Infosys, TCS hire in big numbers; students pick only top-end performers

It is an all-out war at engineering campuses and only outperformers are winners. While a grim global macro-economy has not prevented IT firms from hiring record numbers from topengineering colleges, students at these institutions are vetting offers very carefully and picking firms with a strong growth track. On their part, top IT recruiters are sharing first slots at campuses in their keenness to tap into the best talent. 

Take the case of Amrita University which has campuses in Bangalore, Coimbatore and Kochi. India's second largest IT exporter Infosys and Nasdaq-listedCognizant shared the first slot. While Cognizant picked up 1,263 students, Infosys went for 1,255. Around 970 students had common offers and finally, 83% of them opted for Cognizant while the remaining chose to go with Infosys. 

A similar trend could be seen at Institute of Engineering and Management, Kolkata, Vellore Institute of Technology, BS Abdur Rahman University (formerly Crescent Engineering College), Chennai and many other tech campuses. The trend is expected to be reinforced even in Karnataka and the National Capital Region where campus placement is going to take place soon. Recruiting has kicked off in a big way in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and West Bengal last month. It's in full steam in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh now. 

With a recession looming large, students are not taking any chances. They are watching every IT company closely as a brand and then choosing where to go very carefully. Around 15 students whom ET spoke to across campuses had one thing in common to say: what matters to them is being in a high growth company which offers job stability and has a good brand name. "I chose Cognizant as they survived reces-sion period two years back," says R Lakshmi of BS Abdur Rahman University.

HCL Tech to create 10k jobs in US & EU

HCL Technologies said it will create 10,000 jobs in the US and the EU in the next 5 years, emphasizing that it does not want to be "seen as a company which takes away jobs". The announcement comes at a time when anti-outsourcing campaign against Indian tech companies is gaining momentum in a slowing US and European Union. 

Politicians and governments in these countries have been objecting to offshoring work, and in the US, President Barack Obama had threatened to cancel tax breaks to companies shipping away jobs. 

"It is our stated position to create 10,000 jobs in the US and the EU. We don't want to be seen as a company which takes away jobs, instead seen as creating new ones," Vineet Nayar, vice-chairman and CEO, HCL Technologies, said. "The jobs will be created over a five-year period." The company already has 85,000 employees in these regions. 

"The story of our glocalisation is based on the principle of reverse investment in local economies. We follow a three-point approach - investing in local delivery centers, tie-ups with local universities and local hiring and lastly, collaboration with customers," Nayar said. 

HCL Tech announced the setting up of a development centre in Redmond, US and another one in Dublin, Ireland. While the US centre will have 350 seats, the Irish centre will have 80. On plans are to open centres in Columbia and Cape Town, South Africa. 

The company said it will go to campuses in these countries to hire for the first time during this placement season. Among the universities which have been shortlisted includes, University of Washington (Bothell and Tacoma campuses), Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University. 

Most Indian tech companies have been consistently hiring more and more in western countries over the past few years, to blunt the criticism of 'taking away' jobs. The proportion of the recruit in the US and the EU has seen a marked increase . In HCL's case, the targeted ratio is 50:50.

HCL Tech to create 10k jobs in US & EU

HCL Technologies said it will create 10,000 jobs in the US and the EU in the next 5 years, emphasizing that it does not want to be "seen as a company which takes away jobs". The announcement comes at a time when anti-outsourcing campaign against Indian tech companies is gaining momentum in a slowing US and European Union. 

Politicians and governments in these countries have been objecting to offshoring work, and in the US, President Barack Obama had threatened to cancel tax breaks to companies shipping away jobs. 

"It is our stated position to create 10,000 jobs in the US and the EU. We don't want to be seen as a company which takes away jobs, instead seen as creating new ones," Vineet Nayar, vice-chairman and CEO, HCL Technologies, said. "The jobs will be created over a five-year period." The company already has 85,000 employees in these regions. 

"The story of our glocalisation is based on the principle of reverse investment in local economies. We follow a three-point approach - investing in local delivery centers, tie-ups with local universities and local hiring and lastly, collaboration with customers," Nayar said. 

HCL Tech announced the setting up of a development centre in Redmond, US and another one in Dublin, Ireland. While the US centre will have 350 seats, the Irish centre will have 80. On plans are to open centres in Columbia and Cape Town, South Africa. 

The company said it will go to campuses in these countries to hire for the first time during this placement season. Among the universities which have been shortlisted includes, University of Washington (Bothell and Tacoma campuses), Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University. 

Most Indian tech companies have been consistently hiring more and more in western countries over the past few years, to blunt the criticism of 'taking away' jobs. The proportion of the recruit in the US and the EU has seen a marked increase . In HCL's case, the targeted ratio is 50:50.

Fired HP CEO's letter to employees

Until the news of his sacking broke, Leo Apotheker, who was fired by Hewlett-Packard's board, was unaware that his credibility as a CEO was under scanner. Apotheker, who was ousted barely 11 months after joining the company, is being replaced by HP director and former eBay Inc CEO Meg Whitman. 

HP, which has hastily removed two CEOs in the past two years, is left in the lurch to cope up with dented investor confidence and its future strategies. 

In a letter addressed to all HP employees, Apotheker expressed his confidence in HP's future and Whitman's strategic vision. Here's the text of the letter as published on the site The Next Web. 

TO/ All HP Employees 
FROM/ Leo Apotheker 

Dear HP Employees: 

This afternoon, HP issued a press release announcing my resignation as president and CEO, positions I have held with great honor this past year. Meg Whitman will assume the role of president and CEO. 

As you know, Meg is a technology visionary with a proven track record of execution and has served HP well as a member of the board for the past eight months. Meg will be supported by a broad and deep management team, and I have the utmost confidence that HP will succeed in executing its strategic evolution. 

On a personal level, I cannot begin to express the admiration I have for all of you - and what you have accomplished together. Over the past year, we were tasked with developing a strategic vision for HP and I know we have made important contributions to the company's future. 

Your efforts on behalf of HP and your dedication to our customers have inspired me - and I am confident that HP has a bright future because of the talented people that come to work here every day. Thank you for your commitment to HP and for your dedication in serving HP's customers and partners. It has been a tremendous honor and a pleasure to work with you here at HP. 

Sincerely, 

Leo Apotheker  

Fired HP CEO's letter to employees

Until the news of his sacking broke, Leo Apotheker, who was fired by Hewlett-Packard's board, was unaware that his credibility as a CEO was under scanner. Apotheker, who was ousted barely 11 months after joining the company, is being replaced by HP director and former eBay Inc CEO Meg Whitman. 

HP, which has hastily removed two CEOs in the past two years, is left in the lurch to cope up with dented investor confidence and its future strategies. 

In a letter addressed to all HP employees, Apotheker expressed his confidence in HP's future and Whitman's strategic vision. Here's the text of the letter as published on the site The Next Web. 

TO/ All HP Employees 
FROM/ Leo Apotheker 

Dear HP Employees: 

This afternoon, HP issued a press release announcing my resignation as president and CEO, positions I have held with great honor this past year. Meg Whitman will assume the role of president and CEO. 

As you know, Meg is a technology visionary with a proven track record of execution and has served HP well as a member of the board for the past eight months. Meg will be supported by a broad and deep management team, and I have the utmost confidence that HP will succeed in executing its strategic evolution. 

On a personal level, I cannot begin to express the admiration I have for all of you - and what you have accomplished together. Over the past year, we were tasked with developing a strategic vision for HP and I know we have made important contributions to the company's future. 

Your efforts on behalf of HP and your dedication to our customers have inspired me - and I am confident that HP has a bright future because of the talented people that come to work here every day. Thank you for your commitment to HP and for your dedication in serving HP's customers and partners. It has been a tremendous honor and a pleasure to work with you here at HP. 

Sincerely, 

Leo Apotheker