Satyam effect: Engineering aspirants ignoring IT

The Satyam scandal, which has shattered the dreams of the company's employees, has a worse effect on aspirants from Punjab and Haryana, as they are not only keeping the Hyderabad-based firm out of their options, some of them are also shunning jobs in the IT sector as well.

Engineering students from the two states, who were placed with Satyam Computer last year have now changed their minds and are aggressively looking for jobs in other IT firms as well as companies in other sectors following the disclosure of the biggest-ever corporate fraud by the company.

"I was offered a job as trainee employee at Satyam last year. But after the fiasco has happened at Satyam, I have changed my mind to get suitable job in other firm," said Divyadeep Goyal, a student Mechanical Engineering student of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UEIT), who was offered an annual package of Rs 3.25 lakh in Satyam.

Echoing similar views, Sumant, another final-year student of the same college, said, "The impact of Satyam fraud has been so damaging that we now do not have any intention to join the IT company. Rather we will look for job in other sectors."

The total number of engineering students placed by Satyam from this region was not available but some colleges have shared their placement figures.

Almost 80 students from the Institute of Engineering and Technology were selected by Satyam last year, while 13 students were placed from Punjab Engineering College (PEC) and seven were from UIET.

Students were offered an annual package between Rs 3 lakh and 3.5 lakh.