Are Tough Times Ahead ?

  There was a time when thousands of graduates would queue up themselves in employment exchanges and wait for years to get jobs mostly in the government sector. Then came the employment boom in private sector thanks to the once burgeoning  IT sector. Campus placements which were restricted only to crème de le crème slowly got extended to other colleges. Engineering graduates got offers in final semesters and then in the beginning  of their final years and in the peak , thousands were given offers in their pre-final year itself.

  This trend which was initially thought to be a blessing had its own pitfalls. Students who had offers in their hands in the beginning of their final  year started paying less attention to their studies , they just maintained their grades so as to complete their degrees. This attitude from the students were not only seen in lower rung colleges but also in the IITs where the best minds of India study. 

  Last academic year too, thousands were given offers in the IT companies through campus placements. But the eager candidates are kept waiting indefinitely before being inducted in to the company. The companies give offers hoping that their growth rates would be exponential and in some cases boast about their HR policies on being par with global standards. But one wonders how a company can estimate the number of freshers it will need one year hence given the volatile global economic scenario. 

  The companies play safe by not committing to any dates as to when the candidates will be able to join the company. The candidates are in complete uncertainness as to what will happen , some are not able to plan their higher studies and some end up doing part time jobs in the meanwhile.

  It is definitely impossible for the companies which recruit in thousands to induct all selected candidates at the same time. But I hope it is at least possible for them to inform to the new recruits as to when they will join, as soon the candidates complete their course.

The University authorities can come up with a plan to restrict placements to only the final semesters in all colleges. This should be followed across India with the help of AICTE.

If placements do happen in final semesters, it is going to be beneficial for both the student community and the companies. It is high time the companies start being more transparent in dealing with the campus placements. Another long term solution would be the two different academic years, in which graduates would be coming out in two different seasons which are separated by six months, say one group finishing their graduation in June and another group in December.

  With the number of engineering colleges increasing and a possible slowdown of the IT industry which has remained a top recruiter of engineering graduates for a decade or so, it may turn out to be a tough ride for the graduating batches. It is high time the Academia-Industry come out with innovations to help millions find meaningful jobs through which they can contribute to their families and eventually to the country’s economic growth.