Objectives: General competencies are valuable tools for enhancing employability and increasing the income of university graduates. Therefore, stakeholders should identify and classify employability skills based on specific characteristics, which will facilitate reforms in higher education processes. The purpose of this article is to identify the components of employability as defined by experts in the employment field, focusing on the general competence of students.
Materials and methods: This Qualitative research method, based on grounded theory, serves a practical purpose. Participants in this study included faculty members and managers from employment destination centers. We employed a purposeful and theoretical sampling method. To collect data, we conducted semi-structured interviews with experts until achieving to theoretical saturation. Finally, we coded the information using Maxquda Software and identified various indicators, dimensions and components.
Results: In this research, we identified seven dimensions of competency, including individual, innovation, environmental, specialized, managerial, organizational, and research, which are of great importance in empowering students.
Conclusion: Paying attention to education and strengthening the dimensions of students’ general competency can positively affect their employability and lead to employment.