A Degree Isn’t Always Enough — Why Soft Skills Matter for Graduates in Harrogate & Yorkshire

By Chris, Founder of Northern Trail

A recent BBC News article highlighted a statistic that I found staggering.

According to new analysis by the Centre for Social Justice, more than 700,000 university graduates in the UK are currently out of work and claiming benefits.

Of those, around 400,000 are claiming Universal Credit, and almost 240,000 say they cannot work due to health reasons — a figure that has more than doubled since 2019.

The analysis suggests this represents an increase of more than 200,000 graduates (46%) since before the pandemic.

Those numbers are significant — and importantly, they’re current. This isn’t historical data or a long-term trend from years ago. It reflects the labour market graduates are facing right now.

For many parents and young adults, it challenges a long-held assumption:

“If you get a degree, you’ll be fine.”

A Degree Isn’t Always Enough Anymore

For years, university was presented as the clear route into stable, professional work. And while degrees still have real value — the same report shows 88% of working-age graduates are employed compared to 68% of non-graduates — the reality is that a degree on its own is no longer a guarantee.

The market has changed.

There are more graduates than ever. Entry-level roles are more competitive. And employers are looking for something broader than academic knowledge alone.

They’re looking for capability.

And much of that capability sits in what we call soft skills.

What Employers Are Really Assessing

When I speak to young adults who are job hunting, a common pattern emerges.

They’ve done well academically. They’ve worked hard. They’re sending applications.

But interviews feel daunting. Assessment centres feel overwhelming. And when they don’t get the job, their confidence takes a hit.

It’s rarely about intelligence or effort.

More often, it’s about the skills that sit underneath performance in pressured, people-focused situations.

Things like:

• Clear communication
• Self-confidence and presence
• Emotional intelligence
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Handling feedback
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Resilience
• Managing nerves under pressure

These are the qualities employers are quietly assessing when they ask behavioural questions, run group exercises, or watch how someone interacts in an assessment centre.

Degrees demonstrate knowledge. Soft skills demonstrate employability.

And when competition is high, those softer skills often become the deciding factor.

The Gap Between Education and the Workplace

University does many things well. It develops subject knowledge, critical thinking and independence.

But it doesn’t always explicitly teach how to:

• speak confidently about your strengths
• handle rejection or setbacks
• influence others
• manage workplace relationships
• perform under observation
• navigate uncertainty

Yet these are exactly the demands of interviews and early professional life.

So it’s not surprising that some capable graduates struggle with the transition.

It isn’t a lack of potential. It’s simply a lack of preparation for the human side of work.

That’s the gap coaching can help bridge — especially for families in Harrogate and across Yorkshire (including Leeds, Ripon and York).

Soft Skills Can Be Learned

There’s sometimes a misconception that confidence or communication are personality traits — that you either “have them” or you don’t.

In my experience, that isn’t true at all.

These are skills. And like any skill, they can be developed with the right structure and practice.

In coaching sessions, we work deliberately on things like:

• articulating strengths clearly
• practising interviews and assessment scenarios
• building emotional awareness
• developing resilience after setbacks
• understanding personal values and motivations
• recognising past successes to build self-belief

Tools such as values exploration and reflecting on peak performance experiences help create a strong foundation. When someone understands what matters to them and where they naturally perform well, their confidence becomes more authentic — not forced.

From there, we practise applying those insights in real-world situations.

Not theory. Practice.

Because confidence grows through experience, not positive thinking.

Standing Out Once You’re In

Soft skills don’t just help you get hired. They help you once you’re through the door.

Graduates who communicate well, collaborate effectively and stay calm under pressure tend to:

• integrate faster into teams
• earn trust earlier
• take on responsibility sooner
• and progress more quickly

In other words, they don’t just find work — they build momentum.

A Practical, Personal Approach

I’m not a graduate labour market expert. But I am proud and fortunate that in my early 20s, I had some of the best leadership training available anywhere in the world and since then I have been lucky enough to develop those skills in really challenging environments, with people from all walks of life.

What I do specialise in is helping individuals perform better — particularly those who are capable but perhaps a little unsure of themselves, like I once was.

My approach is relaxed, structured and practical. It’s coaching, but also mentoring where helpful. I’ll ask good questions — but I’ll also share experience and guidance when it makes sense.

The aim is simple: help young adults develop the human skills that allow their academic ability to shine.

Because right now, that combination is what sets people apart.

If you’re in Harrogate or the wider Yorkshire region and your son or daughter is finding the step from university into work harder than expected, they’re certainly not alone.

But with the right support, they can build the confidence and soft skills that give them a genuine competitive advantage.

And sometimes, that small edge is all it takes.