The Skills Gap – Managers Rate Recent Grads Poorly on Problem Solving and Communication – But Grads Think They’re Proficient
Having spent four years and $100’s thousands on a college degree, most recent grads believe they are well trained and prepared for the job market. However, while managers rate problem-solving and communication as the top two skills for hiring, studies show that 50-75% of them also rate recent graduates poorly on them. In contrast, 66-80% of graduates in these studies rated themselves proficient in these skills.
Thus, the difference between the skills that employers expect grads to have and the skills they have is known as the skills gap.
Read on to find out what causes this difference and a surprising way to close the skills gap!
What Causes the Skills Gap
In recent times, businesses have been facing an unprecedented challenge, i.e., lacking proficient workers. Managers often complain about recent graduates lacking problem-solving and communication skills, but lately, the skills gap has continued to grow wider. While there are various causes of the skills gap, it mainly comes down to poor writing and communication skills. Some major contributing factors to the skills gap are as under:
Lack of Writing Proficiency
Poor writing proficiency is a major cause of the skills gap. Writing is a critical component of the learning process because it forces an individual to “think through,” organize and edit to refine their thoughts to present a clear, concise, compelling POV or recommendation. However, the book Academically Adrift discusses how college students spend very little time writing. Half of the students in a study sample said that they took five or fewer courses that required at least 20 pages of writing. Similarly, the book The Great Skills Gap indicates that there has been so much focus on STEM courses that the focus on Liberal Arts had to be compromised. As a result, more and more recent grads lack the skills needed for positions across a broad array of disciplines. An article in INC Magazine suggested that companies now have to spend $3B on remedial writing training so that new employees are proficient in their job roles.
Lack of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills allow a person to work independently to analyze a situation and come up with solutions to routine job problems. However, a staggering 60% of hiring managers believe that recent graduates lack critical thinking, which hinders their ability to contribute without extra oversight. While critical thinking skills are rarely specifically taught in school, it is a skill that is often refined by a strong focus on the writing process, especially when the individual continues to edit and refine it for clarity. Luckily, books for communication skills like Get Your Ducks in a Rowe can go a long way to help develop critical thinking that, in turn, makes you become a proficient writer and an effective communicator.
Lack of Communication Skills
The third most important skill for closing the skills gap is effective communication. The increasing importance of communication is evident in companies' growing use of writing skills tests to ensure applicants have these required skills. Additionally, a candidate’s verbal ability to communicate well during the interview process can make or break being offered a position. Communicating clearly and professionally with coworkers, management, clients, and vendor partners has a major impact on employee productivity, stress, and morale.
Final Word
Some skills are key to your professional success, whether you are looking for a new job or a promotion at your existing position. While technical skills might vary with the level and type of job, there are some universal skills you have to learn to succeed.
Closing the skills gap takes training, time, and effort, but developing the above-mentioned skills can help shrink the gap considerably. If you are a recent graduate looking for ways to significantly improve the soft skills of thinking, writing, and communication. In that case, you can now address it in just about an hour with a remarkable book for communication skills. Get your hands on Jim Rowe’s Get Your Ducks in a Rowe right now and improve your or your team’s ability to be more efficient and effective in business by improving your problem solving and communication skills.
