Fresh Recruitments @ Campus from Jan 2010: Infosys

Banking on global economic recovery by mid 2010, India's second largest IT exporter Infosys Technologies Limited (Infosys) today said it looks at visiting campuses across the country from January 2010 for new recruitment.

The company, which skipped its 'campus visit' this year in the wake of the slowdown in the economy, is looking at training 18,000 of its employees under the 'extended' mode till January next. Currently about 1000 to 2000 freshers every month are being put on training, which has been extended from three-and-a-half months to six months, till the 18000-odd recruits are through by January next.

However, Company CEO and Managing Director S Gopalakrishnan justified the changed strategy, saying it saw (the economic meltdown) as a good opportunity to enhance the training for those who will join work (in the company) after six months. Previously, the freshers' were put on training in one technology but now they are (put on) training in two technologies.

''They are better equipped and are more flexible as they are trained in multiple technologies,'' Kris Gopalakrishnan quipped at a media interaction here today.

The company, Kris Gopalakrishnan said, was pitching on recruitment and expansion next year hopeful of the revival of the economy in the second quarter next fiscal. As such,Mr.Kris justified the hiatus in its recruitment since January this year. It is now likely to resume visiting the University Campus early January 2010 coinciding with the eight semester of their curricula.

Admitting the economic slowdown had affected the growth rate of the leading companies, including Infosys, he however, pointed to the better than expected first quarter results of the IT leaders, including his company.

The IT & ITES industry will continue to grow despite the financial slowdown and the rate is likely to pick up mid 2010. Betting big on its investment in Andhra Pradesh, Gopalakrishnan said there was rapid expansion in IT & ITES at Hyderabad over the last ten years and there was great potential in Tier II cities, including Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

''Work has started on its second campus at the SEZ though the construction is in its initial stage. Some clearances are needed, which will be through, and the second campus at Hyderabad is expected to be ready by next 12 months. The company's first campus at HitechCity with 10,000 personnel is inadequate".

" However, the company has no immediate plans to expand its activities in these Tier II cities of Andhra Pradesh he said.

Kris like Bill Gates disfavoured protectionism and indicated that US President Barack Obama's strategy, if put into action, could impact the recovery of IT and ITES, especially exports. However, he expressed confidence that such move will not be implemented. "There are some talks about protectionism but it has not happened so far and hopefully it will not happen, he quipped".