Chennai: For the first time, unsupervised Auto-Proctoring Test will be used for shortlisting candidates for placement interview during the bulk recruitment process in the state.
Cognizant, an IT major, would shortlist students for campus placements through an online test based on artificial intelligence (AI) on January 21 and 23. So far, more than 14,000 students across 534 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu have registered to take part in the 120-minute long test.
Anna University is organising Tamil Nadu State Level Placement Programme for the final year students studying in university colleges and its affiliated engineering colleges.
Cognizant has given clear guidelines for Auto Proctoring Test. Candidates are advised to take the test by all fair means. No one will supervise the test as the system has several artificial intelligence features. It would sense if the candidate tries to open a browser like Google or another application like Notepad or Excel in the computer or moves his eyeballs unnecessarily or if he tries to get another person's help.
“If the system senses any of the above, it would automatically disqualify the candidate from recruitment process,” says T.Thyagarajan, Director, Centre for University-Industry Collaboration (CUIC), Anna University.
“Though such tests have been introduced for the high profile jobs by product companies, it is the first time that such a test is being introduced for mass recruitment. This will be the norm in future,” said T.Kalaiselvan, additional director, CUIC.
Use of mobile phones and cameras during the entire duration of the test is strictly prohibited. Anna University has urged the principals or placement of affiliated engineering colleges to provide candidates with working webcam external or built-in with smooth internet connectivity for the test duration.
A top HR official from an IT major company said that online-based test will complete the recruitment process within a month instead of three or four months in the traditional method.
“Instead of limiting our recruitment to the limited number of colleges, now we are providing the opportunity to all the engineering students in the state. Based on their performances in the test, they will be shortlisted for the interview,” he said.
The students are likely to be tested on their coding and language skills in the test.
- Cognizant issues guidelines to be followed
AI features will disqualify candidates if they move eyeballs unnecessarily.
Anna University has put out the guidelines on its website for creating awareness among the students about the unsupervised Auto-Proctoring Test. Officials said if students moved their eyeballs unnecessarily, the system would disqualify them. Some of the other guidelines:-
- Other than the test taker, if any second person's image is captured in the vicinity during the test, his/her test will be disqualified.
- While taking up the online test, the candidates are advised to not to move out of the test screen or not open another tab or application like Notepad, Excel or web browsers like Google.
- The candidate should not try to print screen or copy the content while the test is in progress as the system will disqualify the candidate instantly.
- There should not be any hindrance to the webcam's lenses. It should not be covered with any object and the test taker should always be in front of the screen.
- Candidates should not try to take any snapshot while the test in progress. Use of mobile phones, cameras during the entire duration of the test is strictly prohibited.
- In case if the test gets stopped or halted due to internet or electricity failure, the candidate will be able to resume assessment from the same point it logged out without losing any time.
Anna University registers more than 60% placements
More than 140 companies have visited the Anna University for campus placement and gave offer letters to 1,038 students (60%) so far.
The companies include Microsoft, Amazon, Uber, Samsung R and D and Caterpillar have offered various job offers to the students from Anna University's four campuses in Chennai.
“The landscape of campus recruitment is slowly changing. Instead of bulk hiring, the companies opted for recruiting students based on competitions,” said T.Thyagarajan, Director, CUIC, Anna University.
The companies are recruiting 40 - 45% of students by directly visiting the campus and 20 - 25% of students recruited based on the competitions including hackathon and mobathon. The remaining candidates they are preferring for just-in-time hiring” Professor Thyagarajan said.
In the last few years, there are more than 20 job profiles in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber-security and blockchain.
“The affiliated colleges need to train the students on the niche skills in the emerging areas to enable them to get jobs,” university officials said.
