# How to Find a Software Job in India — On-Campus, Off-Campus and Avoiding Scams

Source: https://skills101.in/learn/career/job-search-india — Skills101 free tutorial (Interview & Career). Updated 2026-11-09.

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.

![Job channels compared: campus placement and employee referrals give the best response; careers pages and hackathons are medium; mass applying on portals is low; any "pay for a job" offer is a scam](https://skills101.in/learn-img/career/job-channels.svg)

## 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](https://skills101.in/placement).
- **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

1. **Company careers pages** — apply directly; set alerts.
2. **Referrals** — the highest response rate. A referral moves you past the first filter.
3. **Coding contests and hackathons** — many companies hire from leaderboards.
4. **LinkedIn** — job posts plus messages to recruiters/engineers.
5. **Curated job boards** — like [Skills101 Jobs](https://skills101.in/jobs), where every opening is checked and you apply with a verified profile.
6. **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.


Practice quiz and free certificate: https://skills101.in/learn/career/job-search-india