Recruitment or just formalities…. (Comment on Narayana Murthy’s statement that 80% of students passing out are not suitable for job)

Recruitment is defined as the process of identifying the prospective employees, stimulating and encouraging them to apply for a particular job or jobs in the organization. While selection comes after that if the candidates are found suitable in the respective positions applied.


It is quite fashionable nowadays to say that there is lack of talented people. Big icons like Narayana Murthy said that 80 % of the graduates passing out are not eligible for jobs. They say that there is no updating of syllabi and all sort of things. But I believe that the problem lies in the identification of talented people. I believe that they recruit wrong people (for whatever reasons) and then they pass such comments.

I will state the following things that happened during our campus recruitment in our PGDM course.

In colleges due to huge numbers applying for a particular job, the first round to eliminate is of GD. They are supposed to find out people who are aggressive (for sales), see their communication skills and attitudes etc. But is it what happens during GD! Not once but nearly 4-5 times it happened that the person who has not opened their mouth are asked by the observer to conclude the GD and in the end they are selected in the GD. IS IT FAIR??

We are told that during GD we should not be stopping others from speaking by abruptly stopping them or not giving them chance. I attended nearly 15 GDs and still I could not make out on what basis they select. Some speak continuously disturbing others, shouting and some even don’t open their mouth or hardly speak once or twice and they are selected. Then how can you make out what to do in a GD. IS IT FAIR??

Some also conduct written test but they hardly declare the cut off and even some are selected without writing the test. Some even fail in the test but as the requirement has to be fulfilled they are also called for interview. Then what is the point in taking the test. IS IT FAIR?? ( I forgot the name of company but it was a reputed company)

Then coming to the Personal Interview, it is even more frustrating. I believe that I had seen enough nonsense. One person’s resume was not selected. He did not even attend the GD. But he asked some questions that impressed the interviewers and he was called for PI and was selected. Then what was the basis of rejecting his CV initially. What about the so called GD. IS IT FAIR??(The company was RPG Spencer)

Another company Eurotech (a furniture company) was mind blowing. There were about 30 persons for the selection round. They called five people at a time and then described about their company, told us what were the company doing, their business operation, and job profile and in the end asked if there were any questions. After all were told about the company I was shocked that some students were rejected. I could not understand that without interview only telling them about the company the decision of rejection was made. IS IT FAIR??



Then there were place preferences like knowledge of local knowledge and local area. I do understand that for sales it is necessary. But the problem lies with the recruiter. They tell that all can apply. But they reject non-local candidates. One company (Reliance communications) came for recruitment. I asked the recruiter whether knowledge of local language is necessary. They straight forward said no. After the GD when I went for the PI they said that the placement is in Kerala and the job was of recruitment, and hence knowledge of local language was necessary. Then they could have said at the beginning but they don’t. It is frustrating to go through all the process and tension and to hear that due to useless reasons one is not selected. And then there is preference for lady candidates. I hope I don’t have to elaborate on this. IS IT FAIR??

Then after selection there are many formalities that they don’t tell at the time of giving offer letter. Indiabulls recruited some students but at the point of joining they were told that they have to clear some examinations otherwise they will not be allowed to work further in the company. They could have told this so that they can have taken the necessary preparation. And also (ICICIPru) they recruited people for some profile and during joining students were given different profiles then what was promised. Naukri came for position in Mumbai but later the posting was made in Bangalore. IS IT FAIR??

It is only a part of the things that has happened. Many more such things happened. Their main job is to fill the vacancies. Then after that, passing comments that 80% of students passing out are not suitable for job is totally unjustified. N. Murthy and others have reached a position when their sayings get great publicity and are believed upon. But it is not so and if the recruitment is made in a proper way then such complaints will go and also the attrition rate will come down drastically.

So these people instead of passing comments which are morally discouraging for the students they should take care that the recruitment and selection process are to the best standards, so that the problems are resolved.