IITs go extra mile for placements

Every year, dozens of engineering wiz kids are snapped up at eye-popping salaries from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). But for those left behind after the top recruiters have left, the struggle is real.

- Devina Sengupta & Pratishtha Bagai

This time, these elite colleges are engaging students who found work through campus placements as well as their alumni networks to support their less fortunate brethren.

"Imagine having someone to turn to who understands the pressure and can offer insightful guidance, strategies for navigating interviews, and a listening ear when stress mounts," stated an email from the student council of IIT Delhi in December. "The journey to placements can be both thrilling and challenging. To support you through this period, we are launching the Call a Friend programme, a peer-to-peer initiative that connects final-year students appearing for placements with those who have already secured positions."

IITs are keen to ensure that the batch of 2025 does not suffer the fate of many of their immediate seniors who could not find jobs even after the end of their studies. That was in stark contrast to 2022 and 2023, when a global race for digitalization sparked a scramble for top engineering talent. However, this year's recruitments come under the shadow of a slump in the global economy, with business schools and engineering colleges facing the brunt.