How to Apply for a Job in Cognizant? Step-by-Step Guide

Are you eager to embark on a professional journey with one of the leading global IT and consulting firms? If so, applying for a job at Cognizant can open doors to exciting new opportunities for you. The company has over 300K employees working in domains ranging from technology to communications. If you are looking to kick-start your professional career with Cognizant, refer to this detailed guide. We will tell you how to apply for a job in Cognizant. We will also share the steps to apply and various hiring programs for freshers and experienced professionals.

Sources to Apply for a Job at Cognizant

Whether a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Cognizant Technical Solutions hires candidates passionate about driving digital transformation and making a meaningful impact in the industry. If you are someone like that and are wondering how to apply for CTS jobs, consider exploring the following modes of application:

1. Official Cognizant Careers Website

Explore exciting career opportunities with Cognizant in India by visiting the official careers website. Here, you can browse through various job openings across different domains and locations that match your skills and career aspirations.

2. Campus Placements

Cognizant actively participates in campus placements across India, offering dynamic career opportunities to recent graduates and students nearing completion of their academic programs. Through campus hiring initiatives, the company seeks to identify and nurture young talent eager to contribute to its diverse projects and global clientele. 

You can contact your college placement cell or directly connect with Cognizant’s campus recruitment team to learn about upcoming opportunities.

3. Employee Referrals

Joining Cognizant through an employee referral can be your gateway to a rewarding career experience. If you know someone who currently works at Cognizant in India, reach out to them to explore referral opportunities. 

This not only enhances your chances of landing a role that matches your skills but also provides you with insights into Cognizant’s organizational culture and values from a trusted source.

4. Cognizant Talent Community

You can join Cognizant’s talent community to receive the latest updates on job opportunities, recruitment events, career advice, and company news personalized to your preferences. 

Additionally, signing up for the talent community helps recruiters match new opportunities to your profile and reach out to you directly. The online form to register for the talent community includes the following:

1. Personal Information: This section will ask for your information like full name, email address, phone number, and location. You will also have to upload your resume here. 
2. Indicate Your Preferences: This section asks questions about your primary areas of interest if you want to work in IT or non-IT roles or the industries you would like to explore.
3. Specifications: This section aims to understand what the company should keep in mind about you. Information like years of experience, annual salary expectations, current notice period, start date for notice period, and relocation preference is included here. 

How to Apply for a Job in Cognizant?

There is a complete process of applying for jobs at Cognizant. Keep in mind that not every candidate goes through the same steps, as the process may vary slightly depending on the job role you are applying for. Nonetheless, here is how to apply for Cognizant jobs:

1. Submit Your Application

The first step of how to apply for CTS jobs is submitting your application. Here is the complete process of filling in a job application to work at Cognizant:

• Visit the official Cognizant careers website to explore the latest vacancies.

• Apply for relevant filters to find suitable job opportunities for you. Job search filters available include job profile, industry, location, distance, job category, employment types, and work model.

• Navigate through the jobs and click on the vacancy that interests you. Read the job details carefully and click on ‘Apply Now.’ If you need time to prepare your documents or application, you can save the vacancy to be reviewed later as well.

• Once you click ‘Apply Now,’ you will be directed to the ‘Privacy Notice’ page. Review the details carefully and then click on ‘I confirm.’
• You will be taken to the login page. Read the instructions provided and sign up accordingly.
• After signing in, you will be asked to fill up the application and provide all the necessary details like your full name, educational qualification, contact details, etc. Once you have completed the form, the application will be submitted.

2. Appear for Initial Screening

After your application is reviewed, one of Cognizant’s recruiters may reach out to you for a short introductory meeting. This initial screening helps them to determine if you align with the role you have applied for. If the recruiter is convinced after the discussion about your fit for the roles, they will share your profile with the hiring manager for the next round of evaluation.

3. Participate in the Interview Round

The hiring manager will review your profile and share feedback with the recruiter. You will then receive a call or email to schedule a business interview with the company. There may be more than one round of interviews involving technical or client interviews, depending on the role you are being considered for. Here is the complete interview process at Cognizant:

1. Aptitude Test: An aptitude test is aimed to evaluate your analytical skills, numerical ability, critical thinking, English, data analysis, and reasoning ability. The questions are asked on a variety of topics, including data interpretation, Venn diagrams, mirror images, coding-decoding, syllogism, time and work, comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, and more.
2. Coding Round: This is for select technical positions and includes coding questions that test your programming skills. You should be proficient in Java, Python, C++, SQL, and more to ace this test.
3. Technical Interview: This round includes questions that assess your technical skills. The interviewers may ask questions that test your knowledge and clarity of concepts. You may also be asked about your coursework and projects in college. You can check out the top Cognizant interview questions to prepare for this and other interview rounds.  
4. HR Round: This round assesses your personality traits, soft skills, and cultural fit. The questions asked are common interview questions that allow the HR professionals to know you better as an individual.

4. Wait for the Final Selection Results

Cognizant informs all the candidates about the results after the interviews are complete. Ideally, you should wait for one to two weeks for the final results. If you have not heard from the Cognizant team yet, you can send a follow-up email enquiring about the timeline for the result announcement. Check out how to ask for an interview result for an email template.

5. Know the Company Better With the Onboarding Process

If you are selected, the company will extend an offer letter to you. When you accept the offer, the recruiter will reach out to inform you about Cognizant’s onboarding process. Learn how to write an offer letter acceptance mail to make a great impression on the employer. The onboarding process will inform you about the company rules, culture, expectations, professional hierarchy, and much more. Ensure that you take note of everything to begin your work efficiently and effectively in the organization.

How to Join Cognizant as a Fresher?

If you are a recent graduate wondering how to apply for a job in CTS, consider exploring the GenC of Generation Cognizant. This program helps individuals apply to Cognizant based on their interests and IT expertise. You will have to go through an aptitude test or skill-based assessments with HR and technical interviews. There are three methods you can use to apply at CTS:

• GenC: GenC is a program for recent graduates with limited programming expertise. Cognizant seeks candidates who are agile learners with the ability to understand complex problems and deliver smart solutions. 
• GenC Pro: GenC Pro is a program for individuals with expertise in enterprise platforms, products, or specific technologies. You are eligible to be hired through this channel if you are proficient in working with technologies like SAP, ServiceNow, PEGA, Salesforce, Cloud, Cybersecurity, PEGA, etc.
• GenC Next: GenC Next is the hiring channel suitable for technically proficient graduates. You should possess advanced programming skills, full-stack abilities, and high-level coding skills to apply through this channel.

There are some specifications that you should know about before applying through these channels:

• The aspiring GenCs can earn an M.Tech or master’s in technology degree from a premier institution while working in Cognizant.
• When selected through GenC or related channels, you will be considered a fresher as no prior work experience is considered.
• If you are studying in a Cognizant accredited institution and selected through campus placements, you will begin skilling engagement from the 6th semester. 
• This will be followed by internships in the 7th and 8th semesters. You will intern for 3 to 6 months during the final semester before full-time equivalent (FTE) onboarding.
• Selected candidates will undergo certified skill development programs after college graduation and before FTE onboarding.
• High-performing GenCs have the opportunity to upskill for GenC Next or Pro. They receive increased pay in such scenarios. 

Cognizant Returnship Program

Individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce and wondering how to apply at Cognizant can explore the company’s returnship program. This is a 3-month paid experience for skilled technology professionals with a minimum of 5 years of prior working experience and an 18-month career break.

Through this program, you will get opportunities to upskill yourself, shadow real-time projects, and work with the latest technology. Towards the end of the program, you may be considered for a position with Cognizant.

Pro Tip: Since the Cognizant returnship program is a global program, the start dates and requirements may vary based on the location. Ensure that you research and review all the necessary information before applying for a job. 

Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider this program as an experienced professional looking to enter the workforce again:

• The program enables you to re-join the professional sphere with in-demand skills that align with business needs.
• You are integrated into suitable projects with Cognizant’s clients to help you get back to working as an experienced professional.
• You get on-the-job training and learning opportunities where you shadow an existing employee on real-time client projects. 
• You receive mentorship from senior Cognizant employees to facilitate professional growth and development.

To apply for the returnship program, you have to follow these simple steps:

1. Visit the Cognizant careers website and click on ‘Pathways and Programs.’
2. From the drop-down menu, select ‘Returnship.’
3. Scroll down to the end of the page, where you will find a section titled, ‘Submit your Profile.’
4. Complete the form provided to be considered for Cognizant Returnship opportunities.
5. Add your resume by clicking on the ‘Choose a file’ option under the ‘Resume’ section. 
6. Finally, click on ‘Submit.’

Conclusion

In this blog, we learned how to apply for a job in Cognizant. From exploring career opportunities on the company’s official website to leveraging campus placements and employee referrals, you can use diverse sources to successfully apply for a job at Cognizant. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to advance your career or a recent graduate ready to kick-start your professional journey, Cognizant offers diverse opportunities to join the workforce. Ensure that you navigate these programs according to your preferences and suitability. If you want to apply at another leading company in India, check out our blog on how to get a job at Tata Consultancy Services.