Tech slump, large batches deal a blow! IITs struggle to find placements for students; low paying jobs being rejected – Times of India

IITs find it difficult to place students for jobs! Placements at the older Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) continue to pose challenges for students despite efforts to attract more recruiters. After more than four months of final placements at the established Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Delhi, Bombay (Mumbai), Kanpur, Madras (Chennai), Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati, and Varanasi (BHU), the endeavor to secure positions for students in a demanding landscape remains formidable.
IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi, two prominent institutions, have shared their placement data with ET.At IIT Bombay, 33% of the 1,973 participating students were still seeking jobs as of April 4. Similarly, at IIT Delhi, around 40% of students were yet to be placed out of 1,814 who registered with the Office of Career Services (OCS). The situation is more promising for undergraduate programs, with 81% of participants securing jobs.
The master’s and PhD programs, however, face lower placement rates, affecting the overall hiring percentage. Last year, IIT Bombay reported a placement rate of 82%, with 1,516 out of 1,845 students securing jobs. Meanwhile, IIT Delhi’s overall placement percentage stood at around 84%.

Approximately 30% of students across older IITs are still awaiting placements this season, with a decrease of 15-25% in job offers compared to the previous year.
Students are showing reluctance towards accepting low-paying job offers. A representative from an older IIT mentioned that smaller companies are offering salaries ranging from Rs 5-6 lakhs, but students are holding out for better opportunities due to the prestige associated with IITs.
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The financial daily has been reporting the effects of the tech industry slowdown and the broader decline in hiring on placements across various institutions, including the IITs, since before the commencement of the placement season.
Facing the ongoing placement season, IIT Bombay has highlighted that 33% of students are yet to be placed, with more companies scheduled to visit before the season ends in June.
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The increase in batch sizes at institutes like IIT Delhi has further complicated the placement scenario. The Office of Career Services (OCS) at IIT Delhi has observed a 20% rise in student participation compared to the previous year.
Professor Rajib Maity, head of the placement cell at IIT Kharagpur, mentioned that so far, there are 1,500 students with job offers from over 350 companies, with more offers expected. The OCS is strategizing dedicated placement drives for PhD students, reflecting the institute’s efforts to address the evolving job market challenges.