Want a job at a big company? Here’s some advice from CXOs

When I had interviewed Tata Consultancy Services CEO Rajesh Gopinathan in 2020, he had been in that role for around three years. Speaking to me just months after the pandemic struck India, Gopinathan said the operative word had already changed: that from ‘challenge’ to ‘adaptability’ and ‘resilience’.

Another change he foretold was that of skill requirements of organisations in the future.

“It's very interesting that at the time of maximum technology disruption, skills that matter more are not the hard skills of the tool but the softer skills of human interaction, being able to understand, empathise and quickly realign to be effective.”

If there’s one change that the pandemic has affected, it is that organisations are increasingly looking for people who are willing to adapt to fast-paced changes. And while many roles do require specific skill sets, for many others, employers are looking for people who are willing to learn.

Does this imply that educational qualifications or a college degree has no bearing on the career trajectory?

In the LinkedIn Top Companies 2022 list released last week, TCS bagged the top spot. Others that figured on the list include Flipkart, Accenture, Bosch, Deloitte and Reliance Industries. Check out the entire list here: https://lnkd.in/gMP8Wzsq

LinkedIn's Economic Graph team looked into the educational qualifications of employees (who are on the platform) at these 25 companies and found that around two in five (39%) staffers at these firms have a Masters degree as the highest educational qualification. Less than 0.5% of them have a doctoral degree while a Bachelors degree is the highest degree for three in five employees (59.5%). The data is as of March 15 this year.?

We asked LinkedIn members about their thoughts and experiences on this front. Some said a college degree definitely helps in getting a job, but career growth depends on many factors and not just education. And while educational qualification can help one get a foot in the door, willingness to learn and dedication to one’s role will help elevate the career trajectory.

What are your thoughts on this? Vote in the poll here and share your comments.

Several of the companies on the list have strong hiring plans for the near future - like Capgemini, Infosys, Cognizant (see the list for more details). Many others have launched initiatives to train their staff, and yet others are coming up with retention measures for top talent by way of offering incentives as they battle record-high attrition levels. But what are the traits companies are looking for in a potential employee? I asked these companies what piece of advice would they give job seekers applying at their organisations.

As per Ashok Ramchandran, group executive president, group HR, Aditya Birla Group , and Poonam Yadav , group head for talent staffing, being agile when it comes to learning is key. This is because the world is fast evolving and what is relevant today may not be relevant tomorrow.

Sarika Naik , chief marketing officer of Capgemini India, says candidates need to be effective in communication and confident in demeanor.

"Candidates need to be high on learning agility - especially technology preparedness, open and flexible to new opportunities. In-demand technological skills are shifting more towards prioritising complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. We see a larger demand for niche and combination skills; hence it is important to up skill oneself and be ahead of the curve.”

Being outcome-oriented and purposeful is key, Deloitte India partner and chief talent officer SV Nathan says.

“Never compromise on quality, display a culture of courage in your interactions. Collaborate for measurable impact. Recognise that relationships matter and define success by our collective impact on clients, people, and society.”

What is the best advice you have received while applying for a job at a big company? Share your thoughts below.