Assertiveness, perceived importance and communication skills among students and young graduates in Slovenia and FYR Macedonia

Employers consider soft skills, especially ability to communicate, as an important competence, which affects employability and performance at work. At the same time they claim that these skills are insufficiently developed among young college graduates. The results of a survey among students and young graduates in two countries, Slovenia and FYR Macedonia, support this claim, even though young are aware of the importance of communication skills and assertiveness. Results also show that those who learn to communicate at work have better developed skills and therefore business communications training should be incorporated in formal education programs and in on-the-job training.