When campus placements goes haywire here's what you should do

With an increasing number of companies deferring the joining dates of new recruits hired through campus placements there is
consternation among students and educational institutions alike. At times like this, job aspirants could do well to keep the following points in mind.

Keep searching

Most students fear the prospect of not landing a job during campus placements. However, it would hardly be a catastrophe. According to Neeti Sharma, Senior Vice President of human resources firm TeamLease Services, a mismatch in skills and jobs could be the reason why you did not get selected. Did you not do well in the interview or group discussion? Did you answer the test questions correctly? Did you have the relevant scores needed by the recruiter? Did you apply for the relevant job? Once you have answered the questions correctly
you will be able to understand and correct existing gaps and apply for relevant roles next.

If you are still unable to find a job, look to start as an apprentice in a fitting role.

This will give you the skills that companies are looking for. You can upgrade yourself before applying for full time employment,” says Sharma. Internships also prepare you similarly.

Says Urvashi Malik, Founder and MD of education counselling firm CollegeCore Education, “You must take up internships from the first semester itself based on your area of interest.

This will develop your skills and make you more employable.” If you had been working before you took a break to study further, going back to your previous employer for opportunities is another option.

Set realistic expectations

Unrealistic salary expectations also hinders an aspirant’s job search. Students, especially from the engineering and management streams, are often lulled into believing that just completing the course would land them “high paying” jobs.

What they fail to understand is those who actually land salaries that make headline news are the absolute best students from the best institutes.

Aspirants need to determine industry average wages. Speak to companies and people working within to understand what the industry is looking for and how much they are prepared to pay.

This tracking has to be through the course, and not just before campus interviews . If you track the relevant industry, you will be able to set your standards for the role and salary accordingly says Sharma In case you do get an offer but are not happy with the salary package offered to you check the background and growth potential of the company.

If the company is growing steadily and its values and vision are in line with yours, accept the offer. Increments, incentives and bonuses will follow if you perform well,” says Sharma. Remember a low ­paying job is better than no job.

Partha Iyengar, Co­Founder, Life & Money, says, “Don’t compare your salary with a friend’s who is getting more. Take off such peer pressure during placements and take your own independent decisions of accepting or letting the offer pass.

If the offer fizzles out

If your joining date is deferred by the hiring company, don’t wait around. Embark on a new job search and take up an offer even if it is paying less than what you had been offered by the previous company.

If you have to service an education loan, renegotiate for a lower EMI with your bank by increasing the loan tenure or request extension of the moratorium period says Iyengar. Do not make financial commitments in anticipation of placement and resultant income. That new iPad or that first car can wait till you are firmly in the saddle of a secure job.

source: techgig.com