Placements pick up movement at Panjab University, Chandigarh institutes after slow start

After the COVID-19 outbreak last year, there have been apprehensions that placements will be affected severely this year. However, experts believe that the impact of coronavirus has not been so big as far.

The placement season at Panjab University and other institutions in Chandigarh which did not kick off on a high note this academic year has finally picked up its pace. After the COVID-19 outbreak last year, there have been apprehensions that placements will be affected severely this year. However, experts believe that the impact of coronavirus has not been so big as far. The online placements in fact are going on at several Panjab University departments, including the University Business School (UBS) and the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET). Interviews are being conducted through videoconferencing.

Placements are also going on at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET) and other institutes. Due to a late start, the process is expected to stretch over the coming months. Meena Sharma, head of PU’s central placement cell, told a media house: “We had apprehensions in the beginning, but now placements have picked up the pace. There is also an increasing demand from the market, and we are getting a good response now.”

A slowdown has been witnessed in some sectors. JD Sharma, head of career development and guidance centre at PEC, said: “Presently there is a slowdown for recruitment in some specific sectors, such as capital goods, automotive and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). It may or may not affect the total placements of the institution. It will take time to assess the situation.”

However, sectors such as coding, software, consulting, sales and e-marketing are recruiting a good number of students, he said.

KG Sharma, head of training and placement at CCET, said: “There is a slight impact on the placements, especially in mechanical and civil engineering branches, because these companies are in a ‘wait-and-watch’ mode. For electronics and computer science engineering, placements are almost similar to previous years.”

At UIET, there has not been much of an impact on the placements in computer science and IT branches, and none of the usual recruiters has backed, said a placement coordinator, who did not wish to be named.

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