Analysis of the increase of the employability level in university students through the improvement of transversal skills

Abstract

Soft skills or transversal competences are considered essential for training in any field of knowledge. However, professional guidance services for university students have not yet been incorporated. The aim of the research is to know how professional orientation by transversal competences influences the level of employability of university-graduates and to check if there are significant differences according to sex, age or employment situation. For the research, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control-experimental group was used, as well as a competency orientation intervention. The sample was compound of 748 university-graduates who request professional guidance and were enrolled in programs subsidized by the European Union within the programs of the Social Agents of Aragon. Information was obtained through questionnaires, interviews and discussion groups. Quantitative data are analyzed with SPSS statistical program and qualitative data are analyzed through predefined and emerging categorization by segments or units of analysis and transcribed texts using Nvivo software. It is found that professional orientation by competences improves the employability level of the university students. Receiving professional guidance by competences contributes positively to the improvement of the employability level of university students in general and to the development of transversal skills and the management of resources and tools. There is a clear correlation between the university-graduates who receive professional guidance by competencies and a satisfactory working conjuncture in themselves.