Doing things their own way

Independent Placement

Most colleges have started their placement season, but many students are opting for off-campus placement instead, as they feel that it works out better for them.

They believe they have good chances of getting a higher pay package. Most of them take the help of their seniors, parents and relatives or approach the companies they have interned in.

Aditya, an engineering student, says that many students from his batch chose to go for off-campus placement. “I did not sit for the placement examinations this year, as I had started looking out for jobs much earlier. I might end up with a higher pay package than any of my peers,” he says.

In many cases, students apply to companies they have previously interned with. “I had interned with an event-management company earlier and decided to opt out of the campus placements and approach them instead. The placement at my college is not great, so that was the best option. I suggest that my juniors approach companies on their own too, instead of waiting for campus recruitment to take place,” says Shrishti, a final-year student.

Many students say that references work wonders as well and professors are very helpful in this regard. “I was not very happy with the pay package that was offered by the companies which came on campus. I felt I deserved much better and took the help of my teachers. Some of my teachers have been in the industry for a long time and were instrumental in getting me a job. I went for my interview with their references and have been placed. The pay package is slightly better than what we were offered by campus recruiters,” says Khyati, a journalism student.

Students also go for off-campus placement because they feel they have more options that way. Pranav, a final-year mechanical engineering student, points out that there are very few mechanical companies that are coming to his college for placements this year.

“Most of them are IT companies and I am very clear about what I want to pursue. I am waiting for more engineering companies — like Tata Steel — to come and recruit. I have also applied to other companies on my own and most of the references have been given by my parents. I am more concerned about getting into the field of my choice than the pay package,” he informs.

He further states that many colleges have tie-ups with IT companies, which is why they hire students in big numbers. However, this does not hold true for all branches — and that is when the students start job hunting on their own.