Infosys has unveiled a significant new initiative named the 'power programme' as part of its latest campus recruitment drive. This programme represents a substantial shift in their hiring strategy, aiming to attract and retain top talent by offering competitive salaries for specialized roles. Fresh graduates recruited under this programme can expect salaries of up to Rs 9 lakh per annum, which marks a notable increase from the typical entry-level salaries of Rs 3-3.5 lakh previously offered by the company.
The 'power programme' introduces a tiered salary structure that starts at Rs 4 lakh and can go as high as Rs 9 lakh, based on the candidate’s skills and expertise in areas such as coding, software development, and programming. This strategic move is designed to position Infosys as a leading employer in the tech industry, targeting highly skilled individuals who possess advanced technical abilities.
This new programme is also seen as a direct counter to Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) 'Prime' programme, which offers a similar high salary range, from Rs 9-11 lakh per annum. TCS's 'Prime' programme has been expanded to include roles in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI (GenAI), and machine learning (ML). TCS also categorizes its recruitment into three segments: 'Ninja' roles with salaries of around Rs 3.6 lakh, 'Digital' roles with packages of Rs 7.5 lakh, and 'Prime' roles with the highest compensation.
The emphasis on specialized skills in both Infosys’s and TCS’s recruitment strategies reflects the growing demand for expertise in fields like cloud computing, AI/ML, and cybersecurity. This heightened focus on acquiring specialized talent comes in response to ongoing digital transformation projects, which are driving the need for advanced technical skills.
Despite the broader economic slowdown in the technology services sector, which led to a significant reduction of over 70,000 employees across India’s top five IT companies in FY24, both Infosys and TCS are ramping up their hiring efforts. Infosys plans to onboard between 15,000 and 20,000 graduates in FY25. TCS, on the other hand, aims to recruit 40,000 freshers, maintaining its hiring levels from the previous year. This increased recruitment follows a period of downsizing; for example, TCS added 5,452 employees in the June quarter after experiencing a net reduction in headcount over three consecutive quarters, including a 13,249 decrease in FY24. Conversely, Infosys experienced a reduction of nearly 2,000 employees in the first quarter of FY25, bringing its total workforce to 315,332.
In addition to Infosys and TCS, other major IT firms such as HCLTech and Wipro are also expanding their recruitment efforts. HCLTech plans to hire 10,000 freshers, while Wipro is targeting up to 12,000 new hires. Together, these leading IT companies are expected to add approximately 82,000 freshers to their workforce this fiscal year, highlighting the industry's commitment to bolstering its talent pool despite current economic challenges.
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