HCLTech, India’s third-largest IT services company, has sharpened its recruitment strategy for FY26 by prioritising specialised talent across high-demand domains such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital engineering, and enterprise technology.
The company is offering significantly higher compensation packages—up to four times more than standard fresher salaries—for candidates who meet its premium skill criteria.
This shift reflects HCLTech’s broader transition toward AI-first service delivery and its commitment to building future-ready capabilities.
Strategic Shift Toward Specialisation
In recent quarters, HCLTech has moved away from volume-based fresher hiring to a quality-centric model.
The company has introduced an “elite cadre” of freshers, selected based on niche skills and technical depth.
These recruits are offered up to 3x higher pay in services roles and up to 4x in software roles compared to regular campus hires.
Chief People Officer Ramachandran Sundararajan stated that 15–20% of the current fresher intake is expected to fall under this specialised category, though the company remains open to increasing this share based on candidate quality.
This approach aligns with industry-wide trends, where demand for AI-ready talent is outpacing supply.
HCLTech estimates that only 15–20% of available talent currently meets its AI-readiness standards.
HCLTech Hiring Trends and Headcount Movement
In Q1 FY26, HCLTech onboarded 1,984 freshers, nearly double the intake from the same period last year.
The company aims to exceed its FY25 fresher hiring figure of 7,850, though it has not set a fixed target for elite hiring.
Despite the increase in fresher onboarding, overall headcount declined by 269 employees to 223,151, reflecting restructuring efforts and delayed project ramp-ups.
Attrition eased to 12.8%, down from 13% in Q4 FY25, marking one of the lowest levels in recent years.
The company attributes this stability to its targeted skilling programs and improved employee engagement.
AI Skilling and Workforce Readiness
To support its AI-first strategy, HCLTech has trained 127,000 employees in foundational AI and certified 42,000 in advanced generative AI.
Currently, 12,000 professionals are actively engaged in GenAI projects, with this number expected to grow in the coming quarters.
These skilling efforts are central to HCLTech’s transition toward agentic AI, which includes platforms like AI Force and the integration of GenAI into software and operational workflows.
CEO C Vijayakumar noted that the company’s goal is to achieve 18–19% EBIT margins through strategic technology investments and workforce planning.
HCLTech Lateral Hiring and Restructuring
Lateral hiring remains steady and demand-led, with recruitment focused on client-specific needs rather than volume expansion.
HCLTech is undergoing a restructuring programme in FY26 that involves scaling down talent in offshore geographies.
The company is also working to optimise underutilised facilities as part of its broader efficiency drive.
These changes are aimed at improving operational agility and addressing skill-location mismatches that have impacted margins.
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