Jun 03 2016 : The Times of India (Bangalore)

It’s not just IIM graduates, but many engineers passing out of some of the state’s most reputed institutions seem to be grappling with the predicament of deferred joining dates as well.Three companies, that hired six students from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), postponed their joining dates by three months. “With 348 companies visiting the campus for placements, the deferral of joining dates will not hurt our students,“ said Savitha Konna M, head of placement and training, MSRIT. She cited recession and failure to bag projects among the reasons for companies to put off joining dates.

At Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management (SCEM), a reputed core company deferred the joining date of six students by a year, while another company deferred its joining date by three months.Consequently , the college is now wary of the companies it invites. Rashmi Bhandary , head of placements at SCEM, said, “We only invite reputed companies which won’t create such problems. Last year, we had 122 companies recruiting from our college.“

Nine students of RV College of Engineering faced a similar problem after two startups delayed their joining dates by five months. D Rangnath, dean of placements and training at the college, said that the companies had employed the students as interns during the five-month period and paid them a stipend.

At Srinivasa Institute of Technology , Mangaluru, a prestigious IT company deferred the joining date of 27 students by five to six months.Placement officer Guruprasad Pai said the college stayed in constant touch with the company , and offered the students temporary employment as teachers at the institution.

Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysuru faced a similar problem at the height of recession in 2009. “After three reputed companies deferred the join ing dates of six students, we blacklisted them,“ said Pradeep Manjunath, placement officer of the college.

After a Bengaluru-based company deferred the joining date of 16 students from PES Institute of Technology and Management, Shivamogga, by four months, the college ensured the interests of both the students and the employers were protected, said Pramod S Prabhudev, head of career and development centre at the institute.

Predictably , engineering colleges are now apprehensive to invite companies that caused problems to students last year. However, colleges in tier-two cities looking to cement their reputation, are reluctant to blacklist the companies.

TIMES VIEW

With over a million engineers passing out each year, it was inevitable that the profession be hit by a problem of plenty.While unemployability of engineers remains a gnawing problem plaguing even the best institutes in the country, deferral and withdrawal of offers are issues that often leave students’ careers blanketed in uncertainty. Colleges need to go through the credentials of companies they invite for campus recruitment. Colleges that restrict students from attending interviews after receiving an offer letter from a company need to revise their placement policy. A fluctuating economy has put many firms in a position where they’re unable to honour their commitments to students who should be prepared for such eventualities.