Some adults find it difficult to form and maintain healthy relationships. They may be shy, or have been prevented from making friends in childhood. This inability to make friends can be self-perpetuating; the more the person fails, the more they tend to give up and become further isolated. If the adult is willing to try, there are ways of improving social skills. Though he may never be at the center of a lively party, the shy adult can usually be helped to form one or two friendships. Social skills can be improved gradually, using a behavioral approach, perhaps initiating a conversation each day, if only a short talk with a neighbor.
Arguably this generation struggles more with financial management than previous generations, who often had much less disposable income. Credit has become easy to access, and many people run up huge amounts of debt. It does seem that some people are more financially astute than others, but most people can be helped to budget and to change their attitude to credit and debt.
If a child always has everything done for him by his parents, he might not have a clue in what is involved in running a home. He might be unable or unwilling to cook or clean. Some people forget to pay bills, and may find it difficult to carry out basic tasks, such as opening a bank account, or applying for a passport. If a person finds it difficult to come to grips with these tasks, an underlying mental illness might be part of the problem.
Even a wonderful college record and grades do not necessarily mean that a person is employable. Certain skills and attitudes are necessary for employment. An employee must be punctual and have a good work ethic. She must be able to communicate with colleagues and get along with them. To be a successful employee, the worker must not hand in her notice at the first sign of a problem. Part of this skill is the ability to negotiate. An employee needs to be flexible and cooperative.