Fresher Job Market in India: Week of November 2, 2026 - Openings Jump by 9%

The Indian job market for freshers saw a significant uptick this week, with new openings growing by nearly 9%. FirstHire tracked 62,269 new jobs for candidates with 0-2 years of experience, a healthy increase from the previous week. Over 60% of these roles require no prior experience, and opportunities in sales and business development continue to dominate.

Openings this week

FirstHire tracked a total of 62,269 new fresher job openings in the week ending November 2, 2026. This is a substantial 8.9% increase from the 57,192 openings posted in the previous week.

• No-experience jobs: A total of 37,909 openings were for candidates with zero experience, making up about 61% of all new listings. This is a positive sign for recent graduates just entering the workforce.
• Internships: The number of new internships also grew, with 5,483 opportunities posted, up from 5,086 last week.
• Remote and hybrid work: The demand for flexible work arrangements continues, though it saw a slight dip. FirstHire counted 4,498 fully remote jobs (7.2% of the total) and 1,586 hybrid roles (2.5% of the total). Last week, there were 5,141 remote openings.

Who is hiring

Over 25,175 different companies posted fresher jobs this week, showing broad-based hiring activity.

• Top companies: IT and consulting giant Accenture was the top recruiter with 1,042 new openings. It was followed by Platinus Technologies (776), Ideal Talent Connect (648), Bajaj Finance (446), and IBM (432).
• Top cities: Bengaluru continues to be the primary job hub for freshers, with 7,374 openings. The top five cities were rounded out by Hyderabad (3,636), Chennai (3,388), Mumbai (2,922), and Gurugram (2,841).
• Top roles: Sales and business development roles were the most common, with 9,117 openings. This was followed by customer support (4,151), marketing and content (4,026), and software engineering (3,775).

What it pays

Based on a sample of 12,812 job postings that included salary details, FirstHire found that the median salary range for freshers is between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹4.2 lakh per annum. This means that for jobs with salary data, the typical offered pay fell within this range, with half the jobs offering less and half offering more. This figure serves as a general market indicator and actual salaries can vary significantly by role, company, and location.

Hiring news this week

Recent weeks have seen a mix of campus placement news, major off-campus drives, and some ongoing industry restructuring.

• Infosys Off-Campus Drive: Infosys announced a significant off-campus drive for Specialist Programmer (SP) and Digital Specialist Engineer (DSE) roles. According to various job portals, the drive is open to 2024, 2025, and 2026 graduates from B.E/B.Tech, M.E/M.Tech, MCA, and M.Sc streams. The last date to register is November 6, 2026. Pay packages are reported to be significantly higher than standard entry-level roles, ranging from ₹6.25 LPA for DSE to as high as ₹21 LPA for top-tier SP roles.
• TCS Hiring Activity: Tata Consultancy Services has been conducting walk-in interviews for both freshers and experienced professionals in cities like Nagpur, Mumbai, and Pune for roles in back-office operations and other domains. The company's National Qualifier Test (NQT) for the November 2026 cycle is also open for registration until November 12, with the test scheduled for November 24. The NQT is a gateway to various IT and non-IT roles at TCS and other participating companies.
• HCLTech Openings: HCLTech has posted several entry-level 'Campus-Beginner' roles in Noida, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The company is also conducting online interviews for Voice Process and Accounts Payable roles, though these are not open to engineering graduates.
• Campus Placements: IIM Bangalore successfully concluded its summer placements for the 2026-28 batch, with all 608 students receiving offers. Notably, technology hiring doubled compared to the previous year, with firms like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon participating. Meanwhile, Delhi University's Central Placement Cell organized its 'AVASAR 2026' job and internship fair on October 7, with over 85 companies participating. However, in a cautionary development, the All IITs Placement Committee decided to bar 22 companies from campus placements for two seasons after they failed to honor offers made to the 2026 graduating batch, as reported by India Today.
• Industry Restructuring: The tech industry continues to realign its workforce. In late October, Microsoft announced a voluntary exit program for up to 60,000 employees globally, including in India, as it shifts focus towards AI. This follows other significant workforce reductions across the tech sector in 2026 as companies pivot resources to AI and automation.

What to do this week

1. Apply for high-volume roles. With over 9,000 openings in sales and business development, it's the largest category by far. If you have strong communication skills, this is a great area to explore on the fresher jobs page.
2. Target the top hiring cities. If you are open to relocating, focus your search on Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which together account for over 17% of all fresher openings this week.
3. Don't miss major off-campus drives. The Infosys drive for freshers is a major opportunity with a deadline of November 6. Review the eligibility and apply promptly if you are a fit.
4. Consider an internship. With over 5,400 new roles this week, internships are a valuable way to gain experience and get your foot in the door. Check out the latest internship openings.
5. Prepare for walk-in interviews. Companies like TCS are actively using walk-ins to hire for certain roles. Keep an eye on announcements for a walk-in drive for freshers in your city and have your documents ready.

FAQ

Why are there so many sales and business development jobs for freshers?

These are often entry-level positions where companies are willing to train new graduates. Roles in sales and business development are critical for growth across all industries, leading to a consistently high demand for talent. They offer a direct path into a company and can be a great starting point for a career in business.

Is it possible to get a remote job as a fresher?

Yes, but they are less common than in-office roles. This week, FirstHire tracked 4,498 remote jobs, which is about 7% of the total openings. These positions require a high degree of self-discipline, strong communication skills, and a reliable work environment at home. Competition for remote roles is often higher as they attract applicants from a wider geographical area.

What does the median salary range of ₹2.5 LPA to ₹4.2 LPA mean?

This range represents the middle ground for salaries based on the 12,812 job postings in our dataset that included compensation details. It means that half of the jobs with salary data offered compensation within or above this range, and the other half offered below it. It is an indicator of typical pay, but your actual salary can vary based on your skills, the specific role, the company's size and sector, and your location.