Thursday, October 30, 2008
Chennai: The financial crisis seems to be telling on the career prospects of engineering students in Chennai who are set to pass out next
year.

Even reputed colleges, which boasted of 100% placements until last year, are reporting a 40-70% drop in campus hiring during the penultimate semester. The June-December phase draws IT majors looking to hire staff for new projects while the last semester from December to May brings in manufacturing and engineering giants interested in graduates of core engineering disciplines.


The global slump, however, has dampened the enthusiasm of recruiters. "So far only 30% of the 200 companies listed as regulars have visited us for placements," BT Mar-an, principal placement officer, SRM University, said.

The recruitment process too has been tightened, with companies allowing only students with higher cut-off marks to apply.

"Last year, 75% of our students had jobs by this time; now only 60% have been placed," says G Visagan, head, placement and training, Rajalakshmi Engineering College. While pay packets have not been hit, the job of placement officers has got tougher. They are hoping that at least students of core engineering subjects still remain in demand.

"It is too early for core engineering companies to start coming in. This sector usually starts recruiting between January and April," said Visagan, who is also president of the Placement Officers' Forum.

Tough times call for tough measures. Some college
managements are now devising strategies for students to skirt the slump. "We advise the students to take up jobs in smaller companies, gain some experience and then move on," said Maran. "Earlier, students were offered Rs 25,000, but now we tell them to take up an offer even if it is only for Rs 15,000," he added.

Knowing that companies would not be willing to give students a second chance to prove themselves, college managements are even getting trainers, preparing aptitude tests and conducting group discussions to help their students.

Rajalakshmi Engineering College organized a residential training camp during the holidays.

The day begins with a yoga session and the training continues till 9.30 pm. All students, including day scholars, are required to stay in the hostel and undergo the training. "Even the period between the last day of college and the date of joining the company is spent in updating the students' knowledge. We encourage them by providing training in related certificate courses," says Visagan.

Students too are aware of the weak job market. "Many of us are willing to join any company that offers us a job, even if the package is small. Even those who were recruited last year have not been told to join work; so they are uncertain about what to do," says Antony Philip Raj, a final year BTech (IT) student in Vel's Multitech Engineering College.

Others like R Daniel Kumar are more optimistic and unwilling to compromise on package, brand or profile.