The common complaint that one gets to hear is that companies do not visit campuses for placements. But here is a strange trend that has been identified among undergraduate students of Bharathiar University. In spite of getting offer letters, there are many who have chosen not to join even reputed companies. This is because they do not wish to relocate even within the State, and are not inclined to work night shifts.
According to statistics provided by the university, out of the 1,163 final-year undergraduate students belonging to affiliated colleges who have received offer letters through campus placements, nearly 70 per cent have not joined the companies. The university became aware of this only when the companies gave feedback after the joining time of the candidates had lapsed. Needless to say, it is shocked.
The jobs were mostly back-end services for banking and insurance companies and candidates from all disciplines were chosen for these.
The starting salary ranged between Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 18,000 a month inclusive of night shift allowance and the work location was Chennai.
D. Antony Arulraj, Placement Officer of VLB Janakiammal College of Arts and Science, says that this is the result of lack of goal among the youth.
“The keenness the students show in attending placements and collecting offer letters is not seen when it comes to honouring the offer. Some even have eight to 10 offer letters. But at the end, they choose to take up higher education or not do anything at all. The reluctance to relocate to a new place and do night shifts, though high among girls, is also common in the case of boys,” he says.
“The candidates are well informed about the location and working conditions before they are given offer letters. But it is only before the date of joining they decide not to take up the offer. Since the companies do not have a waitlist, candidates who did not clear the interviews, do not get a second chance,” Mr. Arulraj adds.
According to M. Jayakumar, Director of the Department of Extension and Career Guidance, Bharathiar University, says that this is a real dampener for not only the university, but the present students who will be looking forward to such campus placements. And, last but not the least, also for Coimbatore region as a whole.
“The university and colleges have taken a lot of effort in bringing many companies to Coimbatore region for campus interviews. This has resulted in building a rapport with companies that have made Coimbatore a regular destination for the last five years in talent sourcing. But this year’s trend is shocking and will dissuade these companies from visiting in the future,” he says. The university is planning to counsel students as well as parents who are not confident of sending their wards out of the city.
The focus will also be on making the students understand the importance of setting and working towards goals in life.
