AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYABILITY

ABSTRACT Purpose- The purpose of this study is to thoroughly review the erstwhile literature on the factors influencing the employability and also, reviewed the factors explaining the outcome of employability. This paper rationalizes the future research directions by identifying gaps in the context of employability. Design/Methodology/approach- This study includes review of research articles, case studies, and reports. Thereby, implemented a systematic literature review process to identify the required elements. The current study reviews around 89 research papers, 07 books, 01 case study, 04 reports. Findings- The main concern that exists in the prior literature is that it lacks the systematic studies that talked about the precursors and outcomes of employability. In this study, the systematic literature review reveals some of the factors influencing employability and these are mentoring, learning environment, culture, self-efficacy, protean career attitude, learning styles, grit. Moreover, the study also divulges some of the factors elucidating the outcome of employability such as, employment opportunities, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and performance at work, career resilience, sustainable and successful career. All the aforesaid factors are further linked with the existing theories in the literature. As follows, the present study proposed a theoretical framework which assimilates the aforesaid factors. Research Implications – This research is directed towards the final year students in the higher education institution, seeking employment post completion of degree programs. They can work upon developing their employability by inculcating elements necessary to enhance employability to attain employment and be able to sustain in it. Likewise, this study will be beneficial for employed and unemployed to watch out their performance while working in an organization with the help of career planning via employability (acquiring right skills, and attributes). Originality- To the best of the researcher’s understanding, prior literature talked about the precursors of employability in context of employees already working in the organisation (such as Berntson et al., 2006, Kirves et al., 2014). Likewise, there are some researches that mentioned consequences of employability that too aiming working professionals only. However, the present research work provides an original integrative framework of employability directed towards employability of students in higher education institution. Future research studies can test this proposed framework with the help of different statistical tools and techniques.