HCL is going a step ahead of its competitors who offer college placements and is hiring talented class XII graduates with science background to train them to develop test apps for the firm. It will offer the students a starting salary of Rs 1.8 lakh per annum.
 
The company recently started a pilot programme in Madurai, in which it plans to recruit 100 students who passed Class XII with an average of 85% in their board exams (80% for CBSE students) and train them for one year on its Coimbatore campus after which they would be directly absorbed by them in the firm.

Students will also have the option of pursuing a BSc degree from SSN Engineering College through a weekend college programme.

The students will be given nine months of classroom training which will give them foundation they need in engineering subjects followed by three months of training to acquaint them with a working environment.
 
HCL Technologies vice-president, diversity and sustainability, Srimathi Shivashankar said that this  programme will give an opportunity to students who can't afford a regular course. It taps into the needs of students from rural areas and help them in starting an early career.