Mysuru Campus Placements Witness Notable Shift Towards Startups
In a significant departure from previous trends, students at leading colleges in Mysuru are now showing increased interest in small companies and startups during the ongoing campus placement season. This change comes as the job market experiences a slowdown, prompting students to broaden their employment horizons beyond traditional large corporations.
Changing Student Preferences in Urban Centers
Historically, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups primarily focused their recruitment efforts on rural and Tier-II institutions, as students from urban campuses often hesitated to attend interviews or accept offers from these firms. However, the current economic climate has dramatically altered this dynamic.
Recruiters representing these smaller enterprises have reported substantial improvements in both interview attendance and offer acceptance rates compared to earlier placement drives. Industry analysts point to cautious hiring practices among large corporations as the primary driver of this shift, noting the absence of mass recruitment campaigns and limited entry-level positions at major companies.
Placement Officers Observe New Patterns
Training and placement officers from various institutions have confirmed that the 2025–2026 campus placement season is currently at its peak. "This year, we're witnessing a clear transformation in student attitudes," they explained. "With fewer openings at established corporations, many students are actively considering smaller firms that provide valuable project experience and skill development opportunities."
These officers further elaborated that numerous small companies and startups are engaged in innovative projects for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). These organizations typically recruit students as interns initially, subsequently offering them full-time positions after completing designated training periods.
Practical Experience Trumps Salary Packages
While the average annual cost to company (CTC) offered by these smaller firms generally ranges around Rs 4 lakh, students are increasingly prioritizing hands-on experience and professional growth over immediate financial compensation. This represents a fundamental change in how young graduates evaluate employment opportunities.
"Companies that previously recruited exclusively from Tier-II and rural colleges are now actively engaging with urban educational institutions in cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru," placement officers emphasized.
Recruitment Patterns Transform Across Karnataka
A recruitment officer from a Bengaluru-based startup shared, "We never previously considered colleges in Bengaluru or Mysuru for our hiring needs. This year, however, we've successfully identified qualified candidates locally for our defense-related projects, which represents a complete reversal of our earlier approach."
Shivashankar B, chief executive of SJCE-STEP, the Start-up Technology Business Incubation Centre at JSS Technical Institutions campus in Mysuru, confirmed this emerging trend. He identified the prevailing job shortage as the primary catalyst for this change.
"Corporate skill requirements have evolved significantly," Shivashankar noted. "Today's students recognize that securing employment and continuously enhancing their skills carries greater importance than merely focusing on initial compensation packages."
This shift in campus recruitment patterns highlights how economic conditions are reshaping career decisions among India's college graduates, with practical experience and skill development becoming increasingly valuable commodities in a competitive job market.
