Many organisations have been visiting engineering colleges in Kochi with pre-placement offers. They have also offered about 10 per cent to 20 per cent hike in salary.
While in the past, students who received a job offer were prevented from participating in other recruitment drives, this year, students will be allowed to keep a backup offer, so that they have a minimum of two job offers in hand.
Post completion of the first phase of pre-placement, a majority of the engineering colleges in Kochi reveal that freshers are in demand in IT companies, and the salary being offered has also increased by Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
With the automobile sector in doldrums, mechanical and civil engineering students may find it challenging to land suitable jobs.
Since the economic slump did not really affect recruitments in engineering colleges last year, this year too hopes remain high, despite the scenario not looking too bright.
Students possessing specific skills and having been trained in advanced technologies will be preferred. Keeping this in mind, colleges have already been offering much more than the syllabus to ensure that the students are trained for the industry and the future. Colleges are aware that companies today are not happy with just simple engineering graduates whom they will have to train. They want well-trained and future-ready candidates.
Over 70 students from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have already been placed in the initial round of placements in August. Also, six companies have made offers to 52 students of Model Engineering College last month. The average salary offered was Rs 7 lakh per annum.
