A survey of more than 600 employers across industries and organisation sizes has found that soft skills — including communication, professionalism, adaptability and willingness to learn — consistently rank higher than technical knowledge when companies evaluate early-career candidates. Researchers who study workplace technology say the findings challenge a widespread assumption among university students that AI and technical credentials are now the primary gateway to employment. Employers explained that job-specific technical skills can be taught on the job, but qualities like dependability, curiosity and strong communication are harder to instil — making them the true differentiators at the hiring stage.