India’s largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has made significant freshers’ recruitments in its recent hiring spree, as confirmed by several colleges to Moneycontrol. This development comes as a boost for both educational institutions and students amid a downturn in hiring by major IT firms due to subdued demand in the sector. Last month, TCS had announced the commencement of fresher hiring through the National Qualifier Test (NQT), an assessment platform designed by TCS iON to evaluate candidates’ cognitive ability and skill proficiency. Notably, companies within the Tata Group, such as TCS and Titan, along with firms like Happiest Minds, utilize the NQT for their recruitment processes.
The application deadline for the recruitment drive was April 10, with tests scheduled for April 26. While the initial phase of recruitment targeted “priority colleges,” the second phase will encompass the remainder. Placement officers have noted that the NQT and campus placements are essentially interchangeable. TCS is hiring for three categories: Ninja, Digital, and Prime. The Ninja category offers an annual package of Rs 3.36 lakh, while the Digital and Prime categories offer packages ranging from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 9-11.5 lakh per annum. Students selected for Digital and Prime roles will be placed in development positions, whereas those in Ninja roles will assume support roles.
The move has been welcomed by college authorities, who anticipate substantial placements for their students with TCS. For instance, V Samuel Rajkumar, Director of Career Development Centre at Vellore Institute of Technology, expressed optimism about significant placements for their students. Similarly, S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice-Chancellor of SASTRA University, highlighted the high number of offer letters received by their students.
This hiring spree by TCS marks a departure from traditional entry-level offerings, with the company opting for a three-tiered package approach to attract top talent. Additionally, TCS is focusing on recruiting candidates who demonstrate not only coding prowess but also creativity and problem-solving skills.
Despite facing challenges and opportunities due to the delay in recruitment this year, TCS aims to hire 40,000 freshers in FY24. The company’s emphasis on filling vacant positions left by attrition reflects a positive outlook for the IT sector. This move underscores the industry’s efforts to retain talent and capitalize on billable opportunities, according to industry experts like Kapil Joshi, Deputy CEO of Quess Corp’s IT staffing business.
