Date:06/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/07/06/stories/2009070651520200.htm

Back Good demand for experienced hands; freshers languishing

REVIVAL SIGNS.

Debabrata Das

New Delhi, July 5 It is professionals with over four years of experience, not freshers, who are in demand in the job market. As a result, campus recruitments have not lived up to expectations.

Monster.com’s Managing Director, Mr Sanjay Modi says, “Jobs for professionals with over four years experience have been showing the highest growth in the last few months.”

Mr Hitesh Oberoi, Chief Operating Officer, Naukri.com, feels jobs for freshers have dwindled since the slowdown. “Campus recruitments haven’t grown as yet. But across other segments hiring has picked up,” he said.

There is, however, a silver lining for freshers. Dr Naresh Malhan, Managing Director India Operations, Manpower.com feels the ITeS and BPO sectors are more keen on hiring freshers.

Dr Malhan says, “While lateral movements are more or less confirmed appointments, fresher recruitments allow the companies to wait and see how the business will shape up. Therefore, ITeS and BPO sectors are looking more towards freshers.”

Economic slowdown

Recruitments were badly hit after the global economic slowdown last year, however, there has been a slight recovery in the April-June period.

Sectors such as IT, ITeS, telecom, hospitality and manufacturing have started hiring again, according to Mr Modi. Also, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare and infrastructure have been picking up gradually, according to Mr Oberoi.

“The bulk of the jobs are still available in IT. Though while the top ten IT companies recruited 1,00,000 last year, this year they may recruit about 50-60,00 between them,” said Mr Kris Lakshmikant, CEO and Managing Director, the Head Hunters.

Retail hiring

“Retail hiring was big before the slowdown, but it has been impacted ever since. However, as consumer confidence grows, we can expect the hiring to pick up again within 8-10 months,” said Mr Modi.

There are expectations of some sort of a recovery by the end of the year. But to get back to the hiring levels before the slowdown, Mr Modi feels it could take another couple of years.

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