The results of crucial academic examinations and entrance tests for professional courses are often published around this time. Students and their parents are already planning about the course or college to choose for higher studies. Some of them are eager to know about the latest trends that could reflect in the job market as they qualify in a few years. Analysing the placement reports at some of the best campuses in the country is the best way to know what the industry needs and how job recruiters act.
Online recruitment
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Kozhikode has just witnessed one of its best placement seasons. Around 1,138 BTech students got jobs at various companies. About 96% BTech students enjoyed the benefits of amazing campus placement schemes. The placement rates of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kottayam, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Palakkad, are excellent.
During the pandemic times, the recruitment procedure became online, proving beneficial for many campuses in the state. Many North Indian companies were reluctant to come to Kerala for campus recruitment due to the high travel expenses.
This year, around 200 companies recruited from NIT, Kozhikode, compared to just 140 companies in the previous years. Earlier, only 24 companies came for recruitment at IIIT, Kottayam. However, this year, 96 companies conducted campus recruitment here.
Hefty pay packet
NIT and IIT do not allow companies that offer less than Rs 5 lakh annual pay package or cost to company to take part in their recruitment drives. Four students from the Computer Science stream at NIT got an offer of Rs 65.6 lakh from Traceable AI. Meanwhile, Trilogy Solutions offered Rs 36 lakh to two students at IIIT, Kottayam. A student at IIT Palakkad got a spectacular offer of Rs 1.2 crore from the international giant Amazon.
Selection process
Earlier, the companies would conduct an aptitude test and those who pass this test would be selected to the group discussion and interview rounds. However, this method has changed now. Now, most software companies test the skills of the candidates including their coding skills. In order to attend the interviews of companies that offer more than Rs 10 lakh salary package, the students need to score 7– 8 CGPA in the exams. The companies would test the coding skills through practical tests too.
Meanwhile, others test the candidate’s problem-solving skills. The students should prepare an impressive biodata before attending the campus placements. Those who have attended competitions like hackathons would get more weightage in such placements.
Internship
Internship could be called the new aspect of placement. The students can secure a job in their third year of study through internships. Two students from IIT, Palakkad who were chosen for two months of internship were given a stipend of Rs 2 lakh per month.
The selection for internship programmes takes place at the beginning of the third year. The students have to do the internship during the two-month-long vacation before the final-year classes begin. Their excellence and skills during this period would be analysed before offering them job.
“Career development programmes are held at the campus to train the students. They have to strictly attend the two-month coding course. Adding this in the biodata would improve their chances in landing a job at a reputed company,” said Dr V Sajith, Chairperson, Centre for Career Development, NIT Kozhikode.
“Those who get placement can now enter the job without waiting too long. The students have to prove their skills in order to get placed. Recruitment is not based only on their academic qualities,” Dr Mathew CD Chungapura, Placement Officer and Assistant Professor, IIIT, Kottayam.