iStockWhile numerous soft skills can help individuals navigate through the employment landscape that continues to evolve, adaptability remains an evergreen and futuristic competency.
It is one skill that ensures that an individual stays prepared to confidently move through various challenges and changes in the workplace with confidence. This is why to stand out in the competitive job market and increase their chances of getting hired, freshers need to understand the importance of adaptability and learn how to develop it.
Why employers are hunting for adaptability
Adaptability or agility is the ability to flexibly adapt to changing situations, says Roopank Chaudhary, Partner and Head of Data Solutions, Talent Solutions-India at Aon, a provider of risk management, insurance, reinsurance and human resource services.
He sees two reasons primarily driving the demand for this skill in the business landscape. First, the nature of jobs and the skills required to do them are changing at a rapid pace, which means unless there is adaptability, the skills don’t remain relevant. Next, he says, given the volatility in the external environment and pace of disruption of businesses, only those who can learn multiple skills and also change the way they operate will continue to be the most sought-after.
Explaining the reason for employers’ inclination towards hiring individuals equipped with adaptability skills, Srikanth Reddy, Senior Manager-Talent Acquisition at Progress, says as the world changes around us, there could be changes in the workplace pertaining to skills, operations and technology. The right talent not only brings a fresh perspective to solving various problems but can also easily adapt to learning new skills & technologies.
He holds the opinion that to stay ahead in the current digital age, it’s important to demonstrate a readiness to embrace technologies and upskill.
How adaptability skills can help freshers
Today’s employment landscape demands that you possess a combination of skills, and adaptability is undoubtedly on top of that list, if you want to grow even during adverse times.
Talking about how adaptability ensures career progression, Chaudhary cites the example of how the pandemic and the advent of AI have successfully taught us that the faster you can adapt, the more relevant you are. He says that given that uncertainty, volatility and the impact of recessionary cycles are not going to subside anytime soon. People with adaptability skills can build stronger resilience, will be more in demand and more likely to succeed than those who only bring in traditional and mono-dimensional skills.
By adapting to new technologies, methodologies and market demands, Reddy says, freshers get to position themselves as adaptable professionals capable of driving positive change within organisations, thus accelerating their career progression. Companies recognise the importance of adaptability and invest in upskilling promising freshers, ensuring opportunities for both groups in the ever-evolving tech landscape, he adds.
Overcoming career challenges through adaptability
Adaptability assists individuals in tackling tough situations at work and successfully transitioning from one phase to another, moving beyond the temporary obstacles that come up in a career journey.
Chaudhary recalls how during Covid and its aftermath, when businesses had to change their way of operating and rationalise workforces, employees with the agility to do multiple jobs and embrace digital readiness were able to keep themselves more relevant.
Reddy explains that internship programmes play a significant role in instilling important skills like adaptability in young minds. Internships not only equip fresh graduates with such skills but also give them a chance to implement their learnings. Many talented interns also later get absorbed into the workforce as full-time employees.
“Our learning hub portal grants interns access to both technical and non-technical training resources available to full-time employees, facilitating their learning and adaptation. Additionally, each intern is paired with a buddy who offers guidance and support in navigating workplace challenges,” he adds.
Effective tips to develop adaptability skills as freshers
Experts say candidates should focus on developing certain strategies that can make it simpler for them to embrace change and thrive, especially when transitioning from college to corporate.
To begin with, they advise individuals to focus on embracing change and viewing challenges as growth opportunities, in order to cultivate adaptability skills. Next, indulging in self-awareness, collaborating with others, and seeking feedback can help analyse their response to change and make it easier to improve their ability to handle unforeseen changes and demanding situations, such as layoffs and industry shifts.
Another noteworthy piece of advice they give is that candidates should stay updated on industry trends and invest in continuous learning. Along with seeking continual self-improvement, staying curious and open to novelty is foundational to developing adaptability skills and experiencing consistent growth.
It is one skill that ensures that an individual stays prepared to confidently move through various challenges and changes in the workplace with confidence. This is why to stand out in the competitive job market and increase their chances of getting hired, freshers need to understand the importance of adaptability and learn how to develop it.
Why employers are hunting for adaptability
Adaptability or agility is the ability to flexibly adapt to changing situations, says Roopank Chaudhary, Partner and Head of Data Solutions, Talent Solutions-India at Aon, a provider of risk management, insurance, reinsurance and human resource services.
He sees two reasons primarily driving the demand for this skill in the business landscape. First, the nature of jobs and the skills required to do them are changing at a rapid pace, which means unless there is adaptability, the skills don’t remain relevant. Next, he says, given the volatility in the external environment and pace of disruption of businesses, only those who can learn multiple skills and also change the way they operate will continue to be the most sought-after.
Explaining the reason for employers’ inclination towards hiring individuals equipped with adaptability skills, Srikanth Reddy, Senior Manager-Talent Acquisition at Progress, says as the world changes around us, there could be changes in the workplace pertaining to skills, operations and technology. The right talent not only brings a fresh perspective to solving various problems but can also easily adapt to learning new skills & technologies.
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He holds the opinion that to stay ahead in the current digital age, it’s important to demonstrate a readiness to embrace technologies and upskill.
How adaptability skills can help freshers
Today’s employment landscape demands that you possess a combination of skills, and adaptability is undoubtedly on top of that list, if you want to grow even during adverse times.
Talking about how adaptability ensures career progression, Chaudhary cites the example of how the pandemic and the advent of AI have successfully taught us that the faster you can adapt, the more relevant you are. He says that given that uncertainty, volatility and the impact of recessionary cycles are not going to subside anytime soon. People with adaptability skills can build stronger resilience, will be more in demand and more likely to succeed than those who only bring in traditional and mono-dimensional skills.
By adapting to new technologies, methodologies and market demands, Reddy says, freshers get to position themselves as adaptable professionals capable of driving positive change within organisations, thus accelerating their career progression. Companies recognise the importance of adaptability and invest in upskilling promising freshers, ensuring opportunities for both groups in the ever-evolving tech landscape, he adds.
You Might Also Like:
Overcoming career challenges through adaptability
Adaptability assists individuals in tackling tough situations at work and successfully transitioning from one phase to another, moving beyond the temporary obstacles that come up in a career journey.
Chaudhary recalls how during Covid and its aftermath, when businesses had to change their way of operating and rationalise workforces, employees with the agility to do multiple jobs and embrace digital readiness were able to keep themselves more relevant.
Reddy explains that internship programmes play a significant role in instilling important skills like adaptability in young minds. Internships not only equip fresh graduates with such skills but also give them a chance to implement their learnings. Many talented interns also later get absorbed into the workforce as full-time employees.
“Our learning hub portal grants interns access to both technical and non-technical training resources available to full-time employees, facilitating their learning and adaptation. Additionally, each intern is paired with a buddy who offers guidance and support in navigating workplace challenges,” he adds.
You Might Also Like:
Effective tips to develop adaptability skills as freshers
Experts say candidates should focus on developing certain strategies that can make it simpler for them to embrace change and thrive, especially when transitioning from college to corporate.
To begin with, they advise individuals to focus on embracing change and viewing challenges as growth opportunities, in order to cultivate adaptability skills. Next, indulging in self-awareness, collaborating with others, and seeking feedback can help analyse their response to change and make it easier to improve their ability to handle unforeseen changes and demanding situations, such as layoffs and industry shifts.
Another noteworthy piece of advice they give is that candidates should stay updated on industry trends and invest in continuous learning. Along with seeking continual self-improvement, staying curious and open to novelty is foundational to developing adaptability skills and experiencing consistent growth.
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