Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of India’s leading IT services and consulting companies, has hired over 10,000 freshers in its latest recruitment drive. This much-awaited hiring spree is seen as a positive step toward revitalizing the job market and providing ample opportunities for new graduates from top engineering colleges across the country.
The IT giant’s recruitment drive comes as it remains hopeful for a revival in demand in the new financial year. Last month, TCS announced it was beginning the fresher hiring process through the National Qualifier Test (NQT), an assessment platform designed by TCS iON to measure candidates’ cognitive abilities and skills. In addition to TCS, other Tata Group companies such as Titan and firms like Happiest Minds use the NQT for hiring.
The recruitment drive was open for applications until April 10, with tests scheduled to be held on April 26. While the initial phase of recruitment targets students from “priority” colleges, a subsequent phase on April 26 is open to others. Placement officers confirmed that NQT and campus placements are intertwined, helping streamline the hiring process.
TCS is in a “silent period” and could not provide comments on the hiring figures. The Mumbai-headquartered firm is hiring for three categories: Ninja, Digital, and Prime. The Ninja category offers a package of Rs 3.36 lakh per annum for various roles, while the Digital and Prime categories offer annual packages of Rs 7 lakh and Rs 9-11.5 lakh, respectively.
Students who receive offers in the Digital and Prime profiles will be placed in development roles, while those in the Ninja profile will be in support roles. V Samuel Rajkumar, director of the Career Development Centre at Vellore Institute of Technology, highlighted the positive impact on students, with VIT alone seeing 963 offers, including 103 in the Prime category.
S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA University, said that 1,300 students from the college received 2,000 offer letters collectively. This suggests that some students may have received multiple offers, pointing to a strong demand for fresh talent from leading institutions.
TCS’s approach of offering three-tiered packages marks a departure from traditional entry-level positions and is aimed at attracting top talent in a competitive job market. Ashok Kumar Mittal, chancellor of Lovely Professional University, noted that the IT services industry has recognized the need to increase salary packages to recruit quality talent effectively.
The company uses its iON centers nationwide to conduct tests, a shift from the traditional practice of holding tests on college campuses. However, students from trusted partner colleges may still take the test on their campuses.
TCS typically conducts hiring processes in August-September each year, but a delay this year presents both challenges and opportunities. Rajkumar noted that TCS’s later entry into the recruitment season meant that many students had already been hired by other companies, potentially impacting the talent pool. On the other hand, students who had not secured placements may be more serious about pursuing TCS opportunities.
TCS is also seeking candidates with coding expertise, creativity, and the ability to solve business problems, reducing the need for extensive training. A recruitment officer noted that the company is looking for hires who can seamlessly integrate into existing projects.
In a conversation with Moneycontrol at the World Economic Forum (WEF), TCS CEO and MD K Krithivasan said that a positive headcount will be reflected in the company’s books once it gains better clarity on demand trends.
TCS previously stated its plan to hire 40,000 freshers in FY24, though it experienced a decrease in net additions in FY23, hiring 22,600 employees compared to a net addition of 1.03 lakh in FY22. This marks the lowest net headcount addition since FY15, when the company added 19,000 employees.
Despite the decline, TCS’s recent hiring drive signifies a focus on rejuvenating its talent pool and providing fresh graduates with opportunities to join one of India’s most reputable IT firms. The company’s proactive approach to recruitment, with a focus on quality and skill sets, is expected to position it favorably in the competitive IT industry.
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