Campus placement season 2025-26 follows a predictable calendar but an unpredictable hiring environment. This guide covers what is different this year and what preparation decisions you should make right now — before your college drive begins.
Hiring Trends for 2025-26
The IT services sector — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra — continues to be the largest employer of engineering freshers in India. Mass hiring volumes for 2025-26 are projected to be 10 to 15% lower than the 2021-22 peak but significantly higher than 2023-24, which saw deferred joiner backlogs. Product companies (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato) maintain selective hiring through competitive coding assessments. The key shift for 2025-26: AI-assisted roles and data annotation positions are being offered at fresher level, which did not exist at scale in previous years.
Skills That Directly Impact Shortlisting in 2025-26
Python proficiency has moved from a bonus to a baseline expectation at most IT companies. SQL knowledge is tested in screening rounds at Infosys, Cognizant, and Wipro — more explicitly than in previous years. Communication skills are being assessed in automated video screening rounds before HR interviews at TCS and Infosys — a significant change from previous years. Cloud fundamentals (AWS or Azure basics) are now mentioned in job descriptions for fresher roles that were previously purely coding-focused.
Your 3-Month Pre-Season Checklist
Complete InfyTQ certification if targeting Infosys. Practice 200+ aptitude questions specifically for your target companies. Build or clean up at least two GitHub projects with working code and clear READMEs. Update LinkedIn with consistent activity. Practice speaking answers to the 20 most common HR questions out loud at least three times each. Attend at least two mock placement drives at your college or through online platforms before your actual drives begin.
The Deferred Joiner Situation
Students who received offers in 2023-24 and are still awaiting joining dates should verify their offer letter validity and contact HR directly. Most companies have cleared their 2022-23 backlogs. If your joining is delayed beyond 18 months from offer date, begin applying to other companies simultaneously — waiting is not a strategy.
Start Now, Not in October
Companies that conduct early placement drives — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Capgemini — typically begin on-campus drives between August and October. Preparation needs to start at least three months before that. Students who begin in September for an October drive are attempting in three weeks what takes three months to build properly. Use Campus Achievers free mock tests and courses to build a measurable baseline today.