Cognizant Clarifies Salary Misconceptions Amid Backlash
New Delhi: IT giant Cognizant has addressed recent backlash over its salary offerings for freshers, clarifying misconceptions that have circulated on social media. The controversy arose after reports suggested the company was offering Rs 2.52 lakh per annum to fresh graduates, which led to widespread criticism.
Cognizant has stated that the salary figure in question pertains exclusively to candidates with a three-year undergraduate degree in non-engineering disciplines, not to engineering graduates. Surya Gummadi, EVP and President of Cognizant Americas, emphasized that this job posting was misrepresented and clarified that the compensation for engineering graduates ranges between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 12 lakh annually, based on skills, hiring category, and industry certifications.
The company also addressed concerns about its salary increments, which some critics alleged were as low as 1 percent. Cognizant explained that this represents the lower end of a 1-5 percent increment range, which is performance-based and influenced by industry conditions. They further highlighted that they continue to provide increments and bonuses, setting them apart from many competitors in the sector.
In addition, Cognizant noted its substantial investment in training and upskilling, spending approximately Rs 2 to 3 lakh per associate in the initial years, applicable to both engineering and non-engineering recruits.
As the IT sector remains competitive, major players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, and Tech Mahindra are all actively recruiting fresh talent, with plans to hire tens of thousands of new graduates in the upcoming fiscal year.
