Cognizant says entry-level annual pay for engineers at ₹4-12 lakh; best in industry
The Hindu
Cognizant clarifies salary offers for freshers, emphasising competitive pay for engineering graduates and investment in upskilling non-engineering hires.
Facing social media backlash over the ₹2.52 lakh annual salary offer for freshers, IT giant Cognizant on Sunday (August 18, 2024) said it offers ₹4-12 lakh salary to fresh engineering graduates, and the salary being quoted on social media is for non-engineering undergraduate degree holders.
The firm also faced social media ridicule for doling out annual salary hikes of as low as 1%, but what is being quoted is the lower band of the 1-5% annual increments that the firm has dished out based on individual performance.
Cognizant annually hires fresh engineers and non-engineering/IT graduates for varied roles.
With the two recruitments running almost parallel, hiring for three-year non-engineering/information technology undergraduate degree holders picked up and was widely shared as Cognizant’s salary package for freshers.
“Our recent job posting for talent from non-engineering backgrounds, with a 3-year undergraduate degree has been grossly misrepresented. This job posting, with compensation of ₹2.52 lakhs annually, was only for candidates with a 3-year undergraduate degree and not for engineering graduates.
“Our annual compensation for fresh engineering graduates ranges from ₹4 lakhs to ₹12 lakhs annually, depending on the category of hiring, skill set, and advanced industry accredited certifications,” said Surya Gummadi, EVP and president, Cognizant Americas.
Cognizant hires non-engineering undergraduate degree holders for administrative and other roles and invests substantial time and money in upgrading their skills and IT training, after which they get absorbed in various roles.
