India : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

The Indian economy has recovered quickly from the financial crisis, mainly as a result of its strong domestic market but also due to the country’s thriving service industry, in which information technology services and software workers are exported to other English-speaking countries.

There has been very positive growth in the employment market in India during the first quarter of 2011 with considerable recruitment activity taking place. A wide number of vacancies exist in a range of sectors including IT, banking, government, postal and telecoms, engineering, medical, financial, insurance and automobile. There are potentially many opportunities to be found, but there are also some barriers for UK/EU applicants.

• Typical problems encountered: UK/EU students may miss out on final year recruitment rounds taking place at Indian universities. Also, since many Indian employers prefer to recruit through personal referrals, overseas applicants may be at a disadvantage.
• How to improve your chances: Indians often have one to three years’ experience or a Masters or MBA qualification, so getting some work experience or a professional or postgraduate qualification may be advisable before you make applications in India. Networking and making contacts is key to finding out about vacancies and securing personal referees. ‘Looking for Work in India’ is a useful publication available from Expertise in Labour Mobility . If possible, find employment in the UK first with a company which has operations in India and then apply for a transfer.
• Language requirements: 18 languages and thousands of dialects are spoken in India, but English is widely used for business communication. It is also the language of instruction in Indian universities and many university-educated Indians speak English both at work and at home. You will be able to get by with English in the major cities, but few people in rural areas can communicate in English.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals.
• Recent growth areas: energy, clothing, telecommunications, banking, steel, IT and automobile.
• Shortage occupations: as the economy is expanding, there are opportunities for skilled employees in all the main areas of employment.
• Major companies: Hindustan Petroleum, NMDC, Tata, Wipro, DLF, Hindalco Industries, ITC, Punjab National Bank, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank.
• Search for more companies: Kompass , Shine , Wikipedia – List of Companies in India . 
• Major cities: New Delhi (capital), Mumbai/Bombay (largest), Kolkata/Calcutta, Chennai/Madras, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

What’s it like working in India?

• Average working hours: the official working week is 48 hours, which is generally observed in the public sector, but the reality for many employees in the private sector is working weeks of up to 60 hours.
• Holidays: larger employers generally offer around 20 days' annual leave per year.
• Average graduate starting salaries: salaries for degree qualified positions vary depending on the role and sector. Foreign employees working for international companies in India will often be paid a higher salary than resident workers or counterparts working for companies solely based in India.
• Tax rates: information about income tax is available from the Income Tax Department (India) . For details of exemptions and relief for foreign nationals, go to the India Finance and Investment Guide . 
• Working practices and customs: dress conservatively for business. Indians prefer to do business with people they know, so third-party introductions can be beneficial. Business may not be discussed in first meetings, which are used for getting to know people. Meetings are often cancelled at the last minute, so flexible scheduling is helpful. Indians are impressed by punctuality. Concessions are expected in business negotiations but will be reciprocated. Useful information about working customs is available from Kwintessential Etiquette Guides .