Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest IT services firm, has implemented a new recruitment strategy to target high-potential talent from fresh graduates by introducing a special hiring tier known as "Prime." This new category offers engineers annual compensation packages ranging from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 11 lakh, surpassing the standard entry-level offers. The rationale behind creating the Prime category is to ensure that TCS secures the right high talent and prevents students offered jobs in this tier from pursuing opportunities with other companies during the hiring process.
Girish Nandimath, TCS's global head of talent acquisition, explained the challenges of campus recruitment, particularly with "dream" category offers, where students may still consider offers from other companies. The Prime category aims to address this by solidifying the commitment of high-potential candidates and reducing the risk of losing them to competitors. The urgent need to attract top talent is fueled by the rapid technological advancements in the IT services sector, requiring individuals with strong programming, coding, and expertise in emerging technologies like AI, GenAI, and machine learning.
In previous years, TCS introduced two categories, Ninja and Digital, offering varying annual compensation packages. While Ninja hires received Rs 3.6 lakh, Digital hires were offered Rs 7 lakh, showcasing TCS's efforts to access the best talent from campuses. The expansion of the Prime tier to include several top-tier institutes marks a significant step for TCS, as it was previously limited to specific segments but is now extended across all business units. The company plans to hire 40,000 fresh graduates from campuses in the upcoming year, emphasizing the readiness for billable work and better productivity exhibited by candidates recruited under the Digital or Prime categories.