As industries accelerate their digital evolution and redefine roles, employers are recalibrating their expectations from fresh talent. Hiring decisions are no longer guided purely by academic credentials or technical mastery but by a nuanced blend of domain expertise, digital fluency, and adaptive thinking. The Career Outlook Report (HY1, 2025) by TeamLease EdTech reveals not just what employers are hiring for but why—and the answer points to a rapidly transforming professional landscape.
The hiring sentiment for freshers has climbed to 74% for the first half of 2025—a 2% increase from the previous period. What stands out is the demand for cross-functional roles such as Clinical Bioinformatics Associates, Robotics System Engineers, Sustainability Analysts, and Prompt Engineers. These job titles reflect a deepening industry focus on multidisciplinary talent equipped to solve complex challenges.
Industries are moving beyond traditional entry-level roles to seek freshers who can integrate knowledge from diverse domains. E-commerce and technology start-ups (70%), manufacturing (66%), and engineering and infrastructure (62%) lead the hiring intent. Roles now require a foundation in domain knowledge, combined with technological fluency and business acumen. The takeaway: specialization alone won’t suffice; freshers must bring an ability to navigate and contribute to hybrid, interconnected functions.
While domain skills like Robotic Process Automation, Performance Marketing, Network Security, and Financial Risk Analysis remain critical, employers increasingly prize in-demand soft skills. The Career Outlook Report lists computational thinking, interpersonal skills, analytic reasoning, and adaptability among the top soft skills employers seek in new graduates.
Adaptability and flexibility, in particular, are no longer ‘nice-to-have’ traits—they are core hiring criteria. Industries undergoing rapid digital transformation need talent that can quickly adjust to evolving workflows and project demands. Interpersonal skills and team collaboration are gaining prominence as work becomes more hybrid and cross-functional. The hiring lens is shifting toward well-rounded individuals who can think critically, communicate effectively, and adapt in real time.
The report reveals that employers now expect fresh talent to demonstrate proficiency in essential technology tools even before they are onboarded. Productivity and collaboration tools (83%), project management platforms (73%), and data visualization and analysis tools (64%) top the employer preference list.
Interestingly, job seekers mirror these priorities, with 92% focusing on data visualization and analysis tools and 66% on coding assistance tools. This alignment suggests that both employers and graduates recognize that technological dexterity is fundamental to workplace success. Employers now view tech proficiency as an indicator of job readiness and minimal training needs, giving candidates with these skills a distinct advantage.
The report underscores growing employer interest in degree apprenticeships as a strategic hiring channel, particularly in manufacturing (30%), engineering and infrastructure (23%), and information technology (12%). Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a way to bridge skill gaps, allowing employers to mold talent to specific business needs while giving freshers valuable, real-world exposure.
Additionally, the emphasis on in-demand courses—like certifications in Generative AI, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Sustainability Management—reflects how continuous upskilling is no longer optional for job seekers. Employers are looking for candidates who demonstrate proactive learning and career ownership.
The shift in employer priorities paints an aspirational picture for fresh graduates: one where curiosity, adaptability, and technological fluency matter as much as academic achievement. Fresh talent that blends in-demand soft skills with deep domain expertise and a working knowledge of essential technologies will find abundant opportunities across industries.
The future of hiring belongs to those who can keep learning and contributing at the speed of change. Educators, industry bodies, and training institutions must adapt their frameworks to foster such talent—preparing graduates not just for their first job, but for lifelong relevance.
The message is clear: employers are not just hiring for what graduates know, but for how well they can learn, adapt, and thrive in the workplaces of tomorrow.