India\u2019s engineering graduates are facing an increasingly long wait to start their first jobs, as a more cautious information technology (IT) services industry is shifting its hiring norms. Some freshers are waiting more than a year after clearing selection processes, as uneven demand and growing automation push companies to align onboarding more closely with actual project needs.<\/p>\n
At least three tech services firms, including Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Wipro Ltd and LTM Ltd, have hugely delayed onboarding of fresh graduates, given joining dates of more than a year after the students cleared the selection process, or not given a joining date at all.<\/p>\n
While geopolitical tensions in West Asia prompt companies to delay decision-making and pause non-essential tech spending, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automation tools is eating into the revenue of tech services firms and reducing human needs.<\/p>\n
Of the companies cited above, New Jersey-based Cognizant has given tentative joining dates to certain graduates that stretch more than a year after they received their letter of intent, according to emails accessed by Mint.<\/p>\n
These three firms join the list of larger IT firms, including Accenture Plc, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and Oracle Corp, which had delayed onboarding, and in some cases even withdrawn roles, according to a Mint report of 7 July.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease note that your onboarding is tentatively planned between February 2027 to May 2027,\u201d read an email sent by Cognizant\u2019s GenC talent acquisition team dated 5 August.<\/p>\n
This comes after certain candidates received the company's letter of intent in January and February this year, implying that the time taken between receiving acceptance and actually joining the workplace could be more than a year.<\/p>\n
A letter of intent is traditionally given to candidates who clear their entrance exams and technical assessments. They are then subject to background verification, after which they get the offer letters.<\/p>\n
For now, Cognizant\u2019s email said the onboarding date depends on business needs. \u201cThe tentative joining timeline mentioned above is subject to business requirements and operational considerations. Cognizant remains committed to onboarding you at the earliest possible opportunity,\u201d said the email to the fresher.<\/p>\n
Homegrown Wipro and LTM have also not given joining dates to many graduates.<\/p>\n
At India's fourth-largest IT services firm Wipro, over 200 entry-level candidates await onboarding, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The Bengaluru-based IT services company has delayed their onboarding through its \u2018Elite\u2019 hiring process. These candidates were given letters of intent for project engineering roles in August last year. Wipro\u2019s Elite National Level Talent Hunt is its off-campus and campus recruitment process.<\/p>\n
Some of these graduates said they had completed their coding assessments and background verification by March, but have not yet heard back from the company.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis uncertainty creates so much anxiety. It's incredibly difficult to plan anything when you have absolutely no idea whether you'll be joining next week, next month, or several months later,\u201d said a fresher awaiting onboarding.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, LTM, India's sixth-largest IT services firm, has said onboarding would be conducted in batches, without giving any clarity on joining dates.<\/p>\n
In a 4 August memo to certain freshers, its human resources team assured freshers applying for the role of a trainee that onboarding was being planned in batches as per business demand. \u201cOnboarding for 2026 pass-outs is being planned in batches based on business demand and confirmation. The onboarding plan will be communicated closer to your actual date of joining. We appreciate your patience and understanding,\u201d read the memo, accessed by Mint.<\/p>\n