What happens when you are asked to leave after you have joined and settled down in your dream Company – Infosys. That's the harsh reality where roughly 400 trainees at Infosys's Mysuru campus, who were terminated after failing internal evaluation tests. It's a story of broken dreams and a stark reminder of the challenges facing new tech graduates.
These weren't just any trainees. They were hired back in 2022, full of hope and promise, in roles of System Engineers and Digital Specialist Engineers. But the IT industry hit a rough patch. Fears of a recession and clients cutting back on spending meant that Infosys, and many other companies, had to delay bringing these new hires on board. For two and a half years, these trainees waited, for the final joining date. Finally, in October 2024, around 800 of them were on boarded to Infosys' Mysuru campus. Now, just months later, about half that number are out of a job.
Infosys says this is standard procedure. Their statement emphasises a "rigorous hiring process" and that all trainees get three attempts to pass internal assessments. Failing those tests, they say, means termination, as outlined in the employment contract.
But the trainees paint a different picture. They claim the tests were unfairly difficult, designed to weed people out. They describe a stressful, high-pressure environment, with some trainees even fainting under the strain. There are reports of trainees being called in batches of 50 to sign "mutual separation" letters and being told to leave the premises by 6 PM. The trainees feel betrayed. Sources claim that security personnel were present to prevent trainees from using mobile phones.
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a union representing IT workers, is fighting back. They're filing a complaint with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, accusing Infosys of "corporate exploitation" and demanding action to protect the trainees' rights.
The Road Ahead
What happens now to these hundreds of young people? Their options are limited.
- Try Again: Some might try to reapply to Infosys or other IT companies, but the black mark of termination will likely make it harder.
- Seek Other Industries: They could try to leverage their skills in other sectors, but that might require retraining and a significant career shift.
- Legal Action: With NITES's support, they might pursue legal action against Infosys, although the outcome is uncertain.
The road ahead is challenging for these aspirants. They face a competitive job market, the blot of termination, and the emotional toll of having their dreams dashed so abruptly. This is a brutal reminder that even seemingly secure jobs in the tech industry can be precarious, and survival a big question. The future is uncertain for many with their dreams shattered and working for big Tech/IT companies are over.
