Book Review: Bridging the Softskills Gap by Bruce Tulgan

It's no secret that today's job market is being flooded with Generation Y, known as the second wave of Millenials, born between 1990-1999. These recent graduates have a lot in common: they are technically saavy, grew up with helicopter parents, and google all of their "how-tos". They often relate well to adults but are missing key soft skills in three important areas: Professionalism, Critical Thinking, and Followership. This book describes these three qualities in detail, giving employers specific ideas as to how to teach these skills. Yes, it is often frustrating for employers, but these kids are well trained and up to date on the technical skills needed to run a company.

Managers complained that these young people lacked in the following areas: personal responsibility, work habits, checking devices on a regular basis, not being able to problem solve or defer to authority, and finally, greatly lack in teamwork.

In brief the categories addressed in this book of each area that employers can focus on and provide training to employees are as follows:
Professionalism- self-evaluation, personal responsibility, work habits, positive attitude and people skills
Critical Thinking- proactive learning, problem solving and decision making
Followership- respect for context, good citizenship, service and teamwork

In short, I recommend this book to high school teachers, college professors, and employers. Teachers and professors can use it in their classrooms and employers can use it in their training.  It is easy to read, practical and very clear and concise. There is a compatible workbook that can be purchased also. It is called Soft Skills Training: A Workbook to Develop Skills for Employment by Frederick Wentz.