Gen Z - Skills Worth Cultivating . . . Now

Generation Z has faced countless struggles and challenges due to the recent pandemic.

‍While the majority of Gen Zers were spared from the worst effects of COVID-19, they have still been disproportionally impacted. One of the most significant impacts has been on their soft skills. Soft skills are key components of emotional intelligence and are essential for success in life, yet many Gen Zers find themselves without them due to the limitations posed by the pandemic.

The digital world has become an integral part of everyone’s lives in recent years, but it has been especially impactful for this generation. Gen Zers are digital natives - They have grown up with technology and have an innate affinity for its use. However, with society having shifted to primarily virtual interactions during the pandemic, much of their social development has been hindered in a way that does not happen when face-to-face conversations take place. Gen Zers have had limited opportunities to establish relationships with peers or mentors and develop critical communication skills through these encounters.

Further compounding this issue is how Gen Zers learn best – by doing rather than hearing or viewing online classes – but with school closures, they haven’t had access to those hands-on experiences needed for authentic learning and development. With no direct human contact, Gen Zers cannot rely on nonverbal cues (gestures, body language) which can be incredibly helpful when building interpersonal relationships or understanding others’ points of view - Soft skills such as empathy and conflict resolution often need such casual interactions that can be next to impossible online as well.

As a result, many Gen Zers lack important soft skills such as problem solving, teamwork, self-management and communication - Soft skills employers have deemed fundamental for success today. This means that if Generation Z fails to acquire these abilities through traditional methods in coming years, their career prospects could suffer greatly down the line where having strong soft skills matter more than ever before.

It is essential for parents and educators to recognize just how much the pandemic has impacted Generation Z's ability to develop soft skills. The digital world may help bridge some gaps by providing technical solutions like video conferencing platforms but ultimately it will be up to each individual - parents included - to work towards cultivating soft skills within this generation so that they will be better prepared for workforces post COVID-19. Formal education institutions should strive towards providing relevant resources while also seeking out ways they can support young people who might require additional assistance in developing their emotional intelligence.  Businesses, too, should consider offering mentorship programs which involve both virtual and offline elements so that Gen Zers can gain real life experience even during challenging times like these we're living through now.

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