For years, getting a college degree was seen as the first big step towards a good career. Parents worked hard to get their children into a good college. But today, the job market has changed, and a degree on its own may no longer be enough.
Now employers want more than a qualification written on a resume. They want to know whether a candidate can actually use what they have learnt. Can they solve a problem? Can they work with a team? Can they use new technology? Can they learn something quickly when the job requires it?
This is why skill-based learning is becoming important for students. A student may have good marks and a degree from a recognised college, but if they have never worked on a real project or used their knowledge outside the classroom, entering a job can still be difficult. Technology is making this change even more important. AI, automation and digital tools are now becoming important than ever. Students do not necessarily need to become technology experts, but they do need to have a basic understanding.
Good academic performance is important, but so is giving children opportunities to develop practical skills. Internships, project work, workshops, certifications and exposure to real-world problems can help them understand how classroom learning is actually used.
The reason is simple. Companies are still hiring, but the kind of candidate they are looking for is changing. A degree may help a student get shortlisted, but what they can do with that education can decide what happens next.
Experts tracking the changing job market believe this gap between education and workplace skills is becoming one of the biggest challenges for India’s workforce. “Employability is changing. Technical knowledge continues to matter, but employers are also looking at how candidates approach problems, communicate with teams and respond to change,” said Rathakrishnan Govind, CEO of LSBF Global. Institutions such as LSBF are trying to bridge this gap by giving students greater exposure to industry-relevant skills and practical learning.
A recent Reuters report reflects the same trend. It noted that multinational companies operating through India’s growing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are adjusting their hiring plans as artificial intelligence changes the nature of work. Skills linked to AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital transformation are seeing stronger demand. Employers are also paying closer attention to what candidates can do in practical situations.
The policy conversation is moving in a similar direction. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been encouraging programmes that focus on digital capabilities and industry-relevant training. The idea is to prepare young professionals for the industry.
For students, academic programmes can become more useful when they are supported by industry exposure, mentorship and opportunities to work on real business challenges. Such experiences can help narrow this gap.
There is another issue that students and working professionals are likely to face. Technology is changing quickly, and the skills needed for a job can change with it. What a person learns at the beginning of a career may not be enough a few years later. Learning new skills and updating existing ones should be a regular part of work.
Having a degree still matters. But it is only one part of the picture now. Employers want people who can use what they have learnt, work with others and learn when the job changes. Practical side of education could make a bigger difference than another qualification on paper.
