Exploring the Reality of Walk-ins in MNCs: Insights and Experiences

Dear all,

I read the replies that I got for my posting. I'm a person who welcomes praise and criticism with an open mind. I have made this posting not with an intention to criticize any working system related to HR or the company requirements, but it's my view based on what I observed and even heard from a few people expressing their views in the same way as I did. Views may be right or wrong; it doesn't matter. But, if discussed and analyzed, it will help to clear the doubts of many people who have doubts like me. This can benefit a large group of people who are in search of a good job in the current situation.

Similarly, if members have given references of any known consultancies or HR people who are in need of candidates with skill sets in Data warehousing, Oracle, Java, C++, etc., this thread, members' views, and feedback will benefit not only me but also many candidates who feel the same way.

Criticism will be there, but at the same time, friends, if you have any known job openings in the IT field, PLEASE post them in this thread.

Earlier posting:

Hello Seniors and my friends, can anyone help me, please?

I'm scared about when this economic recession is going to end. Previously, I noticed a lot of walk-ins/direct interviews continuously happening in MNCs. But nowadays, I hardly see anything, especially in my domain of Data warehousing - Informatica, Oracle-9i, Testing.

I attended a few walk-in interviews recently. I answered to the best of my ability. It's possible for anyone to assess if they have done well in an interview or not. I know that I may not have completely satisfied the interviewer, but at least 80 to 85%. However, the response is always, "Ok, HR will get back to you."

If people don't mind, I would like to ask a question here. Not everyone can know everything 100%. The interviewer evaluates the candidate's skills and makes a decision based on the answers. Let's consider this perspective. If, for instance, the candidate asks a technical question to the interviewer, and the interviewer is unable to answer it, does that mean the interviewer lacks technical skills? How can the interviewer draw conclusions about the candidate in such a short interview time?

Sometimes, the interview process makes me doubt its validity. If companies genuinely have projects and need candidates, they should be able to make decisions about selecting candidates promptly. However, this is not happening in recent times. So, are these interviews simply a facade for people (the ones that are arranged as walk-ins in TCS, CTS, etc.)?

Hello seniors, I'm trying to find a good job. Here, please find a summary of my skill set:

Total 5+ years of experience in the IT industry:
1) 3+ years of experience - currently working as an ETL Developer (Data warehousing - using Informatica 8.1, Oracle 9i) in Chennai.
2) 2 years of experience in Testing. Worked as a Tester (software testing - Manual) in Salem. Have good exposure to QTP, LoadRunner. Other skills include Technical writing, HTML, AVI cam studio.

Can anyone help me find a better job, please?

Thanks and Regards,
Pratap

Hi Pratap,

Why would you think a corporate puts so much effort into conducting an event for "eyewash"? Just rewind the entire interview process and figure out what went wrong.

-Karthick

Hi Pratap,

I agree with what Karthick has written. A lot of hard work by the technical and HR team is put behind any walk-in. If you couldn't clear through, that means your skill levels didn't fit their requirements. Any corporation will not have spare time to conduct such events unless it is really required by them. Anyways, better luck for your other interviews. Have faith in the system.

Regards, Pro

Hi Pratap,

You hardly see walk-in advertisements but have already attended a few walk-in interviews? But that is not my question; my question to you is: what is a better job?

Regards,
Neeraj K. Singh

Hi Pratap, are you interested in relocating to Gurgaon if you come across any position matching your profile...

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Hi Pratap,

Are you interested in relocating to Gurgaon if you come across any positions that match your profile?

Hi Pratap,

When an HR states, "will get back to you," it does not mean you are rejected. In a few cases, it may be, but it is mostly to review all applications before finding the best match.

You may rate the interview anywhere between 80-100%, but it also depends on what the HR is looking for. It cannot be restricted to technical questions or answering all questions correctly. For example, when I interview a candidate, I mainly look into the candidate's ability to handle a situation when he/she cannot answer a question. This ability is sometimes more important than answering a question correctly.

Usually, there are a lot of people attending an interview. You may feel your session was good during the interview, but you must not rule out how others may have performed as well.

The job recruitment scenario is now slowly but steadily improving. Hopefully, you may come across good opportunities soon. I would suggest you be confident and give your best shot each time.

Wish you the best of luck for your job hunt.

Cheers!

Hi Pratap,

Never get disappointed with the people who let you down. Walk-ins will be conducted to find the best candidate. I believe recruiters may be seeking something that is not in you. They want someone who is a perfect match for the requirements.

Don't blame anyone for your failures. Stay positive and keep moving forward.

All the best.

Prathap D
HR

Hello Mr. Neeraj,

My idea of a better job is with a company that pays its employees' salaries on time (without delay) and offers good career growth opportunities for them.

Yes, Ms. Alamu, I'm ready to shift to Gurugram or any place if I get a job matching my profile. Please let me know if you have any good openings in IT companies.

Thanks and regards,
Pratap

Hi Pratap,

If you are open to relocating here in Delhi/NCR, why don't you apply to RBS? They have a countless number of openings. Global Hunt, Manpower, and Pinaki are IT consultants who are recruiting. I also think Sapient, IBM, and Barco Electronics are recruiting.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance!

Thank you, Yamini. Could you please provide me with the contact details of the company websites/consultants, if you have them? I will try reaching out to them.

Thanks and Regards,
Pratap

My friend,

When somebody is asking for advice, at least don't use such words. She has asked her queries, and if you can't answer, at least don't disappoint her. In fact, we should try to help as a human being and second as a human resources professional.

You are welcome. :) Let me know your email address and city. I will email you a large list of consultancies. You can email them your resume. Try this just as an option as of experience; mass emailing at these times may not generate the desired results in job hunting. Remember to apply aggressively on all job portals/newspaper ads. Call to inquire and follow up with every number mentioned on these ads - both on portals and paper (best way). Best of luck once again.

This is rubbish and absolutely a waste of time. No wonder why CiteHR is deteriorating its value by such miscreants who come and post/publish their personal agenda. I am sure recruiters must also be getting in touch with them via such media. But please, whoever reads such mails, kindly ignore and ask him/her to come through the right channel because as an HR professional, you need to maintain a certain dignity and should know whom to attend to and whom not to.

Some would agree and some would not, but try to understand that this is an educative and informative forum for HR, not a job portal. What if tomorrow insurance agents or car companies start their mail campaign on this site, including sales guys or marketing guys start publishing their own subjects... you will get confused, right? So, my request to all of you is to please ignore such posts and people until they are from HR and looking forward to knowledge (Gyan).

NS

Hi Pratap,

Now the real question(s): How would you know if a company pays its employees on time or has good career growth (before joining it)? Is that the only thing you want from your job, or do you want your job to be a learning experience? What makes you think the next job will meet your requirements and for how long?

Try to make a list of things you like and dislike about your existing organization. Compare them and then think: Is the organization so bad that you need to move to another one about which you do not know anything?

Regards,
Neeraj K. Singh

Dear Pratap,

First of all, please remove "recession terminology" from your head.

The recruitment process has not changed with any organization because of recession. The process is the same, just that positions have been cut (a few).

Do you think that interviews are only meant to find the best and take the best? Sometimes even the best of the best people are not considered because of the organization's work culture. It may not nurture your dreams.

I have interviewed many people for positions in the automotive domain, and I have purposefully rejected a few REAL GOOD candidates (I was working with a well-reputed Automotive Engineering company then). Not because I was biased or did not want them... it's just that if such people had joined the company, they will leave within two months. Their dreams and vision will not match the company/team's direction.

Whereas some people may just be average - and we will be sure that they can perform in such a pressurized/different culture and will also benefit by being a part of the team.

This is one such scenario.

Sometimes, I have come across some people who are really good with the skills but have a setback in attitude - very cold and "ya I know what it is" attitude. I scored him high for the interview, and when he was meeting my boss... my boss (The Managing Director) just threw his resume outside the door once the candidate left. The statement to me was "so now you know what kind of people I need in my company - not boasters, but real players and leaders!"

So forget about why you are not selected. There are reasons behind it. If an MNC can grow that big and have a good name, surely they know how to interview. Or who knows, maybe you will be a fit a couple of months down the line. Just focus on what you can deliver. No point in worrying over these silly things on why you were not selected.

A true HR professional knows to network from any source/medium. It would be baseless and narrow-minded observation to think that recruitment and networking are only through a set channel. A true recruiter, also a good networker, would know what the above meant.

I have met a Sales Executive who is exceptionally good at selling sand (for our company) during a Train Journey and while pulling up a conversation with him, I felt that he would be a good match. Had an informal discussion on the train, got his contact details and arranged a formal 3-round interview (HR - TECH - SENIOR MANAGEMENT) and the person was selected. The best part was he brought in 3 more good people who he knew well in his previous job assignments.

My boss was amazed, "You did that? Wow!"

Thank you, Hr_wonder. I welcome your advice. I guess you have really understood my posting, especially the paragraph stated about the selection.

But to tell you a fact, I'm not in a category of a boaster. God has blessed me with certain skill sets which have helped me to come to a certain level for now. However, I'm not satisfied with my growth in terms of the monthly package (but learning is always there in my company). My present employer pays me when calculated in terms of the workload I do in the company.

That's the reason for me to search for a good job.

And I have an opinion about the selectors. Some interviewers have the habit to reject a few candidates for reasons like:
1. The candidate may be agewise elder than the interviewer.
2. The candidate may possess equivalent knowledge as the interviewer.

This happened in my company a year back where a person (the interviewer) aged less than 30 years rejected all the people who came for an interview >30 years, stating some reasons and finally recruited 2 people who are age-wise junior to him and a little less competent to him in terms of skill sets.

Anyhow, thanks for your reply.

Dear Pratap,

First of all, please remove "recession terminology" from your head.

The recruitment "process" has not changed with any organization because of the recession. The process is the same, just that positions have been cut (a few).

Do you think that interviews are only meant to find the best and take the best? Sometimes even the best of the best people are not considered because of the organization's work culture. It may not nurture your dreams.

I have interviewed many people for positions in the automotive domain, and I have purposefully rejected a few REAL GOOD candidates (I was working with a well-reputed Automotive Engineering company then). Not because I was biased or did not want them... it's just that if such people had joined the company, they will leave within two months. Their dreams and vision will not match the company/team's direction.

Whereas some people may just be average - and we will be sure that they can perform in such a pressurized/different culture and will also benefit by being a part of the team.

This is one such scenario.

Sometimes, I have come across some people who are really good with the skills but have a setback in attitude - very cold and "ya, I know what it is" attitude. I scored him high for the interview, and when he was meeting my boss... my boss (The Managing Director) just threw his resume outside the door, once the candidate left. And the statement to me was "so now you know what kind of people I need in my company - not boasters, but real players and leaders!"

So forget about why you are not selected. There are reasons behind it. If an MNC can grow that big and have a good name, surely they know how to interview. Or who knows, maybe you will be a fit a couple of months down the line. Just focus on what you can deliver. No point in worrying over these silly things on why you were not selected.

Hi Pratap,

I completely agree with the views given by others. I hope you realize that a lot of effort is involved in the entire interview process. People at various levels of the hierarchy take interviews to judge a candidate from different viewpoints. I am sure all of them have better jobs to do rather than waste time conducting interviews, especially when there is no requirement.

The HR saying "We will get back" can be due to several reasons:

- Either you are underqualified
- Either overqualified
- Either your responses have not convinced the HR fully
- Either the HR is not sure of your attitude/tech skills, etc.

You would have to understand that when a candidate is recruited by HR, he/she takes responsibility for it. Moreover, HR also has pressure to close a certain number of positions before deadlines, so why would they unnecessarily reject a candidate.

I do understand that being unable to clear an interview is frustrating, but you would have to carefully analyze the reasons in terms of your body language, behavior, presentation, tech skills, etc.

A careful analysis would definitely be helpful. Very rightly said, "When we pinpoint one finger at someone, four fingers point out at us."

So have an optimistic attitude instead of suspecting the interview process. Look at ways to improve yourself and your profile.

All the best.

Hi,

There are a lot of openings for technical positions. Whenever you go for an interview, be prepared with some information about the company. Prepare yourself well regarding the job profile you have worked on to date before facing the interview. Be confident and make eye contact.

Don't speak too much; just answer to the point in a simple way. If you are not sure about a skill or a topic, be honest and let them know, but don't provide incorrect information.

Employers try to assess your patience, confidence, flexibility, ability to learn and adapt to changing environments, as well as how you handle additional work responsibilities and pressure.

So, don't get upset but learn to overcome situations by improving where you feel you are not up to par. Remember one thing, "Success is never-ending, and failures are never final"; never give up in life.

Regards,
Harsha

Hello Singh, this is not a personal posting. Didn't you come across lines where I have expressed my concerns/doubts about the selection process in interviews... I hope you are an HR person, but your message seems like your behavior is not matching a HR department. I hope my thread, which I have given, will really make a few companies or HR people think about candidates who are like me. I don't like boasting, but at times a few things we need to discuss apparently to find solutions.

Thank you, ma'am. Your advice has raised a hope of confidence in me. Even I'm ready to relocate anywhere. But as you said, eye-to-eye contact does mean a lot in an interview. I still need to improve on this while attending an interview.

Never have an opinion, Pratap :-) Then you will never perform in life.

I need to say, you are trying to only see the opinion of people supporting you, or sympathizing with you. Isn't that the character of the weak?

Don't worry over the character of the interviewer - that makes you look at interviews with a slightly different attitude. So does that mean that if you are selected - the HR/interviewer is good?

There are many reasons - even salary may be one of the reasons. What's the point in hiring a good person with high salary levels - that do not match the existing structure?

What's the necessity to hire a person who has good skills - the same compared to another candidate but at a higher cost? When I have a person at a lesser salary with the same skills/positive attitude as yours - Should I explain further?

It's a very negative attitude to think that the interviewer is biased (this will not help you, dear, in your growth).

See what matters to you. Hold a certain amount of positive confidence over you and don't let the negative emotions hide your strengths.

Can you do anything by worrying over the interviewer's attitude or complaining over that? You can't... But you can possibly waste time worrying for unnecessary reasons in life. (Think what you want - waste time? or use time)

Look what matters to you. Look what will help you to the next level.

I know that - you are probably looking for some more people to raise their hands and support your views. That may bring mental satisfaction - but will that help you pass through the next interview?

Should Pratap need confirmation from others to believe he is good at something?

Think!

Your posting was quite genuine, and I welcome it with an open mind. I do not find anything wrong with it. Though I do not belong to the software sector, I can share with you some insights about walk-ins, interviews, and the technical portion only.

When you are going for an interview, your overall looks and dressing give an impression to the interviewer. When you start with the technical round, it is not that the interviewer wants you to know everything, but as per the profile you would have, a certain level is expected. You may have done well, but you never know how the other candidates are doing and what other non-technical qualities the other person is able to satisfy.

Also, your educational quality does matter. Where you have graduated from, your work experiences, grades, etc., all play a role. There may be a lot of criteria that you do not get to know in walk-ins.

So, it would be wrong to say that walk-ins are eye wash as no one would want to waste their time by conducting fake interviews, as it does not serve any purpose. Sometimes you perform excellently, yet you do not get selected. That's when you need to analyze your soft skills. Perhaps your presentation, confidence, and other qualities have held you back. Do not be disheartened by failures; they are just the stepping stones that do not lead to success. That's it.

I suggest you be more confident and bold the next time you go for an interview. Win one and do share your success story with all of us.

Awaiting to hear your success story soon.

Wishing you all the best!

Regards,
M. Biswas
Samsung Heavy Industries.

I have emailed you the contact details of consultancy city-wise to your mentioned email id. Let me know if I can assist you further. Cheers!

HR and Technical Team put a lot of effort into interviews. You have seen walk-ins are conducted on weekends, which are usually off for the Tech team. In a walk-in, if there are 100 candidates to be interviewed, then the best are selected. There are different rounds of interviews: HR screening, 1st technical, 2nd technical, etc. If you clear the 1st round, then you will be asked to sit for the 2nd round and so on. However, in walk-ins, offers are not made; a pool of selected candidates is created. For instance, if we shortlist 10 people, we will first decide on the best candidate and then consider others based on their experience, technical knowledge, education background, etc.

Thank you, Hr_wonder. Your words are very valuable. As you said, now I don't want to waste my time worrying about unnecessary things. I want to use my time. Let any interviewer have any attitude; I am not going to bother. My attitude will be positive from now on.

I'm not expecting anybody to support my view. You said it rightly, what can that give except mental relief? So, better I am going to work on my skills, fine-tune how to get selected in an interview, and be optimistic so that very soon, I will get a job in an MNC and get settled.

Also, the reason for me to post this thread was I am longing for it. Why not if any company HR sees this and if they have any competency in their company suiting my profile, why not let them give me a chance to work with them so that my ambition of joining a good company comes true in a way through this citeHR website.

Anyway, thank you so much for your reply.

Never have an opinion, Pratap. Then you will never perform in life. I need to say you are trying to only see the opinion of people supporting you or sympathizing with you. Isn't that the character of the weak? Don't worry about the character of the interviewer; that makes you look at interviews with a slightly different attitude. So, does that mean if you are selected, the HR/interviewer is good? There are many reasons; even salary may be one of the reasons. What's the point in hiring a good person with high salary levels that do not match the existing structure? What's the necessity to hire a person who has good skills, the same compared to another candidate but at a higher cost? When I have a person at a lesser salary with the same skills/positive attitude as yours, should I explain further? It's a very negative attitude to think that the interviewer is biased; this will not help you, dear, in your growth.

See what matters to you. Hold a certain amount of positive confidence over you and don't let the negative emotions hide your strengths. Can you do anything by worrying over the interviewer's attitude or complaining about that? You can't. But you can possibly waste time worrying for unnecessary reasons in life. Think about what you want - waste time or use time. Look at what matters to you. Look at what will help you to the next level. I know that you are probably looking for some more people to raise their hands and support your views. That may bring mental satisfaction, but will that help you pass through the next interview? Should Pratap need confirmation from others to believe he is good at something? Think!