Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on Thursday, said it would increase the level of campus recruitment in the U.S. this year, although the total number of employees recruited could remain unchanged.
Addressing a media round-table here , Ajoy Mukherjee, Executive Vice-President and Head of Global Human Resources, said the company hired 1,600 people in the U.S. in 2012-13. While that number was unlikely to change, “we are intent on hiring more and more from campus,” he added.
The proposed U.S. Immigration Bill, which would make H1B visas for professionals less affordable, presented both opportunities and challenges, Mr. Mukherjee said. “It is too early to comment, but it is a long process, and the bill will be debated. Our goal is to be engaged in the process. Although it is good that they have come up with a comprehensive bill, there are concerns about the restrictions that may come about,” he said.
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In terms of on-campus hiring in India, TCS has given around 24,500 offers. “The joining ratio is usually 69-70 per cent but last fiscal it was 74-75 per cent. We expect to maintain that level this year too. The rate has gone up because of the overall weak job market and because of the work we have been doing on campuses,” he said.
In India, TCS maintains a 60:40 ratio in terms of trainees and laterals. “Future hiring will depend on the business growth and non-linear business. The pyramid structure is important for us and employees with us for more than three years constitute 62-63 per cent of the total. This is important to maintain margins at a 26-27 per cent level.”
On why TCS planned to hire 45,000 in 2013-14, when compared to higher levels of recruitment in earlier years, Mr. Mukherjee said that in the fourth quarter of 2012-13, 11,000 trainees had joined the company. They would be available from May 2013. “Secondly, we have high retention rates. Thirdly, our utilization levels (excluding trainees) are very high at 82 per cent. We would like to take it to 85 per cent.
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“Including trainees, we are comfortable at the current 72 per cent utilization level,” he said.