Page 58 - EW February 2026

Teacher-2-Teacher

Five necessary skills that

employers want

KULDIP SARMA

HE JOURNEY FROM CLASSROOM TO board- It's now quite clear that fresh graduates
room has now become more complex than ever. require extra edge and knowledge
The world around us is constantly changing,
Tdefined by technology transformation, remote beyond academic qualifications.
employment, and fast changing business expectations. A Increasingly they must possess
college degree is only the beginning. Resilience, initiative workplace skills that are flexible,
and risk-taking capability are qualities that contemporary transferable and future-oriented
employers value.
According to the India Graduate Skill Index 2025 of
the Delhi-based skills assessment firm Mercer-Mettl, employers, especially in situations where guidance or
only 42.6 percent of Indian graduates were employable resources may be limited. Capability to set goals, manage
in 2024, down from 44.3 percent a year earlier. It is now time and strong self-management are plus points that are
quite clear that new graduates require an extra edge and highly appreciated by modern business enterprises.
knowledge beyond academic qualifications. Increasingly, 5. Importance of emotional intelligence. As tech-
graduates must possess workplace skills that are flexible, nologies evolve, the value of human skills is acquiring
transferable and future-oriented. greater importance, especially emotional intelligence.
In my opinion, five important real-world skills distin- Emotional intelligence is the greatest advantage of human
guish employable graduates in new demanding work- beings over artificial intelligence (AI). EQ — capability to
places. empathise with colleagues, manage one’s own emotions,
1. Critical thinking and problem solving. Capabil- and build meaningful connections — plays a vital role in
ity to assess circumstances, analyse variables, and make how people interact in contemporary workplaces. High
informed decisions is vital. According to a recent report EQ is important for creating and retaining customers,
by Mercer-Mettl, only half (54.6 percent) of Indian gradu- leading teams, resolving conflicts and developing esprit
ates exhibit sufficient soft skills. Students who are able to de corps. When emotional intelligence is combined with
identify basic problems and follow through with useful ethics and integrity it builds trust, disseminates profes-
solutions in high pressure situations are most valued by sionalism to build positive and respectful workplace
business organisations. cultures.
2. Adaptability as a skill. As digital technologies are Employability skills are changing as the world around
advancing, knowledge of latter-day digital programs and us changes. Practical, real-world skills bridge the divide
tools is a necessity. These skill-sets should extend beyond between what’s learned in the classroom and what’s
knowledge of basic software; it requires possession of needed to perform successfully in today’s fast-paced
technical flair with cloud-based systems, team collabora- workplaces. They are important not only at the time of
tion platforms, and emerging tech. It is also important employment, but also for long-term career progress and
to develop capability to quickly adapt to new tools as resilience.
they evolve. In fields such as IT, media, healthcare, and Developing these capabilities through internships,
finance, graduates who can confidently navigate evolving online learning, mentorship, and self-directed projects
digital environments are highly valued. provide graduates with significant competitive advantage.
3. Teamwork & communication skills. For develop- More crucially, they allow young professionals to shape
ing ideas and building teams, clear communication skills the future of work rather than simply fill existing job
are indispensible. As job roles require working in hybrid roles.
and remote environments, clear communication is vital In a world where change is the only constant, gradu-
for achieving collective goals while working across differ- ates who develop adaptive, emotional intelligence to
ent digital channels and time zones. Communication and prepare to meet real-world challenges will always start
teamwork are no longer important soft skills; they are a early and stay ahead.
prerequisite of effective teamwork. (Kuldip Sarma is co-founder and Pro-Chancellor of the Singtam (Sikkim)-
4. Initiative and self-management. Curiosity and based Medhavi Skills University, Director of Medhavi Foundation & Advisor
enterprise are qualities that are increasingly valued by of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Delhi)

58 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2026