New Delhi
Cognizant has responded to recent criticism on social media regarding its salary offers for fresh graduates. The backlash stemmed from claims that the company was offering just Rs 2.52 lakh per year to new hires. However, Cognizant has clarified that this salary applies only to candidates with a three-year undergraduate degree in non-engineering fields, not to engineering graduates.
Surya Gummadi, EVP and President of Cognizant Americas, explained that the low salary offer was misrepresented. ‘The Rs 2.52 lakh salary is specifically for non-engineering graduates with a three-year degree,’ he stated. For engineering graduates, Cognizant offers a starting salary ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per year, depending on skills, hiring category, and industry certifications.
The company also noted that it invests between Rs 2 to 3 lakh per associate annually to train and upskill both engineering and non-engineering employees. This investment supports associates in learning advanced technologies.
Additionally, Cognizant addressed concerns about salary increments. The company said that the 1 per cent increment reported was the lower end of the 1-5 per cent range, which varies based on individual performance and industry conditions. ‘We are among the few IT firms in India that have provided increments and bonuses this year,’ Cognizant added.
In the current fiscal year, major tech firms in India plan to hire a large number of freshers, with Tata Consultancy Services aiming to recruit about 40,000, Infosys 15,000-20,000, and HCLTech over 10,000.
