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Abstract
Essential skills will become even more critical post-COVID-19. Initiative is one of the top essential skills sought by employers, yet it is also one of the top essential skills that new entrants lack entering the workforce. In this era of rapid change and disruption, it is necessary for youth and students not only to arrive in the workforce aware of this essential skill but also to possess it within their skill set as a potential employee. However, there is limited research on how personal initiative develops before adulthood. Thus, opportunities to be aware of and develop this essential skill present challenges for young people entering the workforce. This research explored how employees perceive the concept of personal initiative and its impact on career achievement. This basic interpretive qualitative study was conducted at a higher education institution in the Southeastern U.S. using a purposefully selected sample, with criterion sampling as the specific strategy. Data were collected from eight participants through semi-structured interviews using the University of Georgia’s (UGA’s) Zoom platform, and interviews were recorded and transcribed. The study found that employees who display personal initiative perceive and experience this quality as being self-starting and proactive; use a “not waiting to be told” approach when it comes to learning on their own; understand the disadvantages of going above and beyond in their roles; define personal initiative in the workplace as taking the initiative to find solutions to issues before they become problems; display interpersonal competence and a commitment to other team members, and report an impact on career achievement through promotions and growth opportunities and by gaining recognition from fellow team members. Findings also included participants’ discussion of career achievement as encompassing more than salary. This study’s findings outline many attributes organizations seek when hiring employees and can inform the career readiness work of career development facilitators, human resource development professionals, and workforce development professionals.