A deluge of job applications overwhelm H\R departments of IT majors when they call for resumes. With only 30 per cent of the recruitments taking place through campuses, it is a daunting task for firms to find the needle in the proverbial haystack.
This is where an organisation like the Professional Aptitude Council can help companies save time and resources.
The PAC is a San Francisco-based pre-employment testing and talent sourcing company focussed on measuring the technical aptitude and skills of candidates. The PAC has "developed" a standardised test that is a "fair means of measuring IT knowledge and aptitude".
"This test can be utilised like the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) for technology, which students and job seekers can take independently to gain access to the best tech jobs," said Guhesh Ramanathan, country manager-India, PAC. The PAC's aptitude test which costs $89 in the US, will be initially conducted for $43 for Indian students.
Some eight top IT companies, including IT majors like Oracle and Cognizant have endorsed and validated the tests after allowing the firm to conduct a pilot on their existing employees.
Most of those tested had less than two years' experience, though there were some with more experience. Some companies had upto 75 employees taking the tests, Ramanathan said.
The PAC, which announced the launch of its India operations on Wednesday, will aim the test for entry-level job seekers, particularly those with less than two years of experience or no experience at all.
"Firms will see a 50 per cent saving of time and 25 per cent saving in cost per hire with our tests," said Ramanathan.
PAC will allow candidates to gain direct access to a broader range of employers and to increase their competitive advantage in a tight job market.
It seeks to allow companies to market directly to qualified candidates and to help people of all backgrounds get the best job possible based on their abilities. This will drive meritocracy and increase efficiency in all corners of the IT labour market, claims Ramanathan.
After India, PAC is eyeing China. In 2006, PAC aims to spread its wings further, launching its operations in many European countries.
