The Real Meaning of the 21%
A 2026 report from recruitment platform HirePro paints a revealing picture of the Indian hiring landscape. It found that while there is a lot of discussion about 'skills-first' hiring, only 21% of employers have actually stopped using academic performance
like CGPA as a filter. In fact, 51% of companies admit that marks still influence their final hiring decisions. This doesn't mean your grades are irrelevant. On the contrary, for a majority of companies, they are still the first hurdle. But it does signal a crucial shift: good marks might get your resume seen, but they no longer guarantee you the job. The game has changed from being just about qualification to being about qualification plus proof of competence.
Why Companies Are Looking Sideways at Marksheets
The reason for this shift is simple: the workplace is evolving faster than many academic curricula. Employers increasingly need people who can solve real-world problems, adapt to new technology, and collaborate effectively—skills that are not always reflected in a grade sheet. The rise of AI, data analytics, and digital business models requires hands-on ability, not just theoretical knowledge. A recent India Today report noted that 80% of employers now follow a skills-first hiring strategy, prioritising practical experience and adaptability. Companies are realizing that the best predictor of future performance is past evidence of similar work, not just a high score in an exam.
Internships: Your First Piece of Evidence
Internships are no longer just a summer activity; they are a critical bridge between education and employment. They provide the single most powerful piece of evidence for a fresher: real-world experience. During an internship, you move from theory to application, learning to work in a professional environment, manage deadlines, and collaborate with a team. But simply listing an internship on your resume is not enough. To turn it into powerful evidence, document your contributions. What projects did you work on? What was the outcome? Did you help improve a process or contribute to a successful campaign? Quantify your achievements whenever possible. This gives recruiters concrete proof of your abilities and your potential to add value from day one.
Projects: Proving You Can Build
What if you don't have a formal internship? Personal and academic projects are your next best tool. A well-documented project is proof of initiative, technical skill, and problem-solving ability. This is especially true in technical fields. A GitHub profile with clean, commented code for a web app you built is more persuasive to a tech recruiter than a 9-point CGPA. For a marketing role, a detailed presentation analyzing a brand's social media strategy and proposing improvements shows practical thinking. The key is to treat your projects like professional assignments. Define the problem, explain your process, showcase the final result, and reflect on what you learned. This narrative turns a simple college assignment into a compelling case study of your skills.
Certifications and Soft Skills: Rounding Out Your Profile
Beyond project work, specialised certifications and the development of soft skills are becoming crucial differentiators. Online courses in high-demand areas like data analytics, digital marketing, or cloud computing show recruiters that you are a proactive learner committed to staying current. However, technical skills are only half the story. Employers consistently report a gap in soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. Evidence of these can come from extracurricular activities. Did you lead a team for a college festival? Manage a club's budget? Volunteer for a social cause? These experiences demonstrate your ability to work with others, take ownership, and communicate effectively—qualities that are essential in any professional role.
