DU students take 'employability' test before job search

Updated on: Wednesday, January 04, 2012

As they enter their last semesters and prepare to take a plunge into the job market, a number of final year students of Delhi University are for the first time taking a unique 'employability' test to gauge their preparedness for industry and get a feedback.

The adaptive test, adopted for the first time by Delhi University's placement cell that kicked off in December has already seen as many as 1,045 students appearing for it.

The test assesses students' abilities in areas like English comprehension, and quantitative and logical abilities, among others, to advise them on which job sectors would suit their abilities.

The exam will continue in January as over 21,000 final year students registered with the University's central placement cell are eligible to take it.

"In six months time, a bulk of these students will begin scouting for jobs and so this is the right time for them to know their capabilities and readiness vis a vis the market," says an official of Delhi University.

Besides, the programme that was launched by Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh on December 23, also aims to provide an interface between students and companies looking for fresh talent.

"By testing the students on a range of assessment scales like personality, logic and quantitative analysis, we are able to assess which sectors they are suitable for, and where they lag behind. Thus we are able to tell them whether they would fit well in the pharma sector or client servicing in the feedback," says Himanshu Aggarwal, CEO of Aspiring Minds, the company behind the concept of the test.

He said the test is uniquely designed to help students know their standing as far as industry readiness is concerned, and provide them a much-needed "reality check".

In loop with as many as 75 companies in a series of sectors like IT, BPO, KPO, banks, retail, pharma and hospitality, among others, the company also helps students find jobs through their assessment results.

"Our clients in the market get a log into our portal where they can get a detailed report and can access possible recruits," he says.

Based on the assessment, each student is provided a seven-point employability feedback with a detailed personalised report and scores on each section.

The test, conducted by a number of institutions, was taken by over 450,000 students all over the country last year.

At DU, an estimated 7,000 students have already evinced interest in appearing for the assessment.

DU students take 'employability' test before job search

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