Updated: New Delhi,Sep 21, 2024, 16:02 PM IST
After nearly a year-long hiatus, Indian IT companies are making a robust return to college campuses for recruitment drives, signaling a significant revival in the industry. This renewed focus on campus hiring aligns with a broader recovery trend as businesses increasingly seek specialized tech talent.
Unlike previous years, characterized by bulk hiring of entry-level engineers, companies are now targeting skilled programmers and digital specialists in high-demand areas such as cloud computing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Salaries for these specialized roles range from ₹6 to ₹9 lakh, reflecting a marked increase compared to standard entry-level positions.
Hiring Plans
Leading IT firms including IBM, Infosys, TCS, and LTIMindtree have already initiated their campus recruitment phases, which began in July. TCS plans to hire approximately 40,000 freshers, while Infosys aims to recruit between 15,000 to 20,000 graduates through both campus and off-campus initiatives.
Wipro, resuming its campus recruitment after a four-quarter pause, is set to hire 10,000 to 12,000 freshers this financial year. Wipro’s HR head, Saurabh Govil, stated, “After a break of one year, we will return to the campuses with which we have partnerships. Additionally, we will look at off-campus hiring to onboard the same number for next year as well.”
The selection process for campus placements has become notably more rigorous, with elevated cut-off scores and a stronger emphasis on specialized skills and certifications. “The cut-off to sit for the placement season has risen to 70% from 60% last year,” noted Shailendra Vidhate, training and placement officer at the engineering college of the NMIMS group.
Beyond Traditional Hiring Practices
In a departure from conventional methods, companies are moving beyond traditional coding tests to evaluate candidates. There is now a greater focus on assessing social media profiles and relevant certifications, providing a more comprehensive understanding of each candidate’s skills and background.
The resurgence of campus recruitment, alongside a concentrated effort on high-demand skills, paints a promising picture for recent engineering graduates, especially those equipped with specialized knowledge in emerging technologies like cloud, data, and AI. The renewed hiring momentum not only reflects the evolving needs of the IT sector but also suggests a bright employment outlook for the next generation of tech professionals.