An Interview with Dr. Shaik Saleem, Placement Coordinator at VIT Chennai

Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai is a private co-educational institution established in the year 2010. VIT Chennai courses include B.Tech, BBA, B.Com, BBA (Hons.), MBA, M.Tech and MCA among others. VIT admissions are done based on scores obtained in entrance exams. Students need to meet the eligibility criteria before applying for admission at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai.

This interview with Dr. Shaik Saleem, placement coordinator at VIT Chennai is presented to you by Careers360. In this interview, Dr. Saleem talks about the placement process, statistics and role of the career development cell at VIT Chennai.

Careers360: How is the placement process conducted at VIT Chennai?

Dr. Saleem: VIT’s placement process is centralised, and as per the eligibility criteria, students from Vellore, Chennai, Amaravati (AP), and Bhopal campuses would be attending the selection process. The campus placement process begins with a Placement Orientation organised by the Career Development Cell (CDC). The online Tests are conducted in the respective campuses, monitored by the placement coordinators. Physical interviews for the shortlisted students are conducted in any of the VIT Campuses based on the convenience of the recruiters, and the students from other VIT campuses are virtually connected.

Careers360: What percentage of students get placed every year during the placements?

Dr. Saleem: Approximately 80–90% of students secure placement each year during the campus recruitment process.

Careers360: What is the Career Development Centre? How does the CDC play a predominant role in shaping the career goals of students?

Dr. Saleem: The Career Development Centre is to empower students to achieve their career aspirations by providing them with the necessary support, guidance, and resources. The Centre is committed to promoting a culture of lifelong learning and to helping students acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.

The primary objective of the CDC is to provide students with a variety of career-related services that will help them to prepare for, enter, and succeed in the workforce. The key objectives of the CDC are as follows:

• To provide students with the resources, tools, and guidance they need to explore career options and make informed decisions.

• To assist students in developing the skills and competencies necessary to succeed in the workforce.

• To connect students with potential employers and job opportunities.

• To support students in their job search efforts and provide ongoing career support throughout their professional journey.

Careers360: Please share the main highlights of the most recent placements, including job roles, companies, and salary packages.

Dr. Saleem: Top recruiters include Federal Bank, BNY Mellon, Deloitte, and HDFC Bank, with the highest salary reaching ₹12.5 lakh per annum and a median package of ₹8 lakh per annum.

Careers360: Are there any specific programmes at VIT Chennai that have better placement prospects?

Dr. Saleem: Placement prospects are almost equal across all our business programmes - MBA (Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR and Business Analytics), with placement rates ranging from 75 % to 85 % each year. However, BBA and B.Com students mostly opt to pursue higher studies.

Careers360: What are the dos and don'ts for the Pre-placement talk?

Dr. Saleem:

Do’s

• Arrive early and register yourself.

• Dress in formal attire and maintain professional body language.

• Listen actively and take notes on key points (job roles, eligibility, deadlines).

• Prepare 2–3 thoughtful questions about the role or company culture.

• Introduce yourself briefly if invited (name, degree, specialisation).

Don’ts

• Don’t be late or leave early.

• Don’t use your phone or check messages during the session.

• Don’t interrupt the speaker or ask irrelevant questions.

Careers360: What are the dream and super dream placement offers at VIT Chennai?

Dream offers are CTCs ranging from ₹5.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per annum, and any CTC above ₹10 lakh per annum is classified as a super dream offer.

Careers360: How many job offers can a student take during the placement process?

Dr. Saleem: A student may accept only one final placement offer; however, those who secure a dream offer remain eligible to participate in both super‑dream and dream‑core recruitment drives.

Is there any specific placement preparation checklist one should follow to successfully get through the interviews during the campus recruitment process?

Yes. Students should follow a structured placement‑preparation checklist, including:

• Updating and tailoring their résumé or profiles for each target role

• Researching each recruiter’s business, values, products, and recent news

• Revising core subjects and domain‑specific concepts relevant to the role

• Practising quantitative, logical‑reasoning, and verbal‑ability aptitude tests

• Preparing and rehearsing responses to common HR and behavioural-interview questions

• Conducting mock interviews (one‑to‑one, panel, and case‑study formats) with peers or mentors.

Disclaimer: This article has been published by Careers360 as a marketing initiative with VIT, Chennai.