The current generation is well blessed with the advanced communication that eases the separation bit with the instant, anytime multiple "keep in touch" technologies available, the gang will find every opportunity to keep in touch. The events at the institutions will pass by therefore what remains is to find a job.
"Fresh graduates find it difficult to find a job" this statement perhaps was true few years back. With the surge in demand for talent and the supply not enough from the lateral hiring possibilities. Freshers come at a better price and the adaptability quotient is higher as compared to an experienced hire. The campus visits by recruiting companies has eased the pressure of finding jobs on their own. Good campuses(I am none to qualify/disqualify any) get recruiting companies visiting to interview students in the campus.
In some sectors the demand for talent has meant that fresh pool of talent is a must to keep the growth rate at a possible level. The challenge is finding the right quality of freshers.
In the last 10-15 years the IT sector has been attracting applications from fresh graduates from all streams of engineering be it mechanical, civil, electrical or the recent added streams of engineering study.
It is also in the past 5-8 years, the non-engineering graduates found opportunities within the IT/ITES sectors of the economy.
During the course of my work, I get many unsolicited mails from fresh graduates seeking job opportunities within the IT/ITES sectors. In guiding them, I have now standardized my approach and appropriate response which has worked very well and has helped many young/fresh graduates.
I first look at their language of approach, be it by telephone/mail/in person, the approach says a lot about the person, secondly, a good look at the overall structure and contents of resume/CV, then the specialisation, their scoring patterns over a period of time, project work details, mentioned special interests and hobbies.
Then I ask/speak to them more like a counsel rather than, someone with authority. I have found, some young graduates don't like this approach, their objective of coming to me is to get a direct reference/recommendation to a job. In such cases their resentment to get help/guidance is understandable.
In the recent years some of the engineering colleges are helping the students design their resumes. The exercise is to also present a positive image to the corporates coming for campus placements. These colleges have also initiated a career guidance programme, where in the students can get help to choose their right career path.
These are encouraging signs to ensure that by the time the students are completing their graduation, they get placed through the college. Not all will be lucky to get the placement through the campus placement. In my coming post, I will try and address the issue of how the institutes/colleges can do better at finding placements for their students. The solution can not be in preparing the last year students but to make structural changes in the way the students get placements.
