Indian IT firms hiring more foreigners

By agencies   |   Monday, 13 June 2005, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: An Indian company employing people of many nationalities was perceived to be improbable: Not any more. Software biggies are leading in redefining the rules of the game. The workforce of Bangalore based consulting and IT services major Infosys Technologies encompasses employees of 53 nationalities. But if one thought that getting a job in one of the top Indian information technology firms, especially in boom times when they are recruiting in droves-isn't a difficult proposition, it's time one changed the perception. Nasdaq-listed Infosys processed 14,13,018 job applications and conducted 47,467 interviews in the financial year 2004-05. It resulted in 14,981 (gross) new Infoscions joining the Infosys group of companies-only one percent of applicants made it to Infosys, according to S Gopalakrishnan, chief operating officer and head - customer service & technology. As on March 31, 2005, Infosys had 36,750 employees in India, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Mauritius, Belgium, France, Germany, the U.K., Canada, the U.S. and many other locations. In the current financial year, a total of 100 students from 70 universities across the world are expected to arrive at Infosys for internship program, showing signs that Indian firms are beginning to make a mark in the global market. "For years, students from India have been aspiring for internships at U.S. companies", said Infosys' CEO Nandan M Nilekani. "Now, an increasing number of students from across the world are coming to India to understand our business model," he said. By adding people in thousands in a year, Infosys has moved in to build land banks. In 2004-05, the company built 2.9 million sq. ft. in six different locations, equipped with 10,400 seats. "In the next 12 months, we will complete 3.2 million sq. ft. in seven locations with 16,600 seats. Hence, in 24 months, we would have constructed 6.1 million sq. ft. with 27,000 seats", said T V Mohandas Pai, the company's director, chief financial officer and head, finance and administration.