Online BCA Placement Assistance: Will It Really Help You Get A Job?

 

"100% placement assistance" is a phrase that will find a mention in most online BCA brochures, often in bold. The definition of "placement assistance" differs vastly from one institution to another. At some universities, there are placement drives where recruiters are tied up, while other institutions may simply send your CV to a common job portal and call it "assistance." This blog provides insight into what "placement assistance" really means and how some universities back their claims.

What "Placement Assistance" Actually Means, University By University

Here's how the claim plays out across some commonly compared providers:

University	Program	What Placement Assistance Includes	Approx. Total Fees
AU (Amity University Online)	BCA	Dedicated placement cell, resume building, mock interviews, recruiter drives	₹90,000 – ₹1,60,000
UPES	BCA	Placement assistance, career counseling, resume support, interview preparation	₹80,000 – ₹1,50,000
DPU Pune	BCA	Career guidance, resume assistance, interview preparation, placement support	₹70,000 – ₹1,30,000
LPU	BCA	Career services cell, resume building, interview preparation, recruiter interaction	₹60,000 – ₹1,10,000
CUOL (Chandigarh University Online)	BCA	Placement cell, industry tie-ups, career counseling, interview preparation	₹80,000 – ₹1,40,000
GLA University	BCA	Placement assistance, career counseling, resume building, interview preparation	₹70,000 – ₹1,20,000
Amrita University	BCA	Career guidance, placement assistance, resume support, interview preparation	₹90,000 – ₹1,50,000
VGU (Vivekananda Global University)	BCA	Placement support, career counseling, resume assistance, interview preparation	₹64,000 – ₹1,00,000
UU (Uttaranchal University)	BCA	Placement assistance, career guidance, resume building, interview preparation	₹70,000 – ₹1,20,000
MUJ (Manipal University Jaipur)	BCA	Career guidance sessions, resume assistance, job portal access	₹70,000 – ₹1,20,000

These will differ in every intake and are not necessarily stated clearly on the website. It would be best to ask directly from the university or via free counseling what will be included.

The Difference Between "Placement Assistance" And "Placement Guarantee"

It is the one difference you have to know before joining any university. Placement assistance will ensure the university helps you build your resume, interview preparation, access job portals, and perhaps some recruiter drives. 

It does not guarantee your employment. No reputable university would do so, as employment will depend on the economic conditions, your performance, and the needs of the recruiter. If a course offers you a “100% placement guarantee,” it should raise an alarm for you instead of making you believe it.

Signs A Placement Cell Is Real, Not Just Marketing

There are a few concrete differentiating factors between a real placement cell and an empty boast:

• Concrete recruitment partnerships: While a real placement cell can list a few concrete organizations they have placed students in recently, it is better to be skeptical of phrases such as "top MNCs" without any details.
• Placement cell vs. admissions cell: If it is the same person who is dealing with your admissions as well as with your placement assistance, then that is likely a red flag, because there is no organization involved.
• Placement statistics with explanation: A real placement cell would be able to estimate how many BCA students were placed last year and in which positions. Regular career assistance, not a once-in-a-lifetime lecture.

Does Placement Support Justify A Higher Fee?

Not necessarily, though perhaps. If the reason a university costs more is a robust placement cell with ties to recruiters, then it might be worth the price hike. However, if the reason is a better reputation and little more in terms of placement opportunities than what can be found at a less expensive alternative, then it is not. To determine where one stands on the issue, all it takes is asking the right questions rather than just taking price into account.

One way to approach this question would be to measure the added cost against the value of the additional services offered by the placement cell itself. When the additional cost of attending a particular university is in the region of ₹20,000-₹30,000 and comes along with more recruiter drives, interview preparation sessions, and a proven ability to place graduates in their field of study, the cost-benefit relationship is a strong one. However, when the increased price is a result of nothing but a slightly better LMS or website design, the cost-benefit relationship is not so good.

What Average BCA Placement Packages Actually Look Like

Since the package numbers shown on placement brochures are always the highest package offered and not the average, it is important to have a fair idea about the average figures as well. For BCA graduates in IT companies in India, starting jobs such as junior developer, technical support associate, or QA analyst begins anywhere from ₹2,50,000 to ₹4,50,000 per annum based on recruiters and the competence level of the student.

The higher packages of around ₹6,00,000 or more generally belong to very few candidates who have prior experience in addition to their degree or some other certification. The reason why one should always ask for the average or median package number rather than the highest package number from universities while enquiring is because the highest number never reflects the real figures.

Summing Up!

The promise of placement assistance has been the most hyped buzzword for any BCA course on the internet, and in many cases, the discrepancy between the two is very high. There is no other way for you to be sure about the value of placement assistance offered by an institute than asking for specific and concrete details before joining. Have any doubts about the university that actually backs up its promise of placement? College Vidya’s free counseling service will help you out.