Key findings
✓These firms hire the most freshers in India, and they do it through standardized tests rather than résumé screens.
✓TCS NQT, Wipro Elite and Cognizant GenC are the main gates. Infosys runs its own hiring tests and the InfyTQ route.
✓Base CTC clusters low for standard roles, while premium and digital offers are reported to pay more.
✓The test score and your communication matter more than your college tier.
✓The bench and slow early growth are real. Plan to keep learning through the first two years.
10,000s
of freshers onboarded each year by the largest majors (reported, varies by year)
Company annual reports (reported)
Low LPA
typical fresher base CTC band for standard roles (reported range, not a fixed figure)
Public offer reports (reported range)
1 test
is usually the gate between you and the interview stage
Company hiring pages
India's IT services majors are the largest entry point for graduates. TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, HCLTech and Tech Mahindra each bring in freshers in big batches, often across hundreds of campuses plus off-campus drives. The model is volume: hire many, train them together, then place them on client projects.
That is why the process is standardized. A common test lets a company screen a huge pool fairly and fast, and it opens the door to students from colleges no recruiter visits.
Relative fresher intake by firm (illustrative, not exact headcount)
The takeaway: these firms are built to say yes to many freshers. You do not need a famous college. You need to clear the test.
Each major runs its own gate. Formats and cut-offs change from year to year, so always confirm on the firm's current hiring page before you register.
| Firm | Test | What it screens |
|---|
| TCS | TCS NQT (National Qualifier Test) | Aptitude, reasoning, verbal ability and basic coding |
| Infosys | Infosys hiring tests and InfyTQ | Logical reasoning, math, verbal, and programming ability |
| Wipro | Elite NTH (National Talent Hunt) | Aptitude, written communication and coding |
| Cognizant | GenC hiring assessment | Aptitude, communication and coding for GenC roles |
Why this matters: a single qualifying score can open several doors. A strong result keeps you in the running for the higher-paying tracks, not just the standard one.
Standard fresher roles at the majors are reported to start in the low single-digit lakhs per year, and the figure has stayed in a narrow band for years. Premium, digital or prime tracks are reported to pay noticeably more, and the test score or interview performance usually decides which track you get.
Treat every number you read online as a range. Offers differ by role, year, campus and city, and the CTC often includes variable pay and benefits that are not in hand each month.
Offer tiers, indexed to a standard role at 100 (illustrative)
"Read the offer letter, not the headline CTC. The base, the variable and the joining terms are what you actually take home."
Studojo ResearchThese tests reward preparation more than raw talent. The question types repeat, so timed practice works.
Suggested split of prep time (illustrative)
Aptitude first: quant, logical reasoning and verbal. Practise against a timer, because speed is part of the score. Coding basics: arrays, strings, loops and simple logic in one language you know well. Easy and medium problems are enough for most gates. Communication: a clear self-introduction and a calm, simple answer to "tell me about a project". This often decides the premium tracks. After joining, most freshers go through training, then wait for a project allocation. The gap between training and a billed project is the bench. It can be short or long depending on demand, your skills and the client mix, and it is a normal part of the services model.
Early growth is also slow. Raises and promotions follow set cycles, so pay moves gradually. The people who move faster are the ones who pick up in-demand skills, take on responsibility early and say yes to harder projects.
Use the bench: learn the stack your target project uses, finish a certification, and tell your manager you are ready for allocation. Idle time is the cheapest learning time you will get.
Services firms are the widest door: high volume, structured training, lower starting pay and slower early growth. Product firms hire fewer freshers, screen harder and usually pay more. Many people start in services, build skills, then move. For the full comparison, read the startup vs MNC report.
What is the TCS NQT?
The TCS NQT (National Qualifier Test) is the standardized exam TCS uses to screen freshers. It tests aptitude, reasoning, verbal ability and basic coding, and your score decides which hiring track you can interview for. It is the main front door to TCS, and other employers also accept NQT scores.
How much does a TCS or Infosys fresher earn?
Reported base CTC for standard fresher roles at TCS and Infosys clusters in the low single-digit lakhs per year, with premium or digital offers reported higher. Exact figures change by role, year and campus, so check the current offer letter or the company's hiring page. Treat any single number you see online as a range, not a promise.
Which is better for freshers, TCS or Infosys?
Neither wins on every count. Both hire at huge scale through standardized tests, and pay for standard roles is reported in a similar band. The better choice is the one that offers the higher tier (digital or prime) and a project in a stack you want to learn, so compare the role and the offer, not the logo.
How do I prepare for IT services hiring exams?
Spend most of your time on aptitude and basic coding, then practise speaking clearly. These exams reward speed and accuracy on standard question types, so timed practice beats long theory. Do mock tests, solve easy and medium coding problems, and rehearse a short self-introduction out loud.
Is an IT services job good for freshers?
It is a solid start if you want a stable first job, structured training and a way in without a top-tier college. The trade-offs are base pay that starts low and a first project you may not choose. It works best when you treat the first two years as paid learning and keep building skills.
What is the bench in IT services?
The bench is the period when you are trained or between client projects and not yet billed to one. It is a normal part of services hiring, especially for freshers after training. It can last weeks or longer, so use the time to learn the stack, earn a certification and ask your manager for a project.
The exam is the gate, so treat it like one. Then keep your options wider than a single test:
Register early. Test windows open and close. Check each firm's hiring page for the current dates. Practise on a clock. Timed mocks in aptitude and coding raise your score faster than reading theory. Aim for the higher tier. A strong score and clear communication can put you on the premium or digital track. Do not stop at one door. Apply to the exams, and also reach hiring managers directly so one result never decides everything. Do not wait on one exam.
Studojo Outreach helps you reach hiring managers and recruiters directly, so a single test result is not your only way in.