (All Undergraduate)
4
Campuses
*Armstrong, Liberty, Statesboro, GS Online
3.27
Average GPA of Certified Graduates



