COVID-19 Impact: IITs to conduct Placement Drive 2020 virtually

IITs to go online to carry out its placement season for this session amid the ongoing coronavirus cases in the country. Read further to know more.

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) across the country has decided to conduct the placement season for this session online owing to rising coronavirus cases in the country. This is the first time, that the premier technology institutes in the country will conduct the placement virtually. This year, recruiters scouting for talent at the premier technology institutes will select candidates virtually.

IITs have earlier conducted the autumn semester and convocation ceremonies online, and now they are exploring options to best enable students to participate in recruitment drives remotely, from their homes. Online software, tests and virtual or telephonic interviews are on the cards.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT B) is planning to maintain its placement calendar and start its placement drive from December 1. “The format of interviewing will be through online software via video conferencing and in some cases, telephonically,” said BV Ravishankar, training and placement officer, IIT B. Over 1,700 students of the institute, from various programmes, will seek employment through the placement drive this year.

IITs in Chennai, Delhi, Roorkee, Mandi and Guwahati has also confirmed a media house that their placements will be done online, in the interest of the students’ health and safety.

“The student registration process has not yet started, but we expect around 900 students to register this year. We’ve clarified to students that placements will be conducted keeping in mind social distancing rules and regulations as prescribed by the government,” said Vinayak Kulkarni, head (Centre for Career Development), IIT-Guwahati.

“Student registration is currently underway and in two weeks, we’ll know exactly how many students are opting for placements or deferring placements in 2020-21. The entire process will be conducted online this year keeping in mind Covid-19,” said C S Shankar Ram, advisor (training & Placement), IIT Madras.

Though the Central government has eased lockdown norms in many parts of the country, IITs are working out ways to ensure that the placement session is not affected due to the rising coronavirus cases in the country.“Lockdown or not, campus visits or face-to-face interviews will be tough at least for the next few months. Therefore, conducting online interviews and group discussions will be adopted by the institute,” said Dr Sunny Zafar, advisor (Career & Placement Cell), IIT-Mandi.

"The institutes are already readying students for online pre-placement tests and virtual interviews. Recruiters are likely to have the option of choosing from a host of online models. “Not every detail has been finalised, but we have given recruiters a free hand to decide on the hiring pattern,” Zafar added.

Read More:

• IIT Madras Placement Trends & Updates
• IIT Guwahati Placements 2020: Top Companies, Offers, Highest & Average Salary
• IIT Mandi Placements 2019 - Average & Highest Package, Top Companies