Graduating Students Uncertain About Job Market In India

The global economy may have shown some signs of recovery, but students in India who are preparing to graduate this summer have chalked out long-term goals differently and changed their strategies to approach companies for jobs.

Pennylaine D'Souza, 21, a graduating student of Sophia College for Women in Mumbai, is one such student who now plans to study further rather than seek work immediately, which has her previous goal, due to the tough job market.

"I have not yet started approaching the companies, but may be after my exams get over on May 26," she told AHN. D'Souza is majoring in Political Science and Education.

She added, "I think I will try to study further. Maybe I'll do a diploma course in human resources or banking. The markets may get stabilized next year. I may even take a part-time job and study alongside it."

She told AHN that her plans after the graduation changed after her friends lost their jobs.

"Some of my friends have lost their jobs because of the recession. And some of them are working in call centers now," D'Souza said, adding that not many companies approached her college to offer jobs.

This year many colleges in Mumbai have received a higher number of voluntary job offers from not-for-profit organizations like Teach for India, who aim to teach low-income students in rural India.

D'Souza said that her college has recommended working for the Teach for India organization if they are unable to find any openings in the institutions.

But firms in India have not stopped offering positions. In fact, a recent survey showed that more than 60 percent of companies in India are still hiring.

Hewitt Associates (HEW), a human resources consulting and outsourcing company, added in the survey that nine out of every 10 companies are still giving promotions and less than 16 percent of companies in India are considering retrenchment.

"India is a strong bet for most global companies, as a growing market as well as a source for highly competent talent that is still more cost efficient than in the West," Sandeep Chaudhary, Hewitt's consulting practice official, said in a statement.

He added, "Moreover, layoffs are a highly sensitive and politicized issue in many markets, including India."

Pennylaine D'Souza's sister, Trudy D'Souza, 20, also had different goals as she wants to pursue a higher degree in Hotel Management in the United Kingdom after her graduation this month, but she has delayed her plans to study abroad.

"I have not been placed anywhere so far," Trudy D'Souza told AHN, who is a BA student of Hotel Management at Anjuman-I-Islam College in Mumbai city.

"Even though having a degree there have not been many companies who have come to our college for placements. It is already competitive to get a job in this field, but now it would be more difficult."

As a graduating student she wanted to start working in the front office of a hotel as well as pursue her options to study abroad.

"Initially, I had decided to go to the UK to do my post-graduation. Everything was financed and I had almost started applying. But due to the recession and because the things are not that good in the UK, I did not go ahead with things," Trudy D'Souza said.

She added, "Right now I am pursuing airlines. But I have kept my options open."

Students like these two sisters are anxious to graduate soon this year, but the uncertainty of the jobs market have poured cold water on their goals, forcing them to change their career plans.

But economists in India believe that in the long-term the country has higher job prospects as more multi-national companies are looking to invest in the emerging markets.

Marriott International, for instance, is planning to construct 24 new hotels in India over the next four years.
Source: allheadlinenews.com