Kerala - Kochi   

Young techies adapt to downturn

KOCHI: Young techies in the city seem to be re-structuring their career plans amidst reports that the economic downturn will prevail throughout 2009.

The first signs of a tough year had emerged when who-is-who of the Indian IT industry stalled their major recruitment plans. Even second-rung companies have shelved their campus recruitment for the year ahead.

Faculty members in several city engineering colleges admitted that companies have stopped visiting campuses.

Students have been told to consider other plans that include scouting new job areas and enrolling for higher studies. Placement cells have drawn up counter plans to take up the challenges being offered by the continuing economic downturn in the country.

Many students who were dejected after companies stretched their joining dates have joined short-term and crash courses to add variety to their profile. Ann Marie Varghese, a B.Tech Mechanical Engineering student, has applied for MBA programmes being offered by two foreign universities.

“I am planning to do the course hoping that the impact of the meltdown will fade by the end of this year. If the situation picks up by the first half of 2010, the programme might help me fetch a job without much hassles,” she said.

Suresh G. Nair, a MCA student, who had received a plum offer from Satyam Computers is preparing for the Common Admission Test for management programmes.

“I have left the Satyam fiasco behind and I am now working hard to secure a seat in a premier management institute. We have to do something to overcome the situation. There is no point in wasting time over what had happened in the past,” he said.

Maria Johney, a B. Tech Computer Science student, has joined a distant education programme in human resources management.

“The advantage is that I can pursue my career plans while doing the distance education programme. I hope that the certificate course would be of help,” she said.

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