Q1:- The cancellation of job offers at IIT, Mumbai would affect the Best Employer Brand Image of the IT firm and thereby reducing its competitive advantage. The applicants at IIT had an image of the IT firms as some of the Best Employer in terms of pay packets, future opportunities, prospects, terms & conditions. But letter of regret from Infosys provided the greatest shock as company is now headed by Mr. Nandan Nilekani, IIT Mumbai's most famous alumnus. The letter of offer was given in January & within a span of 3 months letter of regret was delivered. The letter also came at the time when there were hardly any more companies coming to recruit and it was also too late to apply for US Scholarship. In short the letter of regret came when there was hardly any time to look for other options.

An employer's brand image is the sum of the company's efforts to communicate to existing & prospective employees what makes it a desirable place to work. Employer brand management expands the scope of this brand intervention beyond communication to incorporate every aspect of the employment experience, people management process & practices (often referred to as 'touch points' that shape the perceptions of existing & prospective employees. In other words, employer brand management addresses the reality of the employment experience and not simply its presentation. By doing so it supports both external recruitment of the right kind of talent sought by an organisation to achieve its goals & subsequent desire for effective employee engagement and employee retention.

The image of the Best Employers has got damaged as the students have to search for jobs without any option. It would be necessary for the companies to review the recruitment policy at regular intervals so that the students are not affected especially during the period of recession.

Q2:- It is agreed that Intent of offer means an offer of employment to a candidate in future when vacancies are likely to arise. It is not a letter of appointment. However, since the offer came from a company like Infosys which is headed by Mr. Nandan Nilekani, IIT Mumbai's most famous alumnus, the students cannot be faulted for treating it as a letter of appointment. It was not imagined that it will be followed by a letter of regret. They also missed out the opportunity to go US Scholarship. They were left with no choice to search for another job & that too at the time of recession.

It is expected that a company like Infosys fulfill its commitment both in letter and spirit. So, they had given only intent of offer, they had not followed their commitment in spirit. Hence, I do not agree with the statement of Infosys Spoke person.

Q3:- As a placement Coordinator, I will call meeting of IITians who are affected by the cancellation of letters of offers and explain to them the reasons. I will explore further opportunities of advanced courses in IIT. I will promise them as and when things improve they would get priority for placement.

It was only with the coming of the IT boom that they were forced by companies to start the placement process in June / July. In view of employment uncertainty it is proper that the placement process should start late. I will prevail upon the companies to start the placement process in October.

IIT is a leading educational institution of talented & brilliant students and Infosys is also a leading company in IT industry. As a placement coordinator at IIT, I will convey to Infosys HR that when such events take place the reputation of both i.e. IIT as well as Infosys can get affected. Besides Infosys, I will also prevail upon other companies to review their placement process so that the students are not affected much.

Q4:- One of my relatives Sushant received Intent of offer with a salary of Rs. 4 lakh from a reputed software company in 2009. He was looking forward to the job with a good starting salary. After one month he received a regret e-mail cancelling the job offer. His dreams got shattered. His father is retied and his elder sister is the only earning member in the family. She is also of marriageable age and good marriage proposals are coming from all sides. But she was waiting for her brother to get placed before her marriage took place. Now Sushant has completed his education and because of recession there were no immediate opportunities for him.

But Sushant didn't allow the circumstances to deter him. He forwarded his C.V. to many software firms. He was called for interview in small company where the nature of job didn't fully match his educational qualification. Also salary offered was around 60% of that offered in earlier job. He accepted the offer. Now he is trying till today with hope that he will get a golden opportunity. He is appearing for some competitive exams for fellowship. His sister also got married in May 2010. She encouraged him to struggle for golden opportunity. Now, with a positive hope he is making hard efforts to be competent.

From Rajesh Nerurkar (U610040)