Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates

This study investigates the importance of help-seeking skills among higher education graduates as perceived by employers. Through semi-structured interviews with 16 employers across various industries in Australia, the research identifies help-seeking as a critical skill that enhances employability...

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Main Authors: Natasha Dwyer, Naomi Dempsey, Darren Brown, Anthony Watt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Deakin University 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/2015
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author Natasha Dwyer
Naomi Dempsey
Darren Brown
Anthony Watt
author_facet Natasha Dwyer
Naomi Dempsey
Darren Brown
Anthony Watt
author_sort Natasha Dwyer
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the importance of help-seeking skills among higher education graduates as perceived by employers. Through semi-structured interviews with 16 employers across various industries in Australia, the research identifies help-seeking as a critical skill that enhances employability. An employee demonstrates effective help-seeking abilities when they appropriately request assistance to accomplish a task at work. Our research explores the nuance of what employers have in mind when they conceptualise help-seeking in their context. Help-seeking is underpinned by communication, self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills. The study suggests practical strategies for higher education institutions to incorporate help-seeking training into their curricula, as part of preparing students for complex work environments.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Deakin University
record_format Article
series Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
spelling doaj-art-2739f477d4664fcca01fe0e9c3f9581c2025-08-20T02:00:33ZengDeakin UniversityJournal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability1838-38152025-03-0116110.21153/jtlge2025vol16no1art2015Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduatesNatasha Dwyer0Naomi Dempsey1Darren Brown2Anthony Watt3Victoria UniversityLa Trobe UniversityRMIT UniversityVictoria University This study investigates the importance of help-seeking skills among higher education graduates as perceived by employers. Through semi-structured interviews with 16 employers across various industries in Australia, the research identifies help-seeking as a critical skill that enhances employability. An employee demonstrates effective help-seeking abilities when they appropriately request assistance to accomplish a task at work. Our research explores the nuance of what employers have in mind when they conceptualise help-seeking in their context. Help-seeking is underpinned by communication, self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills. The study suggests practical strategies for higher education institutions to incorporate help-seeking training into their curricula, as part of preparing students for complex work environments. https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/2015help-seeking skillsemployabilityhigher educationgraduate expectationscommunication skillsresilience
spellingShingle Natasha Dwyer
Naomi Dempsey
Darren Brown
Anthony Watt
Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
help-seeking skills
employability
higher education
graduate expectations
communication skills
resilience
title Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
title_full Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
title_fullStr Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
title_full_unstemmed Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
title_short Employer perspectives on the importance of help-seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
title_sort employer perspectives on the importance of help seeking as a key skill of higher education graduates
topic help-seeking skills
employability
higher education
graduate expectations
communication skills
resilience
url https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/2015
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AT naomidempsey employerperspectivesontheimportanceofhelpseekingasakeyskillofhighereducationgraduates
AT darrenbrown employerperspectivesontheimportanceofhelpseekingasakeyskillofhighereducationgraduates
AT anthonywatt employerperspectivesontheimportanceofhelpseekingasakeyskillofhighereducationgraduates