What Are the Top Soft Skills that Feel Mobility Students Lack?

Students return from mobility more confident and motivated but host companies still see clear soft-skills gaps that we need to address during the preparation stage.

When we talk about the impact of Erasmus+ mobility, we usually focus on the positive transformation, students become more independent, improve their language skills and gain international work experience. All of the aforementioned is absolutely true. Many participants come back more mature, more confident and better motivated about their future career.

However, if we listen carefully to feedback from host companies, a deeper nuanced picture appears. Alongside the success stories, employers often mention the same missing soft skills that make the first days — and sometimes the entire placement — more challenging than expected.

Understanding these gaps is not about criticising students. It is about improving preparation and creating more realistic learning outcomes for future mobilities.

The Challenge of Workplace Communication

One of the most frequently mentioned challenges is workplace communication. Even when students have a basic knowledge of the working language, they often struggle with professional communication. This is not about grammar — it is about knowing when to ask questions, how to react to instructions, how to inform a mentor that a task is finished, or how to admit that something is not understood.

In many schools, students are used to waiting for guidance. In companies, initiative is expected. A mentor in a Spanish hotel once explained it very clearly:,“The student was polite and hardworking, but he waited to be told every single step. In our daily work we need someone who observes, asks, and reacts.”

This is a classic example of the difference between school culture and workplace culture.

The Differences in Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is another key competence that is often overestimated in the preparation phase. We tend to think that young people are naturally open-minded and adaptable, but the reality is that working in an international environment requires very concrete skills such as understanding different work mentalities, adjusting to new hierarchies and recognising that “normal” can mean different things in different countries. A German workshop mentor, for example, may expect a very direct and structured communication style, while a company in Italy might rely more on observation and flexibility. Students who are not prepared for these differences can feel insecure even if their technical skills are strong.

Missing Problem-Solving Skills

Another soft skill that employers often miss at the beginning is problem-solving. When something unexpected happens — a missing tool in a workshop, a last-minute change in a reservation, a product that is not available — many students immediately turn to their mentor instead of first trying to find a solution themselves. This does not mean they are not capable; instead it usually means they are afraid of making a mistake.

Interestingly, this is also strongly connected to the way students are assessed at home. If they come from an environment where mistakes are penalised instead of used as a learning opportunity, they will avoid taking initiative during their mobility as well.

Being Able to Time-Manage

Time management and understanding workplace rhythm is another area where host companies see differences. Being on time is usually not the problem. The real challenge is maintaining concentration, understanding priorities and staying productive during slower periods. In sectors such as hospitality or retail, where the intensity of work changes throughout the day, this can be difficult for students who are used to a fixed school timetable.

Receiving Feedback

Employers also frequently mention feedback culture. Many participants are not used to receiving direct feedback and can interpret it as criticism instead of support. At the same time, they often don’t know how to ask for feedback themselves. Yet this is one of the most important learning tools during a short-term mobility. A student who actively asks, “What can I improve?” usually progresses twice as fast as one who silently completes tasks.

How Soft Skills Develop Quickly

What is important — and encouraging — is that these soft skills develop very quickly during the mobility itself. In mid-term monitoring visits we often see a completely different person compared to the first days of a placement. The shy student who was afraid to speak is suddenly explaining tasks to new team members. The participant who waited for instructions has begun asking for additional responsibilities. This shows that mobility is one of the most effective learning environments for soft-skills development.

Preparing Students Effectively

The question for sending organisations is therefore not whether students will gain these competences, but how can we prepare them better so that the first phase of the placement is less stressful for both sides?

Preparation does not need to be longer — it needs to be more realistic. Role plays based on real workplace situations, simulations of difficult conversations and clear explanations of what mentors expect can make a huge difference. Students need to understand that they are not only learners but for a few weeks they are also employees and colleagues.

Sharing Perspective

It is equally important to share this perspective with host companies. When mentors know what the typical starting point of mobility participants is, they are more patient during the first days and focus on gradual integration instead of immediate performance.

In the end, these soft-skills gaps are not a weakness of mobility programmes. They are the reason why mobility is so valuable. Students do not go abroad because they already have

these competences — they go abroad to develop them and every time a host company tells us, “Your students have improved so much in just three weeks,” we are reminded that this process works.

Final Words

If you want your students to be fully prepared and make the most of their Erasmus+ mobility, we can help. In our projects, we provide tailored pre-departure training, practical workshops and ongoing support during placements to strengthen soft skills and ensure a smoother experience for both students and host companies.

To learn more about our mobility services or discuss how we can support your organisation, contact us today — we’ll be happy to guide you every step of the way.