Excitement! Nervousness! Fear! These are common emotions that any computer engineering student can experience while deciding to interview for a multi-national tech company like Cognizant. But there is no need for confusion as we cover all there is to know about the Cognizant recruitment process in this article.
Known for hiring thousands of engineers from the Indian subcontinent every year, Cognizant has consistently ramped up its fresh hires. They hired over 60,000 new employees in 2023.
Going by this trend, the organisation is set to hire thousands of engineers in the upcoming year via their GenC and GenC Elevate programs.
GenC, the abbreviation of Generation Cognizant, is a test for freshers. GenC Elevate is a more specialised recruitment drive for candidates with foundational programming knowledge and database skills.
Besides these two, there are other advanced recruitment drives. For example, GenC Next is for technically proficient individuals with advanced programming, matured coding skills, and full-stack abilities. Additionally, GenC Pro is for individuals with expertise in enterprise platforms and technologies, such as Salesforce, SAP, Cybersecurity, and ServiceNow.
In this article, we will cover the more general GenC recruitment process and provide all the essential information you need before applying.
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Eligibility Criteria for Cognizant Recruitment Process
To be able to register for the Cognizant Recruitment Process, you need to be a pass-out of the 2023 year batch with a minimum of 60% scoring/grades. Cognizant may reject applications of students who have failed semesters, active backlogs, or pending supplementary examinations. However, you can confirm this with your college placement officer or Cognizant off-campus drive officials.
All candidates should have either B.E/BCA/B.Tech/MCA/M. Tech or M.Sc (Software Engineering – 5 years integrated course) degree to be considered eligible for this recruitment drive with higher than 60% throughout their academics such as 10th, 12th, Undergraduate and Post-Graduate studies.
Lastly, while some students prefer taking a gap year during their academic journey, those with more than two years of gap in their studies may be at a disadvantage and face rejection from the recruitment panel.
Rounds of Cognizant GenC Recruitment Process
Once you register for the Cognizant GenC recruitment drive, you will be invited to take an aptitude test for the selection process based on your eligibility. The test can be written (traditional pen-and-paper) or online (in your computer lab).
This test will consist of 25 questions based on numerical ability, 35 on logical reasoning, and another 20 to quiz your verbal faculties. You will have 100 minutes to answer these 80 questions, but since there will be no negative marking, we advise you to attempt all the questions.
However, attempting all questions in the aptitude test is more challenging than it sounds. 100 minutes for 80 questions translates to a quick 0.8 questions per minute, which usually means that only a few candidates can claim to have attempted 100% of the questions.
The HR Interview Round
Those who clear the aptitude test are called in for an HR interview, which may involve many behavioural questions intended to gauge your personality and fit with the company culture. This round will gauge your values, attitude, leadership, and teamwork capabilities. Depending on the number of candidates, the campus placement officials may also customise it further and can include Group Discussions, Debates, impromptu speeches, etc. Remember to ask questions about the company, role, or culture at the end of this round!
We advise you to bring your authentic, confident self to the HR interview round so that the panel can see you for who you are at your best and make a mutually beneficial decision for both the company and the candidate. You may practice some time-tested HR interview questions listed below:
- Tell me something about yourself.
- What are your strengths?
- Tell me about a time you experienced difficulty working on an assignment or a project. How did you handle the challenges?
- Where do you see yourself in the next two/three/five years?
- Are you comfortable working overtime or at odd hours?
Keep these tips in mind to excel at your HR interview:
1. Personal qualities: Be considerate, kind, and professional to everyone you interact with throughout the interview, including the receptionist and the interviewer.
2. Presentable attire: Wear acceptable clothing and introduce yourself as a professional ready to join the industry. Avoid wearing casual attire, and make sure it is all neatly put together.
3. Fit Attitude: Recruiters will gauge your attitude during HR interviews, including your adaptability, honesty, willingness to learn more, and thoroughness. Keep a pleasant attitude throughout the interview.
4. Measured Speech: Only speak for a short time while responding to queries. Make sure your responses are brief and accurate.
Also, if you are confused about a question, do not hesitate to ask the interviewer for clarification. It is better than providing an incorrect response.
It’s Time to Ace It!
Once you clear your aptitude test during the Cognizant recruitment process and get the green light from the interview panel, you can expect the offer letter with a pay scale of 4 lakh rupees per annum. Make sure to prepare mentally for the role and stay open to learning from anyone and everyone once you join the firm. Best of luck!
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