TD Magazine Article
Member Benefit
Missing: Gen Z’s Soft Skills
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Employers have started offering specialized training to fill the skills gaps.
Employers have started offering specialized training to fill the skills gaps.
Fri May 01 2026
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Many employers are finding that Gen Zers—the youngest age group in the workforce—lack the interpersonal and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.
Many employers are finding that Gen Zers—the youngest age group in the workforce—lack the interpersonal and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.
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According to Fortune, "PwC U.K. is giving Gen Z grads ‘resilience' training in their first 6 months on the job, to get better at handling criticisms and office politics." Much of the training that PwC has developed specifically for Gen Z employees focuses on communication, because so many of the company's new hires don't have the skills to work with clients.
According to Fortune, "PwC U.K. is giving Gen Z grads ‘resilience' training in their first 6 months on the job, to get better at handling criticisms and office politics." Much of the training that PwC has developed specifically for Gen Z employees focuses on communication, because so many of the company's new hires don't have the skills to work with clients.
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Gen Zers came to age during the pandemic, which stunted their time socializing, including early days in the workplace. Thus, they often lack the resilience they need to work under pressure, deal with criticism, and manage sticky conversations. Other work knowledge shortfalls, notes Fortune, include understanding professional norms, such as not simply walking out of a meeting before it concludes.
Gen Zers came to age during the pandemic, which stunted their time socializing, including early days in the workplace. Thus, they often lack the resilience they need to work under pressure, deal with criticism, and manage sticky conversations. Other work knowledge shortfalls, notes Fortune, include understanding professional norms, such as not simply walking out of a meeting before it concludes.
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Similarly, the Daily Mail reports that "Now Gen Z workers are too terrified to make phone calls—forcing top finance firm to introduce training on ‘challenging' conversations." It details how UK's Forvis Mazars, a consulting firm, uses training for Gen Z on managing challenging conversations and relationship building.
Similarly, the Daily Mail reports that "Now Gen Z workers are too terrified to make phone calls—forcing top finance firm to introduce training on ‘challenging' conversations." It details how UK's Forvis Mazars, a consulting firm, uses training for Gen Z on managing challenging conversations and relationship building.
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Some organizations are taking a different tactic by training managers to work with their Gen Z direct reports. The article "‘They Think Different' | Cohesity Gives Managers Training on ‘Mindboggling' Gen Z, CPO Reveals" notes that managers at technology company Cohesity learn to "guide new recruits through both workplace expectations and basics such as calendar management."
Some organizations are taking a different tactic by training managers to work with their Gen Z direct reports. The article "‘They Think Different' | Cohesity Gives Managers Training on ‘Mindboggling' Gen Z, CPO Reveals" notes that managers at technology company Cohesity learn to "guide new recruits through both workplace expectations and basics such as calendar management."
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During a Conference Board webinar titled "CEO Roundtable: Policy Priorities for 2026," panelists— including Kathleen M. Mazzarella, president and CEO of supply chain management services company Graybar—agreed that workforce development, including training for youths to enable them to be contributors in the workplace, should be the number 1 focus for policymakers in 2026.
During a Conference Board webinar titled "CEO Roundtable: Policy Priorities for 2026," panelists— including Kathleen M. Mazzarella, president and CEO of supply chain management services company Graybar—agreed that workforce development, including training for youths to enable them to be contributors in the workplace, should be the number 1 focus for policymakers in 2026.
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Mazzarella emphasized the need to ensure that young people have critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills.
Mazzarella emphasized the need to ensure that young people have critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills.
