Interview & Career · Lesson 3 of 12 · Updated ·
How to Find a Software Job in India — On-Campus, Off-Campus and Avoiding Scams
Many students only apply on portals and wait. The students who get jobs use several channels, apply consistently and prepare for the specific tests each company uses.
1. Types of employers
| Type | Examples | Selection | Fresher package (typical range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass recruiters (service) | TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Accenture, Cognizant, Capgemini | aptitude + basic coding + interviews | ~₹3.5–4.5 LPA; special tracks (TCS Digital/Prime, Infosys SP/DSE) pay more |
| Product companies | Zoho, Flipkart, Swiggy, Razorpay, Amazon | strong DSA + CS fundamentals + projects | ~₹8–30+ LPA |
| Startups | early-stage companies | projects, practical skills, attitude | wide range; faster learning |
| Government / PSU | via GATE or exams | exams | stable |
(Ranges vary every year — treat them as rough guides.)
2. On-campus vs off-campus
- On-campus: companies visit your college through the placement cell. Follow eligibility rules (CGPA, no active backlogs), register on time, and practise each company's test pattern — see our placement prep.
- Off-campus: you apply directly. Big off-campus drives: TCS NQT, Infosys (InfyTQ/HackWithInfy), Wipro NLTH, Accenture, Cognizant GenC, plus hiring contests on coding platforms.
3. Off-campus channels that work
- Company careers pages — apply directly; set alerts.
- Referrals — the highest response rate. A referral moves you past the first filter.
- Coding contests and hackathons — many companies hire from leaderboards.
- LinkedIn — job posts plus messages to recruiters/engineers.
- Curated job boards — like Skills101 Jobs, where every opening is checked and you apply with a verified profile.
- Mass portals (Naukri, Indeed) — useful, but low response alone.
4. A weekly routine
| Day | Do |
|---|---|
| Mon | Shortlist 10 openings that match your skills |
| Tue | Tailor your résumé keywords; apply to 5 |
| Wed | Message 3 people for referrals (specific jobs) |
| Thu | Apply to 5 more; follow up on last week's |
| Fri–Sun | Practise: 1 mock test, 10 DSA problems, 1 project improvement |
Keep a simple spreadsheet: company, role, date, channel, status, next step.
5. How to spot a job scam
Real companies never ask you to pay. Red flags:
- 🚩 "Pay ₹2,000–₹50,000 for training / registration / laptop / security deposit / documents."
- 🚩 An offer letter without any interview, or after a 5-minute WhatsApp chat.
- 🚩 Emails from Gmail/Yahoo addresses claiming to be TCS/Amazon HR.
- 🚩 Unrealistic pay for no experience ("₹80,000/month, work from home, no skills needed").
- 🚩 Pressure: "pay today or the seat is gone".
- 🚩 Asking for OTPs, bank passwords or UPI PINs.
Verify: check the company's official careers page and domain, search "company name + scam", and never pay. Report fraud at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
Common mistakes
- Applying only on one portal and waiting.
- Ignoring aptitude preparation (most mass-recruiter candidates are filtered there).
- Paying "consultancies" for guaranteed placement.
Quick recap
- Know the employer types and their tests.
- Use many channels: careers pages, referrals, contests, LinkedIn, curated boards.
- Follow a weekly routine and track every application.
- Never pay for a job; verify domains; report scams on 1930.