Minimal impact on students' job offers, summer internships amid COVID-19 crisis: IIM-C

Kolkata, Apr 9 () At a time when most businessschools of the country are finding it difficult to safeguardstudents' placements and summer internships in the wake of theCOVID-19 outbreak, the Indian Institute of Management-Calcuttaclaimed to have weathered the blow with minimal rescinding ofjob offers.

Out of the 442 students successfully placed in 2020with close to 10 per cent rise in pay packet over 2019, onlysix offers have been revoked by a recruiter amid thecoronavirus outbreak.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global headquarterof one recruiter has rescinded six job offers. Anotherrecruiter has taken the internal business decision to postponethe joining date from May to July," IIM-C Placement CommitteeChairperson, Abhishek Goel, told .

One startup has communicated business difficulties,but "our latest information is that its job offers to ourstudents are firm", he claimed.

Apart from these, almost all recruiters are movingahead as per their hiring plans, Goel said, adding, some havealready enabled virtual joining.

Joining typically takes place between April and Augustdepending on a recruiters hiring plan.

"Given the quality of recruiters, the impact on IIM-Cstudents is negligible, but the situation for other managementschools of the country is not that comfortable," an officialof a recruitment agency said.

IIM-C Director Anju Seth said the institution hastaken a host of measures in view of the coronavirus crisis,including changing the academic calendar for various programs.

"We have also expedited successful transition to newmodels of online teaching in our programs. We are watching theemergent situation closely and are ready with action plans forvarious scenarios to facilitate effective outcomes," Sethsaid.

IIM-C took a policy decision to allow a mix of virtualand on-field modes of internship to allow digital onboardingof students, due to the lockdown, she said.

Four recruiters have so far rescinded their summerinternship offers owing to the changed business scenario,affecting 12 students out of 480.

"Nine of these students have already been providedwith new internships. The institute is making all efforts forthe remaining three students to find an alternateopportunity," Goel said.

Several recruiters made alternate arrangements tostart the internship as per their original commitment viadigital media, leveraging their IT capabilities. Some othersdeferred the joining dates to April 13 or April 20 to dealwith emerging challenges of the lockdown.

At this time, 90 per cent of the employers areexpected to start their internships by April 20.

While almost all recruiters are giving their promisedstipend to the students, two have asked for a cut in it,officials said.

In the summer placements, finance and consulting firmsaccounted for 43.2 per cent of the offers with several firmsalso opening international roles. BSM SUS RBTNN NN