High-Paying Campus Roles Remain Elusive as MNCs Elevate Hiring Standards
Hyderabad: In a significant shift in campus recruitment trends, several multinational corporations have introduced substantially higher salary slabs for engineering graduates, with packages reaching up to Rs 27 lakh per annum. However, these lucrative opportunities have been secured by only a select few students, as hiring managers increasingly look beyond mere coding proficiency to identify top talent.
Companies Prioritize Conceptual Depth and Communication Skills
Training and placement officers across Hyderabad's engineering colleges report that companies are now emphasizing in-depth mastery of core computer science concepts. This includes advanced data structures and algorithms (DSA), dynamic programming techniques, and robust problem-solving capabilities. Equally important are strong communication and presentation skills, which have become critical differentiators in the selection process.
"These new, elevated salary slabs are strategically designed to attract the absolute brightest minds from campuses. In reality, only a very small number of students who demonstrate profound conceptual understanding actually receive these offers," explained J Upendar, an assistant professor at Osmania University. He noted that during the 2025–26 academic year, numerous leading IT firms visited the campus, recruiting students across multiple pay brackets, with significantly more placements occurring at lower compensation levels.
Bulk Recruiters Adopt Selective Approach
J Prasanna Kumar, director of placements and projects at Maturi Venkata Subba Rao (MVSR) Engineering College, highlighted that companies traditionally known for mass hiring have dramatically increased their selectivity. "For standard packages, proficiency in a single programming language might suffice. However, for the top-tier salaries, candidates must exhibit exceptional problem-solving abilities, articulate communication skills, polished presentation capabilities, and advanced technical knowledge," Kumar stated.
He further revealed that recruitment processes are still ongoing for at least one company offering a new slab of Rs 21 lakh per annum, indicating continued opportunities within this elevated bracket.
Strategic Talent Acquisition Over Mass Hiring
Kumar suggested that these high-value packages appear to serve a dual purpose: attracting exceptional young talent from campuses while also potentially luring skilled professionals from competitors. "The primary objective seems to be talent acquisition from rival firms rather than large-scale campus hiring. Consequently, very few students actually secure these premium packages directly from college placements," he elaborated.
Students corroborated this observation, noting that while some companies conduct recruitment drives for all salary slabs simultaneously, the highest-paying roles remain exceptionally competitive. "Companies list various salary ranges without specifying which package a candidate is interviewing for. Ultimately, offers are extended based entirely on performance during the selection process," said N Manoj Kumar, a final-year computer science engineering student. He added that the number of students selected for lower packages is at least double those chosen for the top brackets.
Criticism of High Packages as Publicity Stunts
The Forum for IT Employees has voiced skepticism regarding these high salary announcements. "Major multinational corporations have faced criticism for avoiding campus placements and failing to increase fresher salaries for decades. Introducing a few lucrative packages appears to be a publicity strategy, but the reality is that most students are still hired at basic compensation levels," asserted C Vinod Kumar, president of the forum.
This development underscores a broader transformation in campus recruitment, where elite technical expertise, coupled with superior soft skills, is becoming the gateway to premium career opportunities, while traditional bulk hiring gives way to more discerning talent selection processes.
