While degrees continue to focus on technical knowledge, employers are sounding the alarm: many graduates arrive unprepared for the interpersonal and subtle skills that truly determine workplace success. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, about three-quarters of employers find new hires lacking in communication, problem-solving and collaboration. Educational institutions, on the other hand, emphasise lectures and tests rather than real-world team interactions, feedback loops and context-aware decision making. 
Critical skills like adaptability in shifting landscapes, emotional intelligence when managing conflict, and networking for career mobility often go unaddressed in curricula. 
In today’s AI-augmented workplace, these so-called soft skills are becoming the core differentiators - hard skills are easier to teach and automate, but human-centric capabilities are harder to replicate. 
For students and early-career professionals, the takeaway is clear: don’t wait for the classroom - seek out experiences, real teams, feedback sessions and cross-functional projects now. That’s how you’ll build the skills your future employer will demand.