If you just tossed your cap and graduated, kudos to you. But now you started wondering, why the hell aren’t you landing a job? Well, you’re not alone. Tbh, almost every single fresh graduate out there is facing the same exact dilemma.
You might have been putting your portfolio, your CV and your resume (read this for a Gen Z guide to corporate) on steroids, but to be real with you, that might not be enough anymore. I know, wild. Luckily, LinkedIn’s latest Economic Graph Data has been released sharing the essential skills needed to land THAT dream job.
Yes, you may have the good ol’ degree (a hoorah to you byby), but if you don’t have the essential skills to prove yourself during the dreaded interview, then it’s all for nothing. Your extra skills are what make ✨shine✨.
To keep things short and sweet, you’ve been lacking skills the HRs are looking for in 2025. And according to Linkedin’s latest research, the annual Grad Guide, you’ve been missing out on a couple of ’em.
It’s not to say that what you’ve accumulated isn’t less important; it’s more about the most desired skills in today’s workplace that you haven’t tapped into yet. So, if you’re keen to stand out amongst your competition, these are the five skills you need to ace.
Communication skills
It’s not just about sounding profesh and polished. Or using “LOL” or “LMAO” in an email. It’s a no-brainer that even the slightest mistake can cause a ripple of adverse effects *typing from experience*. With communication skills, you’re setting the foundation for how well you can express yourself to your colleagues, especially your bosses.
Especially in the age where almost everyone uses AI in various tasks. We’ve seen the TikToks of the girls asking Chat AI for romantic advice, maybe even emotional advice too, before they give to other, this is where your communication skills can be twice as good with empathy. Human to human, communication skills + empathy = great✨.
Team Management & Workplace Organisation
When you step foot in a company, sometimes it’s chaos upon chaos–no surprise there. Team management is all about ensuring you’re always in prime condition to work, navigating through the struggles, and still thriving with your team.
Can’t handle the pressure? Sometimes, you don’t have to girl boss too hard and take a step back. Ask your team for help, which circles back to communication skills! Or try aiding your professor or internship manager to ensure everyone’s on their toes and ready to work. It’s also showing your leadership and organisation skills during a crisis. Plus points!
Certification Testing
Okay, you have your dream job lined up. Do you have the niche skills for it, though? If you’re into tech and games, you know most users and players are hella picky when it comes to glitches and minor coding errors. The job market is looking for those with the keen eyes to spot those mistakes and test those to make even better items. It’s all about quality.
Sales
Have you ever heard your professor ask a student, “Sell me this pen,” and the room goes silent? Sales is your handy dandy skill in 2025 mainly because of its incredible impact on, well, sales and making the business profitable. It falls in line with how well you can be a revenue-generating yapper!
Knowing how to pitch, persuade and close deals, makes you the prime employee no matter where you are.
Here’s your Gen Z guide to corporate life.