IITs Witness Surge in Placement Offers Despite COVID-19 Pandemic; PPOs Surpass Previous Records

Despite the expected economic slowdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, IITs are observing an increase in the number of Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs) extended to its students. 

Ideally, IITs are a month away from hosting final placements for the graduating students. Meanwhile, the increased rate of PPOs is keeping the spirits of students in the right direction. Reports claim this year, IIT Bombay received 186 PPOs compared to a mere 117 in 2019. 

Phase-1 placements will be stretched over a period of 7 to 14 days depending on the number of students registered for placement and recruiters participating in the drive. In view of the pandemic, the placement drive will be held online from December 01, across all IITs. 

Alongside this, students of IIT Madras have been offered 172 PPOs compared to 170 in 2019. Pre-Placement training acts as a foundation for engineering students. 

“Even with the lockdown, the student team was able to organise a soft-skill session for students who are participating in placements this year,” said CS Shankar Ram, advisor (training and placement), IITM.

For now, 186 IIT Bombay students received PPOs surpassing previous year’s 113. Speaking on this, a student representative of IIT Bombay Placement Cell said, “Most PPOs are a direct outcome of summer internships because this is where companies witness the students’ ability first-hand. 

For most companies, a student’s score doesn’t matter as much as their work ethic and more often than not, students who performed well during internships get job offers before the placement season kicks off.”

As per Prof Vinay Shah (in-charge of Placements), IIT Roorkee, by November 1, students received 149 PPOs more than 140 received within the first week of November 2019. Similarly, at IIT Hyderabad, students received 46 PPOs which were consistently 37 since last year.

Thus, proving IIT Hyderabad and Roorkee also witnessed soring PPOs. however, breaking this trend, IIT Patna received just 15 offers compared to 23 of last year. A number of IITs are also expecting to get their PPOs confirmed before the first phase of placements begins on December 1, 2020.

Till November 2, IIT Delhi received 135 PPOs. As per the spokesperson of placement cell of the institute, “PPOs are looking great, despite the prevailing situation [of economic slowdown].” Last year, IIT D received 164 PPOs.