Beyond Competency: Holistic Talent Matching of Generation Z from the Perspective of Islamic Educational Human Resource Management

Abstract

The shifting characteristics of Generation Z in the digital era have introduced new challenges for recruitment and human resource management within Islamic educational institutions, including madrasas, Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), and Islamic universities. Many of these institutions continue to rely on conventional recruitment approaches focused narrowly on technical competencies, often overlooking alignment in character, spiritual motivation, and Islamic organizational culture. This study aims to analyze the causes of mismatch between Generation Z and Islamic educational organizations while exploring the concept of Holistic Talent Matching as an alternative approach to organizational fit grounded in Islamic educational management values. A qualitative library research method was employed, drawing on literature published between 2019 and 2026. Data analysis proceeded through reduction, thematic categorization, conceptual interpretation, and synthesis, integrating Islamic values into the Holistic Talent Matching framework. The findings reveal that organizational mismatch stems not merely from technical skill gaps but more significantly from misalignment in Islamic values, workplace culture, worship-oriented motivation, and perceptions of meaningful work. Six dimensions of organizational fit were identified: competency fit, character fit (morality and trustworthiness), motivational fit (sincere intention for worship), cultural fit (Islamic organizational culture), adaptive fit, and purpose fit (worldly-otherworldly balance). This study offers Holistic Talent Matching as a more humanistic, adaptive, and sustainable alternative that shifts the recruitment paradigm from competency-based selection toward a human compatibility approach rooted in Islamic values.