Some recent college graduates are failing to impress employers by lacking key soft skills needed for workplace success. Employers report that college grads are demonstrating less than stellar people skills and are having trouble solving problems and thinking creatively. Some report problems right from the start with grads applying for jobs with resumes riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which conducts an annual survey about hiring practices of its business members, consistently reports that effective communication is among the top two skills employers seek in recent grads. On the flip, side, when asked what skills new hires were lacking, the 
same employers indicated that the number one problem with recent college graduates is poor written and verbal communication. Additionally, The American Association of Colleges and Universities found that only 27% of employers surveyed believed that recent college graduates have the written communication skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
The Council for Aid to Education reports that the problem-solving and critical thinking abilities of college students are also lacking. The council tested seniors at 150+ colleges and universities and found that 40% were not able to problem solve.
For a generation who grew up shielded from the realities of life and whose every feeling was expected to receive validation, many do not have the resilience to deal with life’s problems. Decisions were made for them by parents trying to remove the possibility of negative outcomes and bad feelings associated with failure. Unfortunately, this is resulting in these young adults now lacking the skills most sought by employers.
Top 5 Skills Employers Seek in New Hires of College Grads (NACE,2015):
- Ability to make decisions and solve problems
- Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization
- Ability to obtain and process information
- Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work
- Ability to analyze quantitative data