How English benchmarking is influencing Hiring, & Promotions

Ajay Pratap Singh, Regional Director - South Asia, ETS in an interaction with Janifha Evangeline, Editor, Higher Education Review shared his views on how English proficiency is benchmarking reshaping hiring standards in multinational companies, how English benchmarking can become the new “global workplace passport” for professionals seeking international mobility and more.

Ajay Pratap Singh is a senior business leader with over 26 years of experience driving growth, market expansion, and digital transformation across the education and healthcare sectors in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

At Educational Testing Service (ETS), Ajay works closely with Corporates, Higher Education institutions and channel partners to expand access to globally recognized assessments and learning solutions. He brings deep expertise in building strategic partnerships, scaling regional businesses, and leading high-performing teams across diverse markets.

How is English proficiency benchmarking reshaping hiring standards in multinational companies?

We are seeing a clear shift in how multinational companies define job readiness. Earlier, communication was often assessed informally. Today, organisations are moving towards more structured and measurable ways to evaluate whether individuals can function effectively in real workplace environments.

English proficiency is increasingly being viewed as a functional capability, not just the ability to know the language, but to use it in context. This includes interpreting information, responding to stakeholders, and collaborating across teams. As workplaces become more global and interdependent, there is a growing need for consistency in how this capability is assessed.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report reflects this shift. Globally, 90% of employers say English proficiency is critical to organisational success, reinforcing its direct link to business outcomes.

Can English benchmarking become the new “global workplace passport” for professionals seeking international mobility?

As organizations operate across multiple geographies, the ability to work across borders has become a key requirement for many roles. Professionals today are expected to collaborate with global teams, engage with international stakeholders, and operate in environments where consistency of communication is essential.

In this context, English proficiency serves as a common working language. Benchmarking offers a structured and comparable way to demonstrate this capability, which is particularly relevant when talent is assessed across different markets.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report highlights that in India, 94% of HR leaders say global collaboration is driving demand for English proficiency, underscoring the strong link between language capability and international roles.

While it may not formally function as a “passport,” benchmarking is increasingly seen as an enabler of global mobility and access to international opportunities.

How are standardized English assessments influencing recruitment decisions in tech, healthcare, and global services sectors?

In sectors such as technology, healthcare and global services, communication is closely tied to accuracy, efficiency, and outcomes. Whether it involves client interactions, cross-functional coordination, or working within structured systems, the ability to communicate clearly has a direct impact on performance.

Standardized English assessments are helping organizations bring greater consistency into how they evaluate this capability. Instead of relying on subjective judgment, employers are using benchmarking to ensure that candidates meet the communication demands of specific roles.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report reinforces this with strong India-specific insight: 98% of HR leaders say better English assessments would improve organisational efficiency.

This indicates that organisations are increasingly linking communication skills with productivity and overall performance outcomes.

Do English language benchmarks create new opportunities - or barriers - for talent from non-English speaking regions?

From an industry perspective, benchmarking is intended to bring clarity and consistency in how skills are evaluated. In global hiring environments, one of the longstanding challenges has been subjectivity, with different employers assessing communication ability in different ways.

Structured English benchmarking helps address this by creating a more standardized and transparent way to evaluate candidates. It allows individuals to demonstrate their capability based on defined criteria rather than perception.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report highlights that in India, 84% of HR leaders believe a lack of English proficiency creates a competitive disadvantage, reflecting the close link between language capability and access to opportunities.

When individuals understand what is required and have a way to demonstrate it, it helps create a more level playing field, particularly for talent from diverse backgrounds.

Also Read: Why Project-Based Learning is the Future of Engineering Education

How are universities and professional training institutions adapting their programs to meet global English benchmarking requirements?

There is a growing need for stronger alignment between education and employability. Universities and training institutions recognise that preparing students for the workforce requires more than academic knowledge. It also involves equipping them with the ability to communicate effectively in real-world contexts.

English proficiency plays a central role in this transition, particularly as graduates enter roles that require collaboration across teams and geographies. Institutions are therefore placing greater emphasis on practical communication skills that reflect workplace scenarios rather than purely theoretical learning.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report highlights that 92% of employers globally say English proficiency is more important today than it was five years ago, indicating a clear shift in workforce expectations.

This is driving institutions to align their programs more closely with real-world requirements and measurable outcomes.

What role does English proficiency benchmarking play in enabling cross-border remote work and global team collaboration?

As organisations adopt remote and hybrid work models, teams are increasingly distributed across geographies. In such environments, communication becomes a critical enabler of execution, not just collaboration.

Whether it involves aligning on tasks, managing timelines, or making decisions across teams, clarity in communication directly impacts productivity. Even small gaps can lead to delays, misalignment, or rework.

English often serves as the common working language in these environments, helping teams stay aligned across locations and functions. The TOEIC Global English Skills Report highlights that English remains the standard medium for multinational team interactions, reinforcing its role in enabling effective coordination.

Will English benchmarking redefine career growth pathways in the era of globalized and digital workplaces?

Career growth today is increasingly shaped by the ability to operate in global, technology-enabled environments. Professionals are expected to collaborate across teams, engage with diverse stakeholders, and adapt to evolving role requirements.

In this context, English proficiency is becoming closely linked to how individuals progress in their careers. It enables participation in global projects, supports interaction with technology systems, and helps individuals contribute effectively in complex work environments.

It also plays an important role in continuous learning and upskilling. In today’s fast-evolving world, professionals need to constantly update their skills to remain relevant. A significant proportion of global learning resources - including online courses, research content and professional certifications — are available in English. Proficiency in the language therefore enables individuals to access these resources, stay aligned with global developments, and build capabilities across domains.

The TOEIC Global English Skills Report highlights that 60% of employers expect English assessments to become standard for new hires within the next five years, indicating a structural shift in how organizations evaluate talent.

Taken together, this suggests that English proficiency is not just supporting career growth, but increasingly shaping how individuals learn, adapt and progress in global workplaces.