Infosys Revives Campus Hiring, Invites Senior Employees to Participate
In a significant shift signaling a revival in campus recruitment, Infosys has reached out to its senior employees, inviting them to participate in panels that will visit colleges across India to interview prospective candidates for entry-level positions. This initiative marks a notable change after a two-year hiatus in campus hiring, largely influenced by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A New Approach to Recruitment
According to sources familiar with the matter, Infosys has sent a mass email to its senior staff, specifically targeting those at the managerial level and above. The email outlines the responsibilities of these employees, who will assess candidates on essential programming skills and problem-solving abilities necessary for Digital Specialist Engineer (DSE) roles. This marks the first time the company has engaged its senior workforce in such a capacity for campus recruitment.
Eligible employees, particularly those at job level five (JL5) and above, must have at least one year of service and a performance rating of “met expectations” or higher to volunteer for these panels. The recruitment process will involve in-person interviews at various colleges, focusing on candidates from engineering disciplines such as computer science, electronics, and mechanical engineering.
Context of Campus Hiring in the IT Sector
The decision to reinstate campus hiring comes in the wake of a significant reduction in recruitment activities across the IT sector during the pandemic. Major players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, and Infosys had scaled back both campus and lateral hiring due to a slowdown in business. For instance, Infosys saw a drastic drop in fresh graduate hiring, with only 11,900 recruits in FY24 compared to 50,000 the previous year.
However, the landscape appears to be changing. Infosys has set a fresher hiring target of 15,000 to 20,000 for the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2026. This is a positive sign for new graduates entering the job market, especially as TCS and other leading IT firms plan to collectively hire over 70,000 graduates in FY26.
The Impact of AI on Recruitment
The revival of campus hiring occurs against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving IT industry, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The $283 billion IT outsourcing sector is undergoing significant transformation, with companies increasingly prioritizing AI-native skills in their recruitment strategies. This shift necessitates not only the hiring of new talent but also the reskilling and upskilling of existing employees to adapt to new technologies.
Infosys’s renewed focus on campus recruitment is particularly timely, as the company aims to align its workforce with the demands of an AI-driven market. The upcoming campus interview season, expected to run from October to the end of November, will be crucial for the company to identify and onboard fresh talent.
Recruitment Process and Structure
The recruitment process for new hires will be comprehensive, involving multiple stages. Candidates will undergo an aptitude test, group discussions, and technical and managerial interviews, with the first four rounds taking place on campus at over ten tier-2 and tier-3 engineering colleges. This structured approach aims to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are selected for entry-level positions.
A source familiar with the recruitment process indicated that Infosys expects to interview up to 1,000 students from reputable colleges, focusing on those in their seventh semester. Successful candidates will then undergo training at the company’s global education center in Mysuru after completing their eighth semester.
Challenges and Layoffs
Despite the optimistic outlook for campus hiring, Infosys has faced challenges in recent months. Earlier this year, the company laid off around 800 trainees from the 2022 batch, citing their inability to pass internal assessments. This move underscores the competitive nature of the IT job market and the high standards that companies like Infosys maintain for their workforce.
In June, Infosys also introduced a reward policy aimed at incentivizing senior employees to participate in lateral hiring interviews. This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration among its workforce.
Conclusion
The revival of campus hiring by Infosys is a promising development for new graduates entering the job market, particularly in the context of an evolving IT landscape. By involving senior employees in the recruitment process, Infosys not only enhances its hiring strategy but also fosters a sense of community and mentorship within the organization. As the company prepares for the upcoming campus interview season, it remains to be seen how these efforts will translate into successful placements and a strengthened workforce ready to tackle the challenges of an AI-driven future.
