How HCL Tech ruined my life: A distraught recruit writes

Agra,

March 13, 2013

I would like to explain you about the whole drama played by HCL Technologies. They are saying that "All students who passed out in 2011 have been on-boarded". It is true that all the students who graduated in 2011 and recruited by HCL Tech have been on-boarded. But this has nothing to do with us, because we are from the 2012 batch.

In September 2011, when we were in our seventh semester of our B.Tech course, HCL Tech visited our campuses for its on-campus recruitment drive. In that drive, they had three rounds - 1. Aptitude Test, 2. Technical Interview, and 3. HR Interview. There were around 76 students (from his college), mostly cream (bright, top-scoring) students from all the disciplines, who cleared all the three rounds, and at that time, HR of HCL Tech who visited our campus announced that we all would be placed in HCL Tech as Software Engineer and that they would on-board us as soon as we finish our course and earn our degree (By Apr-May, 2012).

Later on in May 2012, HCL Campus Portal was opened for us, the link of which is mycampus@hcl.com, and they asked us to fill our personal academic information on the portal and LOI (Letter of Intent) was given to us and our Service Agreement was released on the campus portal. They said that "Joining is scheduled in batches depending on candidates academic calendar and business requirements" and that joining is scheduled to start from July.

Two batches of around 700 students joined in July and August 2012. We were waiting for our turn, then suddenly, HCL introduced FRP (Front Runner Program) in September 2012, a mandatory test to sequence on-boarding. The test was conducted in three locations - Noida, Chennai and Bangalore - on September 30, 2012, and the test location was decided based on the location of college from where we graduated and were informed just two days before the test. The portions were C and DS for Non-CS branches and C, DS, Java and RDBMS for CS branches.

I had to travel from Agra (UP) to Chennai, nearly 2,000 km, for attending that 45-minute test. The test was conducted by Aspiring Minds (AMCAT) and the pattern was ridiculous as one cannot skip any question. The passing cut-off was 60 per cent. The result was said to be announced within a week. But they promptly delayed it and announced on October 26, 2012, instead, and in this test, only 1,300 out of 6,500 candidates were declared as who passed. It means nearly 5,000 students were not able to clear the test.

The test score was not revealed to anyone; they said it is confidential. As per their promise, FRP-shortlisted candidates had to be given joining dates within a couple of weeks. And as for those who didn't manage to clear the test (remaining 5,000, including me), they said that they would be given one more chance to clear it, otherwise they would be put in HCL Infrastructure or BPO sevices. Over this, recruits were mighty upset, as they were already tested on their respective college campus and questioned the need of this shortlisting through FRP test, which was not communicated early. So, some students tried to approach media for help.

After two days, we received a mail from one Mr Prithvi Shergill, from the senior management of HCL Tech, stating that FRP test was just to sequence on-boarding and its result becomes void once we join the company. It added that those who didn't make it in their first attempt would be given three more chances to clear it and he stressed on the point that 'No offer letter will be revoked' and all would be joining, but that the sequence would be decided by FRP.

The joining dates for FRP-shortlisted recruits were said to be scheduled for January 2013, and FRP 2 was announced on January 6, 2013, exactly the same date XAT was to be administered. We started preparing very hard to clear the test, but suddenly on January 1, 2013, HCL Tech sent the greetings of New Year in the form of canceling the second test - FRP 2. We got a mail saying that FRP 2 was canceled and then again, the same methodology would be used to sequence on-boarding. 'The joining is scheduled in batches depending upon business requirements and candidates' academic calendar', the same line was repeated.

It was the time when all the off-campus drives for 2012 batch freshers were closed, as from October to May (every year) recruitment is conducted primarily for experienced candidates and since we were freshers, we could in no way get a chance to sit for off-campus interviews, as they were asking for experience.

Anyway, moving further after January 1, there was no communication from HCL Tech to us. A few days ago, only the candidates who cleared the FRP test held in September 2012 received a mail stating that they would be able to decide about their joining dates only by August 2013. Meanwhile, if they wish to choose HCL Infrastructure domain, they were mandated to appear again for the test. And it is very pertinent to mention here that those who hadn't cleared FRP (Around 5,000) did not get this mail. It clearly indicates that we, 'FRP failed' recruits, are totally out of the equation.

Now, the company HRs are telling that FRP test will be given priority and they will be able to decide by August 2013 over the joining dates. That means those who cleared FRP (around 1,300), if they are lucky, can get a chance to join the company by November 2013 and that is also not for sure. If FRP-cleared recruits are not sure to join by November 2013, then when will we be joining? Perhaps, by July 2014 or July 2015 or may be never.

At this time of the year, 2013 batch is set to pass out and there would be nothing left for us (2012 batch). We all are very good students, as HCL visited all the campuses as the first company and so, selected only cream students from all the colleges across India. They kept us in dark for almost a year and now left us in the middle of nowhere. Nobody can understand our situation, our pain, as HCL Tech had caused me to suffer social humiliation and unbearable physical and mental agony. Society, family members and neighbors, they don't understand all these things; they just know that you are unemployed even after one year of completing graduation.

Seriously, now I regret so much for getting placed in this company. I am a meritorious student having more than 85 per cent throughout my academics and still jobless. This company is 100 per cent responsible for ruining the career of almost 6,000 bright students. We were selected through campus interview and as with the policy of almost all colleges, we were not allowed to sit for any other company's interviews.

- An HCL recruit

(The contents of the letter by the candidate are reproduced in entirety, ad libitum, and the identity of the individual was deemed to be protected considering his/her future prospects. CIOL would carry the response to this mail by HCL Technologies, as and when it reaches us)