The Role of Mentorship as an Approach for Enhancing Employability Skills for 21st Century in Kenya

This paper investigated the role of mentorship in enhancing employability skills among the college graduates. As a desktop study, it relied on secondary data. After reviewing the relevant literature, the secondary data was thematically analyzed, contextualized, and applied the answer to study question, "What is the role of mentorship in enhancing employability skills in the 21st century?" There is a genuine concern globally to boost the employability of fresh college graduates to match the employers' expectations in the job market. To successfully penetrate the crowded job market, the graduates have to prove their competitiveness through possessing the critical employability skills desired in their relevant sector. The paper established the following common skills that were seen as foundational by diverse employers: teamwork, problem solving, work ethic, integrity, positive attitudes and critical thinking, self-drive, emotional intelligence at the workplace, communication, and interpersonal skills. The study concluded that mentoring relationship stand out as one of the most effective developmental platform for developing and nurturing the relevant skills, competencies and character that will enhance graduates' penetration to the job market and consequently enhance their employability skills needed in the 21st Century. Institutions and other relevant stakeholders in higher education need to partner and support one another in developing pertinent skills, knowledge, and professional competencies that sustainably match the global job market. The university, as the prime trainer of our workforce, must chart the way forward and effectively work with all other actors in the job-market.