Imagine a world-class orchestra. Each musician plays beautifully, yet they can't harmonize because they've failed to sync in advance what song they'd play. Or picture a top-tier restaurant. Chefs are culinary virtuosos but have trouble collaborating to create a memorable dish because they haven't agreed on who would do the preparation, the cooking, and the presentation.

Similarly, many young professionals possess impressive technical skills. However, they lack effective communication and collaboration skills due to the pandemic's impact.

Yet, communication and collaboration skills are only an example of the skills gaps Gen Zers face. What's more interesting is that young hires themselves pinpoint areas for improvement. Recent graduates named soft skills as their second most preferred type of training (48%), right after leadership and manager training (47%).

Why Gen Zers lack specific skills

Current employers are noticing this deficiency in soft skills among young hires. This happens due to:

• Digital communication dominance: Gen Zers heavily rely on text-based, digital communication.
• Limited face-to-face interaction: In-person interactions were reduced due to remote work and online training.
• Informal language habits: Younger employees bring casual online language (i.e., emojis and abbreviations) into professional contexts.
• Lack of experience: Inexperienced employees might struggle with office communication norms and etiquette.
• Multi-generational workforce: Employers notice younger employees have different communication expectations and preferences to older colleagues.

4 essential skills to focus on when training Gen Z

Employers are investing in training programs to address this issue. Training programs focus on skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving. Through workshops and mentorship, employers help graduates enhance their soft skills. As a result, both employees and organizations benefit from strong soft skills in the post-pandemic world.