College students are preparing for campus recruitment season as the end of the academic year draws near, just as tech industry employers do. On this year’s ‘National Technology Day’, industry insiders said that generative artificial intelligence, automation, the metaverse, blockchain 5G and quantum computing were the keywords right now.
Explaining the trend and demand for jobs across the country, Kunal Purohit, Chief Digital Services Officer, Tech Mahindra, said that the convergence of technologies like Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation, Metaverse, Blockchain, 5G and Quantum Computing was unlocking . The cost of doing business has come down significantly, creating new possibilities for businesses and a more connected world.
Similarly, MediaTek Managing Director Anku Jain said AI, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML), and cloud computing were key factors in unlocking the true potential of the IT sector in the next decade of India’s technology growth . ,
Manav Subodh, managing director of 1M1B, said since AI and other immersive technologies are taking away jobs, the current discourse was on, so there was a way to change the outcome. “People from Tier 2 and 3 cities can enter the virtual jobs economy. Virtual jobs and the gig economy are expected to grow rapidly, with this category expected to create over 1 million new jobs in India over the next two to three years. The Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Cartoon (AVGC) sector will also be booming in India in the next five to 10 years.”
Foundit, one of the leading talent platforms, said that the demand for AI talent has increased by 11 per cent in the last six months, leading to a tremendous growth in hiring. “AI is expected to create new roles and increase employment opportunities,” said Shekhar Garisa, CEO of Foundit.
Which are the most demanding jobs?
According to data provided by Foundit, the most in-demand jobs and skills include software engineers, data engineers and scientists, Python developers, marketing analytics consultants, AWS data architects, ML engineers, AI product managers, and BI developers.
“The increasing demand for these roles across industries has led to recruitment constraints due to the paucity of specialized skills among professionals. While there is a lot of fresh talent in the market, organizations are finding it challenging to hire the right candidate for the job,” said Garissa.
But Foundit said ML Ops, Natural Language Processing, Java, Python, DevOps, Big Data, Azure, Unix, TensorFlow and Neural Networks were the top skills in demand by far.
What Are Employers Looking For?
Ahead of the campus hiring season, Sumit Sabharwal, CEO, TeamLease HRTech, said that employers in the IT industry generally look for a mix of technical skills and soft skills while hiring freshers. “On the technical side, skills such as proficiency in programming languages, understanding of data structures and algorithms, knowledge of web development and familiarity with cloud technologies are highly sought after. With the rise of AI, ML and Data Science, employers are increasingly interested in candidates with skills in these areas,” he added.
He added: “Cyber security professionals are also in high demand due to the growing threat of cyber attacks. Knowledge of security protocols, risk management, network architecture and ethical hacking are vital for these roles.”
Ankush Singla, CEO and co-founder of Coding Ninja, said companies can give priority to candidates with additional qualifications that make them industry-ready. “The skill of the candidate still stands as the most important aspect in recruitment, in some cases even more important than merit. Many in our student pool are currently in their final year of college and are struggling with traditional education and the demands of industry. are using our upskilling programs designed to bridge the gap, to improve their odds of getting hired.”
Another industry insider Aanchal Chowdhary, HR Manager at mFilterIt, also said that the IT industry will focus on technical skills and soft skills of a person while hiring. “Given the fast-paced nature of the tech industry, adaptability, willingness to learn, and a passion for innovation and problem-solving will also be highly valued by recruiters,” she said.
However, Harshvendra Soin, Global Chief People Officer and Head of Marketing at Tech Mahindra – one of the top recruiters – said they will focus on building talent in key verticals such as AI, IoT, XDS (customer experience), deep tech, space technology are concentrating. among others.
“We are reaching out to leading IITs and other engineering colleges to hire bright minds and passionate hearts to ‘run better, change faster and grow more’ towards a sustainable future,” he added. News18,
He further added: “Association with universities and leading technical institutes helps us identify synergies for collaboration, build employee capabilities and hire talent, while enabling R&D and new product development. Also hiring in Tier 2 cities including Bhubaneswar, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram and Kolkata to widen the pool and improve agility.”
Will layoff concerns impact campus hiring?
Concerns about layoffs and the potential impact have once again come to the fore ahead of the hiring season. KL Deemed University Vice Chancellor Dr G Pardha Sardi Verma believes layoffs will play a key role in the hiring season.
“Each layoff creates a unique ripple effect in the recruiting market, affecting the supply and demand of available talent. As companies navigate the aftermath, efforts are being made to ensure the best outcomes for the organization as well as the individuals affected by the layoff. It’s important to season the hiring with empathy and strategic planning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rashmi Mittal, pro-chancellor at LPU, said layoffs were a reality for many companies, but it was important for recruiters to look beyond short-term cost savings and consider the long-term impact on the industry.
“Hiring from campuses allows companies to tap into new perspectives and ideas, and to train and develop talent in ways that align with their culture and values. Although the threat of layoffs may influence some career decisions It is ultimately up to companies to demonstrate their commitment to employees and the industry as a whole.”