India’s Top IT Giants Leave 10,000 Freshers in Limbo with Delayed Onboarding
Fresh Graduates Face Uncertain Futures as Major Firms Delay Start Dates
13 June 2024
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Neelesh Bachani
1. Leading Indian IT firms like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS are delaying the onboarding of at least 10,000 freshers, leaving many new graduates uncertain about their career start dates.
2. Infosys hired only 11,900 campus recruits in FY24, a 76% drop from the previous year, reflecting a cautious approach due to current economic challenges. Wipro has also deferred offers made two years ago, citing macroeconomic uncertainties.
3. The delays are attributed to factors such as lack of project visibility and the need for specific skill sets, highlighting the broader challenges faced by the Indian IT industry in managing workforce and business demands amidst economic unpredictability.
Data from the IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has revealed that India’s leading IT firms are delaying the onboarding of freshers. Companies such as Infosys, Wipro, and TCS have been deferring the joining dates of new hires, leaving many fresh graduates uncertain. According to data provided by NITES, the Times of India reported that at least 10,000 freshers have been affected by these delays. This situation has raised concerns among the candidates offered positions at these companies.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, highlighted that numerous complaints have been received from candidates who were promised positions at top IT firms including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Zensar, and LTIMindtree. The issue has been exacerbated by the fact that the combined headcount of TCS, Infosys, and Wipro decreased by nearly 64,000 in the financial year ending in March. This significant reduction in the workforce has coincided with the delayed onboarding process, adding to the frustration of the fresh graduates awaiting their start dates.
Infosys, in a recent email to the affected candidates, stated that the allocation of the date of joining (DOJ) would be based on business requirements. The company assured that the DOJ would be communicated at least 3-4 weeks before the actual joining date. Despite these assurances, the uncertainty remains for many freshers who are left without a definitive timeline for starting their careers. This move by Infosys is part of a broader trend in the industry, reflecting the challenges faced by IT firms in the current economic climate.
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The hiring patterns of Infosys also demonstrate a sharp decline, with the company recruiting only 11,900 campus hires in FY24, a drastic 76% decrease from the 50,000 freshers hired in the previous year. This reduction in hiring reflects the cautious approach adopted by the company in response to the prevailing business conditions. The deferral of onboarding for freshers is thus a consequence of these strategic adjustments made by Infosys and other IT firms.
Wipro, another major player in the Indian IT sector, has not yet fulfilled campus offers made two years ago. Wipro’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Saurabh Govil, mentioned that the company is committed to honoring these pending offers before making new hires. He emphasized the uncertainty of the macro environment as a factor influencing their hiring decisions. Wipro’s approach highlights the broader industry trend of cautious hiring amid economic unpredictability.
Krishna Vij, business head of IT staffing at Team Lease, noted that approximately 3-5% of freshers hired by the top IT services companies in 2022 are still awaiting their onboarding. This delay is attributed to factors such as lack of project visibility and the need for specific skill sets and job readiness among the candidates. The ongoing delays in onboarding freshers underscore the challenges faced by the Indian IT industry in navigating the current economic landscape and balancing business needs with workforce management.
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