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Despite the signs of uptick in demand for the sector, mid-size information technology (IT) services firm Mindtree plans to on-board around 800 freshers in FY15 lower than the 900 fresh graduates it has brought on board so far in FY14.
The Bangalore-based company had on-boarded 800 freshers in FY13 and 1,800 in FY12, according to Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Ravi Shankar.
Even as Mindtree refused to share details on when it had given the offers to the freshers who will be on-boarded in FY15, Shankar said, “There has been a delay in on-boarding by all companies in the industry, it has been happening for the past two years.”
Some of Mindtree's larger peers have also given conservative estimates for hiring for FY15, despite the rising demand, as companies look to tap the non-conventional off-campus hiring route.
India’s largest IT services company, Tata Consultancy Services had earlier said it plans to hire 25,000 freshers in FY15, as against 50,000 in FY14. The company has also said it may consider hiring off-campus as and when required.
Shankar, however, said the low number of freshers being on-boarded in FY15 is a part of Mindtree’s strategy, wherein the company has a four-year cycle for bringing freshers on board.
"In terms of planning, we had front-loaded hiring in FY12 and then tapered it off in the following three years. We do this because it takes time to train freshers. In the fourth year (FY16) we will again front-load," Shankar said.
The company will start the on-boarding process from April 2014, and “according to a back of the envelop calculation” it should end by September 2014, Shankar said.
Considering the rising trend in demand, the company will look at off-campus hiring in FY15, however, it will firm up these plans only in September-October, 2014.
“Demand is on a rise, and if that continues we will certainly have to hire off-campus, but I cannot put a number to it as of now. Around September-October, we will revisit our hiring, and then make any commitments,” Shankar said.
Unlike earlier years, when companies were recruiting in mass from campuses, more IT companies are seen slowly moving towards off-campus hiring. The move is aimed at avoiding creation of a huge bench of skilled professionals who then need to be fully utilised. Thus, in the recent months there is a growing preference for off-campus hiring as it gives the flexibility to recruit as and when needed.
