Day 4 of IIT placements: No slowdown in jobs on engineering campuses

The final placement process at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on the fourth day saw companies continuing to queue up, albeit virtually, to hire students. Data for the first four days showed that there was a 15 percent increase in average pay package and 18-20 percent rise in the number of companies participating in the virtual placements.

Moneycontrol had reported that on Day 1 of IIT placements, there was a 20 percent increase in the number of offers and salary figures as per initial estimates. On Day 2 and Day 3, the trend of Rs 50 lakh-plus packages continued.

By the end of the third day, IIT Guwahati saw 143 companies participating in the placement process.

The total job offers stood at 526 including pre-placement offers. The highest domestic salary package stood at Rs 70 lakh per annum.

IIT Guwahati had commenced its virtual placement season 2020-21 on  December 1.

The institute said in a statement that the Centre for Career Development (CCD), the body looking after recruitment affairs, initially apprehensive about conducting the recruitment process amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Prioritising student safety, all the campus inhabitants, barring the faculty residing within the campus, were sent back to their homes. But the CCD ensured that the recruitment is conducted virtually without any glitches.

Priyanshu Pancham Ram Singh, a student of M. Tech. Computer Science and Engineering programme, said that during his interview a major fault occurred from the ISP side.

"The fear of losing the placement opportunity scared me but the placement team and volunteers put their efforts to help me. Due to their efforts, I was able to give my interview smoothly despite low bandwidth and unreliable net," he added.

Rohit Kumar, another student of IIT Guwahati, was facing severe network problem, making the initial stages of preparation difficult for him. The team ensured his safe return to campus, to let him take the placement tests and interviews smoothly. Kumar successfully bagged an offer from MX Player.

Placements have gone virtual across these engineering campuses due to the coronavirus outbreak. Interviews are being held online for all the candidates.