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The graduates of 2023 were all freshmen in the spring of 2020, the time when the Covid-19 pandemic began to affect all aspects of life.
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| Graduates in the US take soft skills courses to find job opportunities in businesses. |
Because they spend most of their time studying online and doing remote internships, they haven't accumulated many soft skills. Therefore, many recent graduates in the US are actively participating in soft skills enhancement courses.
Not only undergraduates, but many third-year students also want to find opportunities to work directly with colleagues during internships to improve their communication skills. In a survey conducted by TimelyCare (USA) in April with approximately 700 graduating students in 2023, 53% of respondents said they wanted a completely in-person work environment, while 21% wanted to work entirely remotely.
Commenting on the new generation of university graduates after the Covid-19 pandemic, Jialan Wang, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois (USA), assessed that although today's graduates are very proficient in digital skills, they still need to improve their professional email skills and communication abilities. Understanding the situation of Gen Z employees (born between 1997 and 2012), some businesses and universities have organized training to help them adapt to the office environment.
The University of Michigan now requires many business students to participate in soft skills training courses such as how to build direct connections. Audit firm KPMG offers training for new employees on face-to-face communication methods, including tips on eye contact and pauses in conversation. New employees practice scenarios such as resolving group conflicts and making simple self-introductions to clients or colleagues. Deloitte and PwC also launched similar training courses earlier this year. Consulting firm Proviti has also expanded its training program for new employees, focusing on issues such as creating discussions, professional teamwork, and appropriate attire.
The trend of US graduates rushing to take soft skills training courses is occurring at a time of intense competition due to declining job demand. According to the Wall Street Journal, in February 2023, the unemployment rate for US graduates aged 20-24 was 4.6%, double the 2.3% recorded in December 2021. At Villanova University in Pennsylvania, the number of full-time jobs for graduates posted through the university's channels in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 7% compared to the same period last year. This decline was primarily seen in the software, financial services, and biotechnology sectors.
Many career offices at American universities report that businesses are now very hesitant to hire graduating students, a far cry from two years ago when they competed for students from the very first weeks of the new academic year. With high unemployment rates and the inability to find desired jobs, graduates are forced to seek other options to make a living. According to a survey by the US-based recruitment software company iCIMS, approximately 90% of 1,000 graduating college students are considering pursuing graduate studies or accepting a job unrelated to their field of study.
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