Soft skills for employability: Exploring english graduates' awareness and practices in bangladesh

Abstract

This study examined the soft skills for employability among English graduates in Bangladesh. It identified twelve fundamental soft skills, Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Self-Management, People Management, Collaboration, Emotional Intelligence, Time Management, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Creativity, and 49 Sub-skills. To triangulate the data, the study utilized a student survey (N=323), in-depth interviews with teachers (N=18), focus group discussions with students (N=9), and secondary literature. The findings revealed that English graduates had a higher awareness of soft skills than their actual practice. The survey results showed a gap between soft skill awareness and practice, with participants ranking their overall skill level slightly above average. Emotional intelligence, leadership, people management, and interpersonal skills were rated the highest, while creativity, problemsolving, critical thinking, and communication received the lowest scores. The in-depth interviews and focus group discussions provided further insights into the soft skill experiences of English graduates. It was found that the large class sizes in NU colleges posed challenges for effective soft skills practices. However, self-directed learning was identified as an effective method for enhancing soft skill awareness and practice. Additionally, the English curriculum indirectly encouraged the development of emotional intelligence skills among literature and language students. Based on the findings, the study recommended incorporating soft skills training into the English curriculum and providing clear implementation guidelines. This would help boost the employability of English graduates in Bangladesh. The study's implications extend to educational policy and practice, providing valuable insights for improving graduates' employability and contributing to overall economic development in the country.