Scholars have long discussed the value of human resource management (HRM) led professional learning and development in nurturing human capital for increased competitive advantage. Recently, this has become challenging due to the emergence of increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments and global skills shortages. Such pressures pose new questions for HR departments regarding their recruitment and selection, training and development and retention of new talent. Organisations need employees who are work ready. Graduate work readiness (GWR) encompasses attributes that enable individuals to successfully contribute to their workplaces. Despite the relevance of graduate work readiness to HRM practice, research on this topic has been disconnected from the HRM literature. We posit that greater awareness of the concept of graduate work readiness will have important implications for HRM. We use a systematic literature review methodology to examine graduate work readiness strategically and operationally in the talent management of graduating professionals. The novelty of the article is in the development of a conceptual framework underpinned by stakeholder theory to guide HRM professionals to enhance graduate work readiness outcomes. We raise important implications for theory-led research on the integration of graduate work readiness and HRM in the Asia–Pacific region. © 2025 The Author(s). Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
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