A growing disconnect between employer expectations and graduate preparedness is putting pressure on postsecondary institutions to strengthen soft skills development, writes Nathan Iverson (California Baptist University). Iverson explains that many employers report difficulty finding candidates who excel in areas such as adaptability, communication, ethical judgment, and teamwork—skills that, Iverson argues, cannot be taught through lectures or textbooks alone. To help graduates develop and demonstrate these skills, he outlines four strategies: embedding these skills into curriculum design, expanding experiential learning and internships, leveraging co-curricular and campus life programming, and fostering sustained partnerships with employers and alumni. “Bridging the soft skills gap for graduates is a shared responsibility,” writes Iverson, pointing to faculty, employers, and student affairs leaders as key partners in preparing students with the transferable skills they need to thrive after graduation.
