I virtually never thought that the Infosys training will bring such a drastic change in me. Here’s a few stuff I’d say about the training for those who don’t know what happens there:
- They train you on technologies like DotNet, Java and Open Systems (Perl, Python and Unix). I opted for DotNet.
- Our training was the Fast Track training (which includes 1.5 months of theory, 2.5 months of project) unlike the other long cycle training guys who experience a 6 month training. Also, ours was an internship program, i.e. we got to get into our training before we even passed out from our universities. This gives us a 6 month lead as compared to the non computer science guys recruited by Infy.
- The classes are module wise. Each module lasts from two to six days. The timings of the training are from nine in the morning to five in the evening.
- All modules are compulsory. Every module is followed by a lab work (well, not all, only the ones that were 4 days or longer) where we were asked to make a small application. The 2.5 month project is of course, separate or rather, independent of these lab applications.
- Every module was followed by a module test. The test would be an object type questions exam where you’ll need to pick a correct option out of 4/5/6 or as many options they give you. There is negative marking for every wrong answer.
- The criteria to clear or pass a module test is 65% marks or above. They have a CGPA system where you’ll need to maintain a CGPA of atleast 4 out of 5, which means 80% aggregate. So if you’re getting some 65s in your module exams, you must work hard to balance it to bring up the aggregate to 80 or above. Fortunately, I managed to get 90+ in the modules and the final exam, giving me a CGPA of 5 on 5. Believe me, having a CPGA of 5 has advantages. They give out awards and later, you’ll get monetary incentives when you join Infy as an employee.
- You might also need to clear in atleast N-2 of the N modules you’ll have. If you fail to pass more than 2 modules, you will be called back for re-training again. The modules exams are deep, but if you manage to go through their study material well, it’ll be a piece of cake for you. Stick to the slides. I did that, and I’m not repenting on any level.
- In case you can’t clear a module test, you can appear in the re exam, although that will give you just the passing grade no matter how well you score.
- Once you’re clear with the module tests, you’d need to prepare for the comprehensive examination. The compre is a 3 hour exam (may vary from batch to batch) that covers the entire syllabus taught to the trainees in the 1.5 months of the session period. The level of compre is usually easier than the module tests, although I strongly suggest that you do not take compre lightly whatsoever. Comprehensive exam has alone 23 credits — which is 5 more than the sum of all module credits. It’s basically a life saver for those who couldn’t perform well in their module tests.
- Just before the compre perception (theory) exam, you’ll have the compre handson (practical) exam. The handson has a whooping 50% share in the consolidated compre marks. Make sure you do well in your handson exam as well.
- This 1.5 month will drive you so crazy that you’ll feel like banging you head against the wall every now and then. Sitting at the computer labs till 12 midnight would become the only option for those who would fail to follow the module courses on a regular basis. The course material would overcome your skills to incorporate knowledge.
- Very frankly, you’ll realize the great deal of knowledge you will gain in your module sessions soon when you start working on your project. Everything will seem to be easier and feasible. Their amazing course material will always be there as an excellent reference material for whatever help you might need. Infy also conducts extra modules (they did it for our batch atleast) like AJAX, Silverlight etc. that you might need for your project work. You’ll be assigned a project mentor and you’ll strictly follow a professional approach towards software development. You’ll be preparing detailed documentation as well as a deliverable application that will be tested and polished in various stages of the application development.
- On the day of convocation, you’ll be honored with awards that you might earn during your training period. I was more than happy to receive the ‘award for excellence in training’, and it feels pretty darn good I must say
Along this time, together with studies, once we finished with the module session, we really had great fun in the 2.5 month project period. We worked, but be also visited every tourist spot at Mysore.
You can play a range of games like tennis, bowling, snooker, volleyball, basketball, and so forth. You can also enjoy your evening at the swimming pool, or sip cold coffee with a butterscotch sundae at the local ice cream outlet. We interns were provided with food coupons which we spent like kings. Our list of food populated day by day and we started having a 5 course meal every day! Of course, you can always stay at your ho(s)tel room and call up the Domino’s guys to deliver you a pizza with garlic bread and/or pasta 
In an nutshell, apart from the hospitality to the facilities, other than the room service to the laundromat (self washing of clothes at the laundry), apart from the shiny buildings and the green grass, apart from Rahul Vaidya singing at the amphitheater and the fancy musical fountain dancing at the soothing music, there is much more to this training that we have experienced. We have learnt as much as we might have in our entire engineering life. We studied as much as we might not have done even at our university final exams. We’ve changed from a nerd to geek! I don’t know if I will enjoy as much as an employee at Infy, only time can tell. But this training will make you so endured that you can crack any production level project with the greatest ease later when you join us at Infosys as an employee. Cheers to all Infoscions!
