The IT industry's hiring practices are undergoing a significant transformation, leaving fresh graduates in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. Once a campus offer from an IT company was a guarantee of a job, but now, the situation has shifted dramatically. The language used by companies reflects this new reality, with phrases like 'appropriate available demand' and 'business requirements' becoming the norm. This change is not just a minor adjustment; it signifies a broader reset in the industry's hiring model.
One of the key factors driving this shift is the changing nature of demand. Nasscom estimates that the technology industry's workforce grew by 1.35 lakh to 5.9 million in 2026, but much of the incremental hiring is now coming from global capability centres (GCCs). This shift in demand has led to a reduction in the number of generic delivery roles, which were once the primary source of employment for fresh graduates. As a result, companies are now prioritizing specialized and deep-tech skills, with growing demand for talent that can work effectively with AI and emerging technologies.
This shift in demand has also led to a change in the onboarding process. Fresh graduates are now required to undergo longer training periods before they can become billable. This is because enterprise technology is becoming more complex, and companies need to ensure that their employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their roles effectively. As a result, the once-certain path from campus offer to job has become more fluid and uncertain.
The uncertainty has prompted freshers to create their own tracking tools, such as OnboardWatch, a crowdsourced website where candidates anonymously report whether their offers have been delayed, honored, or revoked. This highlights the anxiety and frustration that many fresh graduates are feeling as they wait for their offers to be finalized. The situation is further complicated by administrative issues, such as downtime on the UAN website, which can delay the processing of offers and lead to further uncertainty.
In my opinion, the IT industry's hiring practices are undergoing a significant transformation, and fresh graduates are bearing the brunt of this change. The shift in demand and the emphasis on specialized skills are driving a change in the onboarding process, and the once-certain path from campus offer to job has become more fluid and uncertain. This raises a deeper question about the future of employment for fresh graduates in the IT industry, and it will be interesting to see how companies adapt to this new reality.
