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Cognizant Recruitment Process for 2025

24 Feb 2025
3 min read

Cognizant Technology Solutions is among the most respected global IT service and consulting companies. Recognised for its working culture, it is in very high demand among job seekers. Those wanting to work in Cognizant should first comprehend the selection process to achieve success. This article will guide you through the Cognizant recruitment process, detailing eligibility criteria, assessment, and interview rounds, helping you to prepare well for this exciting opportunity.

About Cognizant

Cognizant Technology Solutions is a prominent American multinational information technology consulting and outsourcing firm established in 1994 in Chennai, India, as an internal unit of Dun & Bradstreet. The company was first known as Dun & Bradstreet Satyam Software (DBSS), but in 1997, it changed to Cognizant and went public in 1998. Cognizant expanded its service portfolio to include business process outsourcing, consulting, and digital transformation in the subsequent years. TriZetto was acquired by Cognizant in 2014. 

Cognizant now employs more than 300,000 people worldwide and provides services for clients in industries such as healthcare, banking, and technology. In 2019, Brian Humphries was appointed CEO to steer Cognizant through further digital developments, and later, in 2023, he left office, and Ravi Kumar S became its CEO. A recent strategic partnership with Microsoft will harness Generative AI and Copilot technologies to guide innovation and enhance digital transformation for its clients.

Cognizant GenC

GenC stands for Generation Cognizant, a specialized recruitment initiative designed to hire fresher talent at Cognizant. This program targets candidates who are entering the professional world with no prior work experience.

The various roles open to GenC in Cognizant are:

  • Programmer Analyst
  • Programmer Analyst Trainee

Most of these work positions usually target coding graduates. Upon selection, the persons are given training and skill development necessary to operate with the technologies and tools.

Cognizant organises on-campus and off-campus recruitment drives for fresh talent in these opportunities. 

Cognizant BPO

Business process outsourcing is employing a third-party organisation to perform a business process or some of its workflows. The service provider manages the necessary technologies, methods, and resources to deliver the results that your firm expects most efficiently. BPO, which started primarily as a tool for cost reduction through labour pricing, has incorporated automated processes to improve results while pushing down costs. GenC stands for Gen-Cognizant, a unique recruitment initiative for fresher candidates in Cognizant. This program targets candidates who are joining the professional world with little or no experience.

Eligibility Criteria for the Cognizant Recruitment Process

Before applying for any position, it's essential to understand the eligibility criteria. Generally, these criteria include:

1. Educational Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with minimum qualifications in relevant fields like B.Tech, B.Sc, or B.Com or preferred technical background.
  • For Cognizant Technology Roles (i.e. fields like Computer Sciences, Information Technology, or related).

2. Academic Performance:

  • Academic scores should conform to 10th class, 12th class, and graduation with at least 60%, which means you should not have a backlog during recruitment.

3. Work Experience

  • Both experienced and freshers can apply, the only distinction being that freshers will be considered for entry-level jobs. 
  • Cognizant favours professionals with experience in selected business functions, especially staff skills like software development, data analytics, and business process management.

4. Skills

  • Candidates applying for technical positions like software engineers or developers should possess a stronghold on programming languages, problem-solving abilities, and analytical skills.
  • Strong communication and customer service skills, as well as language skills, are very important for all specialists in Cognizant BPO.

5. Gap Criteria

  • Overall Gap in Academic Career not to exceed 2 year

The Cognizant Recruitment Process

When you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be invoked for different rounds of the Cognizant recruitment process. Here is an overview of the procedure:

1. Communication Assessment

A very important part of cognizant company recruitment is screening a candidate considering his or her communication skills. This is most important while working in a client-facing, global environment like Cognizant. The assessment consists of three sections to evaluate your skills:

Section Topics Covered
Reading & Grammar Synonyms & Antonyms, Error Identification, Sentence Improvement & Construction, Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses & Articles, Prepositions & Conjunctions.
Listening AI will read a short passage/story, followed by questions to test understanding.
Speaking Topic-based speaking to test pronunciation, vocabulary usage, and avoidance of fillers.

To be considered for the subsequent stages of the recruitment process, a candidate must showcase competency in communications.

2. Aptitude & Technical Assessment

The Aptitude & Technical Assessment helps recruiters determine a candidate’s ability to handle technical challenges and solve problems efficiently. It also ensures that candidates have the core skills to perform tasks in a technology-driven environment like Cognizant.

The aptitude assessment consists of:

Section Topics Covered
Fundamental Mathematics Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Averages, Algebra, Ratios, Indices, Surds.
Applied Arithmetic Profit & Loss, Interest (Simple & Compound), Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Mixtures & Alligations, Partnerships, Mensuration (Areas & Volumes), Data Interpretation.
Advanced Mathematics Permutations & Combinations, Probability & Statistics, Logarithms, Exponents, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Sets & Venn Diagrams, Matrices & Determinants.
Logical Reasoning Analogies, Blood Relations, Directional Sense, Syllogisms, Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Cause & Effect, Statements & Assumptions.
Analytical Reasoning Coding & Decoding, Data Sufficiency, Statement & Conclusions, Ranking, Calendars & Clocks, Input-Output Patterns, Figure Series & Patterns.
Quantitative Logic Equations, Inequalities, Function & Graphs, Pipes & Cisterns, Boats & Streams, Critical Reasoning, Odd One Out.

The technical assessment includes the following sections:

Section Topics Covered
Coding Python, Functions, Data Structures, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), File Handling, Libraries & Modules, Exception Handling.
Query-Database/MySQL SQL Commands (DDL, DML, DCL, TCL), Constraints, SQL Operators, Functions, Clauses, Joins & Types, Sub Queries, Views, and Indexes.
Knowledge (MCQ) Unix Commands, Shell Scripting, Data Warehousing (ETL Concepts, Data Mart, ODS), Cloud Fundamentals.

3. Technical Interview

Those candidates shortlisted in the online tests are called for a technical interview. Here, the interviewers will get into your technical knowledge. Here's what is expected:

  • Technical questions: You will be asked questions to solve problems based on data structures and algorithms or coding or system design, depending on the role you have applied for. For example, if you apply for the role offered at Cognizant Technology, expect questions based on programming languages.
  • Real-world problems: Interviews usually ask questions about applying your theoretical knowledge to solve real-world problems. Be ready to discuss in detail how you would resolve several scenarios in a professional set.
  • Coding round: The candidates can be provided with coding questions, which will be solved on a computer during the interviews. Good applicants for development or technical roles should be skilled coders.

4. HR Interview

The last stage of the recruitment process is the HR interview, where your personality, soft skills, and cultural fit to the company are evaluated. This is more of a behavioural interview focusing on:

  • Communication skills: How well you express your ideas, clarify your experiences, and provide answers to open-ended questions.
  • Interpersonal skills: How you relate to others, especially in a team environment. This is relevant for client-facing roles in Cognizant BPO or cross-functional teams in Cognizant Technology.
  • Cultural fit: The interviewers of HR will assess if you are in sync with the values of Cognizant, such as innovation, dedication, and collaboration.
  • Motivation: Expect questions like your career aspirations, why you want to work with Cognizant, or what you find exciting about the potential role.

5. Job Offer and Onboarding

If the technical and HR interviews go well, they will give you an appointment letter from Cognizant. Once you accept this offer, you will be taken through quite an elaborate process for initiation, including procedural formalities, training, and onboarding practice programs that will help induction into corporate systems and culture.

Documents Required for Cognizant Recruitment Process 2025

Here are the documents required for the cognizant recruitment process 2025:

Mandatory Documents for Registration

  • Resume
  • PAN Card

Mandatory Documents for Interview

  • 10thMark Sheet
  • 12th Mark Sheet
  • UG Mark Sheets
  • Passport

Conclusion

In conclusion, The cognizant recruitment process is one of the most rigorous in the industry, designed to select the most qualified and suitable candidates. If you are not an experienced candidate, you would be fully prepared for the BPO job, while if you are a technical expert, you might be ready for Cognizant Technology positions.

By improving your communication skills, aptitude reasoning, and technical knowledge, you can enhance your chances of succeeding in the Cognizant hiring process. 

I wish you all the best with your application; hopefully, it will lead you into the Cognizant family.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Cognizant hiring process for freshers?

For freshers, the junior-level candidates also have a process that begins with an aptitude test, a technical test and then the HR interview. The freshers should strengthen their technical and communication skills to perform well in tests and interviews.

2. Can Cognizant recruitment be done through campus hiring? 

Yes, Cognizant carries out campus recruitment drives to attract fresh graduates from various colleges. Cognizant campus recruitment generally involves a written test and technical and HR interviews.

3. What is the Cognizant placement process? 

The placement process includes different rounds of tests, usually aptitude tests, technical assessments, and HR interviews. Successful candidates would be extended an offer to gain employment at Cognizant.

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