IITians prefer jobs with start-ups to major firms

Chennai: It is a new trend sweeping Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).  New age companies and start-ups are taking away a good number of students, who are now readily giving traditional jobs a miss .

Take Reshmi. S , who has done her B.Tech (aerospace engineering), at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, but has opted for the job of an assistant manager (operations) at Housing.com, a start-up. 

In fact, new age companies and start-ups like Flipkart, Ola cabs, Snapdeals and Housing.com have hired over 70 students from IIT-Madras alone this year.

Reshmi’s logic is simple.  “As most start-ups have a small team there is more opportunity to innovate and also grow with the company,” says the 21-year old student from Kerala.

Pointing out that several people even quit their jobs in top companies to join start-ups, Reshmi says they want to help them using the experience and expertise they have gained in the industry.

“Start-ups and new age companies are growing rapidly with a lot of funding from investors abroad. For example, Housing.com has bagged huge funding, which will help it expand.  By joining it, I too will grow as it prospers,” says Suthirth.V, a B.Tech [dual] engineering design student, who has received a job offer in the firm’s business engagement and strategy division.

Vishranth.S, who has got an offer from a new age company, feels that traditional jobs in IT, banking, finance, and FMCG do not provide flexibility.