Campus Placements: The essential steps in the process

             Campus Placements are conducted by colleges to ensure opportunities for all their students and fresher jobs for as many as possible. Here are the 4 most important evaluations that form are a part of the campus placement process.

How to prepare for each step of the campus placement process.

The great beyond seems nearer if you’re one of those students with less than a year left behind in your college experience. For future 2018 graduates, the question to options for fresher jobs is dependent on how well and seriously they work towards this session. And if you’re one of them – don’t worry, this is the cliff notes version that you were waiting for.

Understanding Campus Placements

Campus Placement drives are conducted by most colleges through their placement cells, trying to ensure openings for all students and fresher jobs for as many as possible, before they turn graduates and enter the stream of job aspirants outside the college environs.

Steps in a Campus Placement Drive:

Broadly, all campus placement drives cover the following four steps:

1.    Skill Assessment / Aptitude Test (Normally written)

2.    Group Discussion / Panel Interview

3.    Technical Interview

4.    HR Interview

1. Skill Assessment:

Generally conducted on the college campus, either directly by the company or through an assessment partner (like the AMCAT Test), this is a written evaluation – though more likely to be a computer-based test, than a pen and paper exercise. These tests are usually the first elimination round of the complete process so it’s important to prepare well and clear the first round comfortably.

Candidates face standardised questions, checking their skills on three parameters – Communication skills (in English), Logical Reasoning Ability and Quantitative ability (grasp on numbers and understanding in basic maths concepts). A specific domain-oriented assessment may or may not be present as the next step. If you’re looking to practice for your aptitude test, these AMCAT sample papers should come in handy

What does the skill assessment test?

1.    Logical ability

2.    Domain knowledge

3.    Quantitative aptitude

4.    English competency

5.    Suitability towards specific skill-sets

2.  Group Discussions:

Group Discussions or Panel Interviews are a relatively easier way in which companies can understand and sift through multiple candidates to come down to a select few.

Brought together either formally or through an informal discussion format, the Group Discussion or GD checks students on confidence, original presentation of ideas, flow of thought and conduct in a group.

A few companies on campus choose to do a panel interview, instead of a group discussion. Different from a group discussion, the panel interview is a more formal exercise.

While the group discussion has interviewer(s) observing the actions of the candidate in a group, the panel interview has several of them, connecting with the candidate either individually or in groups. Though the HR round is somewhat similar, the difference lies in the stage at which the panel is introduced to the candidate.

Why a group discussion?

The group discussion and panel interview check the following:

1.    Flow of thought

2.    Presentation skills (in a group, individually)

3.    Stress management / ability to handle ‘spotlight’

4.    Reaction to contrasting thoughts and opinions

3. Technical Interview:

The Technical interview is an engagement which is domain and role-specific in nature, aimed at checking whether the candidate can be considered a right ‘fit’ for the position that the recruitment exercise is being held for.

While most HR practitioners agree that freshers taken from campus placements may not be absolute role fits, there are certain parameters that should be spot on.

What does the technical interview assess?

1.    Grasp on domain – programming knowledge, core skills

2.    Ability to mold to role

3.    Practical Application of Knowledge to Real world situations

4.    Clarity in thought and articulation

4. HR Interview:

Nearly there. The HR Interview checks candidates for being organisational fits or not. Apart from classic checks (originality of the candidature), they check for willingness to move for work, any debilitating conditions and behavioral traits to ascertain how good or bad the candidate would be with them.

What does the HR interview check?

1.    Passion to work for the company and the role

2.    Skills (Core and Soft Skills)

3.    Learn ability

4.    Possible red flags with candidate

Keen on pursuing more material around campus placements?  Read the following article

Job Interview Preparation Tips To Succeed At Campus Placements

By Sabina Yeasmin -

Campus placements are a great way to secure a job even before you are out of college. But to grab it, you need to work a bit on the procedure. Companies who visit campuses for placement mostly have an eligibility criteria based on your academic score. Once you get past that, you need a serious interview preparation to succeed at the job interview.

While it shouldn’t be that hard, you can’t take it casually. Job interview success demands some presence of mind along with required skills and qualifications.

To help you with the process, here are some interview preparation tips to succeed at Campus Placements:

Research about the company

Don’t just sit for any job interview going on without researching about the company first. The recruiters prefer candidates who have done their homework and have well-planned their interview. Google can be your best friend here.

Research about the company and incorporate your findings in your answer wherever it is apt.

For example, when asked why you want to join the company, there’s no way out other than actually knowing it and preparing the answer beforehand.

Prepare responses to common questions

Some questions are commonly asked in every interview. And more because they are common, it reflects a very poor image if you can’t answer them properly. So, always prepare answers for common asked questions in a job interview.

See your body language

If it was just about questions and answers, a written exam would suffice. But as it turns out, interviews are more about getting to know the prospective employee better.

The candidate’s persona, body language, way of talking, etc. is what is tested majorly in job interviews. So, interview preparation should also focus on preparing to present your best self in the job interview.

The best way is to practice for your job interview through Mock AI. It helps you prepare for your interview by providing you a real interview-room feel and provides feedback on areas to improve.

Pre-plan your dress and travel

Sometimes students make a mistake of considering campus placements as their regular college event/tests. And therefore, they do not plan accordingly. Don’t make that mistake.

Always pre-plan what you would be wearing on the interview day and make sure it is formal. Get it washed and ironed beforehand.

Also, plan your travel in advance. It isn’t a regular college day and you don’t want to put in a negative impression by reporting late.

Get hold on the theory

It is often predicted by candidates that interview is more about putting an impression with your confidence and personality. It is true to an extent but that doesn’t mean you won’t be tested on your skills and qualifications.

Interview is also about testing your ability to quickly think of solutions or answers to asked questions. So, your interview preparation must include a revision of your curriculum along with other things. 

Conclusion

The aim of job interview(s) is to test you on a holistic level and therefore your interview preparation should also be based on that. Focus on main areas while keeping in mind the minute things

Revise the three books Skill Pro 1, 2 and 3 that you have studied besides the other foundation courses.

Courtesy to Dr  Vidhi Gaur