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How HCLTech is tackling the talent shortage at entry-level jobs

To deal with the talent shortage, HCLTech is breaking the traditional path by adopting a long-term vision strategy focusing on the entry-level workforce. The TechBee initiative not only offers financial independence to students but also an opportunity to pursue higher education and an assured job after the completion of training.

Highlights

  • “What’s being taught in engineering schools is sometimes 10 years behind the current tech landscape,” says S Balasubramanyan, SVP, HCLTech.
  • TechBee is an HCLTech’s early career programme that was conceptualised in 2017 to help students kickstart their careers early.
  • The programme participants, including those from non-traditional backgrounds, can develop the exact skills in the tech industry and they get employment ahead of their college education.
  • Interns who are able to successfully complete the defined milestones get converted to full-time employees. Later, HCLTech’s Tuition Assistance Programme helps them complete graduation of relative choice from the partnered universities.

If a professional degree cannot offer what the industry demands, there’s definitely a systemic issue with the present education modules. In a poll of global tech leaders conducted by MIT Technology Review Insights, 64 per cent of respondents say candidates for their IT and tech jobs lack the necessary skills or experience. Another 56 per cent cite an overall shortage of candidates as a concern.

Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Senior Vice President, HCLTechIf a professional degree cannot offer what the industry demands, there’s definitely a systemic issue with the present education modules. In a poll of global tech leaders conducted by MIT Technology Review Insights, 64 per cent of respondents say candidates for their IT and tech jobs lack the necessary skills or experience. Another 56 per cent cite an overall shortage of candidates as a
concern.

According to Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Senior Vice President, HCLTech, talent shortage comes primarily because skills keep changing and the talent that’s required to acquire new skills and deploy to a
productive workforce in the shortest possible time is not available in plenty.

“In the case of the IT industry, the new technology keeps coming every two to three years. Thus, what we need is the right kind of talent that has a natural flair and advantage to be a part of the technological change that happens in the shortest time and implement these in varied business situations,” Balasubramanyan says

To deal with the talent shortage, HCLTech is breaking the traditional path by adopting a long-term vision strategy focusing on the entry-level workforce. A statement from the company says, “By relying on the same talent pools the tech industry has always drawn from, organizations risk stagnating and missing out on unrecognized brainpower. This is where early-career programmes can make an impact.”

TechBee is an HCLTech’s early career programme that was conceptualised way back in 2017 to help students kickstart their careers early. The programme includes 12 months of classroom plus online training culminating in a paid internship at HCLTech. The programme participants, including those from non-traditional
backgrounds, can develop the exact skills in the tech industry, and get employment ahead of their college education. “This experiment has been giving us some success as an organisation and we are able to acquire skills that are new and upcoming. We select candidates right after their twelfth grade and we skill them to what we want for a year. Post the internship, they get converted into full-time employees and they are asked to join the universities partnered with us,” Balasubramanyan says.

The currently partnered universities with HCLTech are Sastra University, BITS Pilani, Amity University, IIM Nagpur, IIT Guwahati and Koneru Lakshmaiah University. The universities offer courses like BSc, BCA, BBA, integrated MBA, and so on. Most times, the candidates have the freedom to choose the course based on their academic interests. But in some cases, the universities have their own eligibility criteria which include the candidate’s performance.

Making a significant remark, Balasubramanyan says, “What’s being taught in engineering schools is sometimes 10 years behind the current tech landscape.” The point of building a workforce at the entry level is that the twelfth-pass students can be productively engaged in the business context. The students learn contemporary software development lifecycles, computer science, coding, security and compliance protocols, and other skills not typically taught in school. They also get ‘soft skills’ training to bolster their professionalism, communication and understanding of corporate structures.

Over the years, thousands of students have joined this programme. Balasubramanyan says, “It is a win-win situation for students with the entire package of early career, paid internship and higher education. Barring a few exceptions, where students are unable to clear our assessments or have to withdraw from the programme for health or personal reasons, we find a very high 98 per cent and above conversion rate.”

“We have been in the industry for more than 40 years now and whatever is required for that job alone is taught in this one-year programme. This is helping us bring a diverse workforce to the company. And, the ability to solve customer problems gets enhanced because of the strategy that we have. We believe we are more up-to-date and abreast with where we want to be on people function culturally within the organization,” he says.

HCLTech is also running similar programmes across countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. These programmes are in different stages of evolution as each geography has its own requirements, and modifications are made in the programmes adhering to the law of the land, local business and skilling requirements.

“We invested in new talent at HCLTech, ramping up our entry-level hiring from 5,911 in FY19 to 22,859 in FY22. In FY23, HCLTech hired 26,734 freshers, with a good portion of people (over 18%) recruited through its unique TechBee programme. This initiative involves hiring the best high school graduates worldwide and providing them with relevant skills to perform assured entry-level IT jobs within HCLTech while enabling them to pursue university education through partner institutions,” concludes Balasubramanyan.

Building Next Gen Tech Careers with Techbee

A specialized initiative designed to provide opportunities for individuals starting in the tech industry

Commencing a profession in technology can be a daunting and challenging task, especially for those who are new to the tech world. This challenge becomes more complex, especially when you are about to decide to join such a program right after class XII.

TECHBEE – HCL’S EARLY CAREER PROGRAM is a specialized initiative designed to provide opportunities for individuals starting in the tech industry. The program is a unique blend of classroom and on-the-job training components. It offers a wide range of resources and support systems that can help individuals build their skills, gain experience, and ultimately launch their careers in technology.

Here are a couple of reasons which make TechBee – HCL’s Early Career Program a compelling choice for class XII students:

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE: One of the most significant advantages of this program is the financial independence it offers students. Students neither have to worry about arranging a hefty fee as they can get loans from financial institutions HCLTech has tie-ups with. Further, students are also paid an attractive stipend of INR 10,000 per month during the internship, which takes care of their out-of-pocket expenses.

HIGHER EDUCATION: Imagine, after class XII, you do one year of TechBee training, and then while you work as a fulltime employee of HCLTech, you can pursue higher education from some of the leading universities like BITS Pilani, Amity University, KL University, IIM Nagpur and SASTRA. Now, while your friends would graduate from college and start looking for a job, you will have a higher education degree and four years of experience. Isn’t that awesome?

JOB ASSURANCE: This is an advantage no other course can offer. HCLTech offers this course to Class XII completed students and postcompletion of the program; the job opportunities are with HCLTech only. TechBee is an exclusive job program for individuals seeking full-time jobs after high school. Candidates undergo 12 months of training for entry-level IT jobs and, on successful completion, start their career in entry-level roles across Software Engineering, Infrastructure Management, Test Engineering, Design Engineering and Digital Process Operations at HCLTech offices across the globe.

MENTORSHIP: Students who join this program get access to mentorship and guidance. Participants in the program are paired with seasoned professionals in the industry who can offer advice and support as they navigate the early stages of their careers. This can be incredibly helpful, particularly for those still learning and trying to figure out the best path forward.

REAL-LIFE PROJECTS: Another essential aspect of the TechBee – HCL’s Early Career Program is the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Participants in the program can work on real-world projects and collaborate with senior professionals in the industry. This knowledge transfer is a valuable experience and helps individuals build their portfolios, which can be crucial when starting work.

HCLTech first introduced this program in 2017; since then, thousands of students have joined and benefitted from the program.

(To know more about this, please visit www.hcltechbee.com)

(A marketing initiative by Open Avenues)

HCLTech’s Initiative Gives Gen-Z Employees Platform To Showcase Talent Beyond Work

What can bring six young tech professionals with diverse skillsets together to showcase their talent that goes beyond the usual work in office or from home and pursue their true passion for something they had always longed for?. Driven by HCLTech’s employee value proposition of Find Your Spark this is a unique and first-ever employee driven campaign of its kind in the company, HCLTech has successfully used music as a medium to enable a group of Gen Z employees find their spark beyond the confines of office space to create something more magical. Called TechBees, these employees coming join HCLTech through its early career program had the hunger and drive to maximize their potential and, in the process, supercharge their progress. At HCLTech, we have always believed that while we are a company that’s built on technology, it’s our people who are far more magical and powerful at work.

Traditionally, employee engagement initiatives in most organizations, including leading tech companies, has been mostly restricted to in office or on campus activities. It has been observed that when employees are given an opportunity to indulge and pursue activities beyond work it translates into better productivity, higher engagement levels and positive well-being.

Redefining the employee engagement experience and elevating it to a different level, HCLTech identified, harnessed, and nurtured these six TechBees passion for music and provided them the right platform to showcase talent through this specially curated song, ‘Tu Hai Wahi’. With little formal background or training in music, these enthusiastic TechBees were provided mentoring from trained music producers hired for this project followed by recording of their composition in a professional studio in Delhi NCR. To create buzz and excitement, the promos of the song have been released through social media handles of HCLTech.

Over the next few weeks, the complete video of song is slated to be launched on platforms like Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music etc.

HCLTech orients academia towards a tech-enabled creator economy

Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Sr. Vice President, HCLTech talks to Nimisha Tiwari about India’s potential to build a tech-enabled creator economy where students and academia can play a pivotal role. Subba (as he is popularly known) is armed with 25+ years of global IT business experience and is leading TechBee – HCL’s Early Career Program. Being a proud member of the CEOs Club at HCLTech, his entrepreneurial mindset has been his winning quality as the immediate-past-Chairperson of CII Madurai Zone

Q1: Technology is evidently moving faster and upgrading multiple times in comparison to our Indian Education System. How should students and teachers build NextGen skillsets that remain relevant?

Subbaraman B: Truly, every two to three years, we see technologies evolving. By the time a student completes the academic class, technology that seemed relevant for the industry would have already changed (most likely). At HCLTech, we understand that skills that are being taught or used today may not remain relevant after the next decade or two. For example, Data Analytics or Application Development or Infrastructure Management or be it skills for Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain – whatever is relevant for our business today, at HCLTech, we would want to give skills for these subjects.

As we are in the IT services business, it is the IT environment of the end customer that we end up delivering services. So, the pace at which our customers change technology usage in their IT environment really tends to decide what wat HCLTech need to pay attention to.

 

Times of India-HCLTech Principal Conclave was successfully organized on February 9, 2023 in New Delhi

Q2: What do students want, and what are the teachers teaching today – Is there any syncing really happening?

Subbaraman B: Of late, we are witnessing tremendous interest from the teaching community in India. They indeed wish to upskill themselves so that they can stay relevant and provide the right insights to the students. HCLTech attempts to provide the right bridge by way of Principal Conclaves (The Times of India – HCLTech Principal Conclave was organized in Lucknow on December 7, 2022, and in New Delhi on February 9, 2023). We make efforts to provide a true perspective of where the technology is heading and ways to keep teachers abreast so they can deliver value to their students. Looking at it from the second perspective, we believe that students learning through TechBee 

HCL’s Early Career Program will be the innovators of new technologies of the future. These young minds will create the technology that will be relevant and required for them in the future.

For a child in today’s world, right from their prenatal and neonatal days, they witness technology around them. Thus, they will have much easier adaptation to existing technologies of their times (in the years to come). It will be very natural for them to create technology (in comparison to GenX or Gen Y), which is like a decade from today.

Q3: The theme for Principal Conclave was NextGen Careers. What were your key takeaways?

Subbaraman B: The levels of engagement that I saw in the Principal Conclave in 2023 were higher compared to what I had witnessed in the past. The teachers wished to enhance their own knowledge quotient in order to deliver realistically. One person at the conclave asked me – Can we do an internship for my students? My response was – You, as a principal and your teachers must be the first interns before the students become interns. You need to know where technology is and where the industries are heading. This can be done collectively, and it’s not just up to HCLTech as a singular organization. Many other companies will need to step in for a major change to take place in society for students and teachers to become aware of the most relevant technology. Representatives of CBSE and NCERT – their presence at the Principal Conclave in New Delhi this year, added a lot of value because newer perspectives were brought in. Saying, ‘We will go back and make changes in our academic structure in order to enable programs like TechBee’ – This was a very big takeaway, and I truly liked it.

Q4: What does ‘workforce of the future’ entail?

Subbaraman B: As a society, we need to start orienting people to understand technology right from school days and lay the foundation for it. For instance, when biology is taught, students are taught about molecules and how genome sequencing takes place. We must enhance the knowledge base by showing possible use cases to students. This must get implemented into the framework of multiple State Education Boards and Central Government Boards, where the pedagogy includes some of these effective perspectives. A structural change needs to take place. This is one small way to create a workforce that is ready for the future. Through our TechBee program, we have been finding sparks of excellence across the country, not necessarily from metros alone.

Q5: What are your views on the democratization of education and gender-smart attitude for the future workforce.

Subbaraman B: India is on the right path of transformation. As a nation, we must touch every last person, at the remotest corners of the country through education that is relevant, especially educating a girl child and educating the woman because they are the determinants – this is a very personal view. At the rate at which technology is moving, we need to have enough research parks across the country in order to democratize technology-based education. Women empowerment is very important, and we, being an equal opportunity employer, our work environment offers anyone to find their own unique spark at HCLTech. For our society to progress, we need to develop an ecosystem that will make technological advancements accessible, inclusive and a key driver of change.

For more details on skilling students by HCLTech, log on to: https://www.hcltechbee.com

HCL Technologies conducts a walk-in drive in Guwahati for Class 12 students.

HCL turns 12th pass students into developers

Six years ago, HCL Technologies began an initiative to train students from tier-2 and 3 towns who have completed class 12 to become programmers, and deploy them on internal projects. That year, it was a batch of 80. Over the next few years, the company collected feedback from their business teams, customers, and the children themselves, and fine-tuned the programme. Now, such is the excitement among its own business leaders that HCL took in as many as 4,000 class-12 pass students into the programme last year, raised that to 8,000 this year, and is targeting 15,000 next year. The 8,000 this year is about a fifth of the company’s planned net hiring in the year.

Apparao V V, head of HR at HCL Technologies, says they initially thought those coming out of the programme should be deployed in low-end work. “But today, they are turning into cloud engineers, digital engineers. All our business folks want this cohort. Because they are digital natives, there’s no unlearning for them,” he says. And in this hugely talent constrained market, it’s providing HCL dedicated and stable talent, and it’s bringing stability to the cost structure.

The programme, called TechBee, involves classroom training, and on- the-job training for six months each. Post this, they are deployed in projects, and simultaneously are enrolled in a graduate programme from institutes that HCL has built partnerships with – BITS Pilani, Sastra, Symbiosis, Amity, and IIM Nagpur. Classes are on weekends. HCL pays them Rs 10,000 a month during on-the-job training, Rs 2. 5 lakh in the first year of work, and raises it to the average fresher salary (Rs 3. 5 lakh) in the second year. It pays for the graduate programme, in return for which the candidates are obliged to work with HCL for two years after graduation

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The students, selected through an aptitude test that involves some English and maths, have to pay Rs 1 lakh initially for the programme. But a number of state governments have now endorsed the initiative and are bearing this cost fully or in part.

Apparao notes that if the industry depends only on engineering graduates, the relevant talent base for the industry would not be more than 250,000. “But if you look at 12th standard students, there are 1. 2 crore. In that, even if only about 30% are those with maths background, we are talking about 36 lakh,” he says.

HCL Technologies is currently conducting walk-in training interviews across four cities — Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Hubballi and Mysuru — to hire Class 12 students

HCL Technologies, an IT services and digital transformation solutions provider, is planning to hire over 2,000 fresh talent from Karnataka, under its ‘catch them young’ drive.

As part of its early career programme, TechBee, the firm is currently conducting walk-in training interviews across four cities — Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Hubballi and Mysuru — to hire Class 12 students. Students who have completed Class 12 in 2021 or 2022 with a minimum of 60% with Mathematics or Business Mathematics in their curriculum would be eligible to be part of this programme, the company said.

Bespoke training and mentoring

To offer bespoke training and mentoring initiatives, HCL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) to train tech-savvy, enthusiastic individuals seeking to accelerate their careers in IT.

Subbaraman B, Vice President, HCL Technologies, said, “Under TechBee, we aim to hire the best talent, train them and enable them to achieve financial independence at the start of their career. So far, over 8,000 students have been selected for the TechBee programme across the country and are in various stages of their career journey with HCL.’‘

Paid internship

After the completion of a 12-month intensive tech training, students will start receiving an annual salary between ₹1.7 lakh to ₹2.2 lakh. During the internship, students will be paid a stipend of ₹10,000 and will also get the opportunity to do an internship on HCL projects. While working at HCL, students may also be able to enrol themselves in an undergraduate degree programme offered by reputed partner institutions like BITS Pilani, SASTRA University and Amity University.

TechBee, HCL’s new people strategy, was piloted in 2017 with a view to identify talent among pre-degree students across the country and create financial independence for them and their families. According to HCL, Class 12 students can visit  www.hcltechbee.com for details

HCL Technologies conducts walk-in drive in Kerala for Class 12 students

Under the early career programme TechBee, HCL to hire 750 freshers from Kerala HCL Technologies is conducting one-day walk-in drive across five cities of Kerala under its flagship early career program ‘TechBee’ from (July 18.

The events are organised to create opportunities for Class 12 students getting financial independence. HCL Technologies continues to expand and grow and looking to hire over 750 fresh talents from Kerala.

About TechBee
TechBee, HCL Technologies’ Early Career Program, is a work-integrated higher education programme that contributes to the “Skill India” mission of the Government. As a part of the HCL’s new people strategy, the programme offers IT engineering jobs by equipping the selected 10+2 students with future-ready skills.

Subbaraman B, Vice President, HCL Technologies, said, “TechBee started in 2017 to hire the best talent and enable them to achieve financial independence at the start of their career. So far, over 7,000 students have been selected for the TechBee program and are in various stages of their career journey with HCL. We have observed a lot of interest and potential in students in Kerala and the other adjoining states. That is why we chose to do this walk-in drive in the state.”

The programme prepares students technically and professionally for entry-level IT jobs in HCL, where candidates undergo intensive 12-month training. The students also get an opportunity to do an internship on HCL projects. While working, students may also enrol in an undergraduate degree programme offered by reputed partner institutions like BITS Pilani, SASTRA University and Amity University.

After completion of one-year training, students earn a salary between ₹1.70 – 2.20 lakh per annum. As a part of the program, selected students get an assured job at HCL Technologies upon completing the classroom training and an internship. The internship comes with a stipend of ₹10,000.

Mode of selection
Students who have completed Class XII in 2021 or are currently awaiting Class XII results this year with Mathematics or Business Mathematics can apply. Selected students should score 60 per cent or higher in their Class XII to continue the program.

Eligible candidates will appear for an Online Career Aptitude Test (HCL CAT) and those who clear it would be invited for an Interview, after which HCL will issue a Letter of Intent/offer letter.

The fee for the training program is ₹1,00,000+taxes. Loans for the tuition fees are enabled through partner financial institutions repayable through EMI.

HCL technologies organises walk-in drive in Kerala for class XII students.

HCL Technologies conducts multi-city walk-in drives for Class 12 students

Looking to hire 2,000 freshers from the State

IT major HCL Technologies (HCL) is conducting a walk-in drive across nine cities of Tamil Nadu under its early career program ‘TechBee’ from June 1 – 19. This is to create opportunities for Class 12th students to get financial independence. It plans to hire over 2,000 fresh talents from the State, says a release.

TechBee, HCL Technologies’ Early Career Program, is a work-integrated higher education program that contributes to the “Skill India” mission of the government. As a part of HCL’s new people strategy, the program offersengineering jobs by equipping the selected 10+2 students with future-ready skills.

Eligibility and Internship

The program prepares students technically and professionally for entry-level IT jobs in HCL, where candidates undergo intensive 12-month training. The students also get an opportunity to do an internship on HCL projects. While working at HCL, students may also enrol in an undergraduate Degree program offered by reputed partner institutions like BITS Pilani, SASTRA University and Amity University.

After completing the one-year TechBee training program, students earn an annual salary between ₹1.70 – 2.20 lakhs. Selected students get an assured job at HCL Technologies upon completing the training program comprising classroom training and an internship. The internship comes with a stipend of ₹10,000.

Students who have completed Class XII in 2021 or appear for Class XII in 2022 with Mathematics or Business Mathematics can apply. Selected students should score 60 per cent or higher in their Class XII to continue the program.

Eligible candidates will appear for an Online Career Aptitude Test (HCL CAT). Those who clear the test would be invited for an Interview discussion, after which HCL will issue a Letter of Intent/offer letter. HCL CAT is an online assessment test designed to check your aptitude in areas of Quantitative Reasoning (Mathematics), Logical Reasoning, and the English language.

The fee for the training program is ₹1,00,000 + taxes. Loans for the tuition fees are enabled through partner financial institutions repayable through EMI, the release said.

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