The importance of soft skills as a crucial element for personal and professional success is widely acknowledged in the present era. Today's job market is highly competitive, and companies are hiring people who are already skilled and knowledgeable for the job position. The companies aren't investing in a basic level training period for new jobs, they are looking for people with some basic soft skills to do the jobs. However, many students are unaware of the crucial role that soft skills play in their education and career success, hindering their progress in developing these skills.

A questionnaire-based online survey was conducted, involving 968 undergraduate students from eight universities in Vietnam, to gather data. The findings showed that most respondents recognized the significance of soft skills in fostering positive relationships, career advancement, and securing desirable employment. However, students did not believe that these skills had a substantial impact on their academic performance. Communication, teamwork, collaboration, and time management skills were identified as the most critical soft skills for enhancing academic performance, while teamwork, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills were considered pivotal for career development. In an interview, the CEO of Abul Khayer Group said that we have jobs, but we cannot find an eligible candidate. He also said that a fresh graduate never has any realistic idea about the real job world. They only know what is written in the book, but they don't know how to apply it to their jobs. Suppose a student starts to learn soft skills like interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, critical analysis, etc. In that case, they can give thousands of unemployed fresh graduates jobs with a handsome salary.

In conclusion, the significance of soft skills in academic success cannot be overlooked. From fostering effective communication and collaboration to enhancing critical thinking and emotional intelligence, soft skills serve as foundational pillars for thriving in academic environments. Students can learn these skills through co-curricular activities like clubbing, online-based learning, etc. Regrettably, these skills are most frequently developed and used unconsciously, through frustrating trial and error and hard-won experiences. 

Author
Tanima Hamid Heya    
LEAD Academy Campus Ambassador, University of Chittagong