If you finished a three-year degree in 2025 or 2026 and have been waiting for an IT opening that does not ask for an engineering degree, this one is worth a close look. Cognizant is hiring freshers for its Service Desk team under the Digital Workplace Practice, and registration closes at 11:59 pm on Saturday, 31 October 2026. That leaves just two days from today, Thursday, 29 October.
The role is for an Analyst Trainee, based in Cognizant offices across India. It is an off-campus drive, so anyone who meets the conditions can apply directly, whether or not Cognizant visited their college. Applications go through Superset, and shortlisted candidates are contacted by email with the next steps.
Who can apply
The eligibility rules are narrow, and that is the first thing to check. Cognizant has opened this drive only to graduates of three-year, full-time undergraduate courses. The eligible degrees are BCom, BCA, BSc, BA, BBA, BMS and B.Voc. Only the 2025 and 2026 passing-out batches can apply.
Candidates also need at least 50 percent marks in Class 10, Class 12 or diploma, and graduation. The marks are not rounded off, so 49.9 percent does not count as 50 percent. There should be no standing arrears or backlogs at the time of joining. Good spoken and written English matters for this role, because much of the day is spent talking to users and writing up their issues clearly.
Who cannot apply
Engineering graduates are not eligible for this particular drive. That includes B.E. and B.Tech holders and graduates of other four-year degree courses. Candidates with a full-time postgraduate degree, such as MCA, MBA, MSc or MCom, are also not eligible, as are graduates from batches other than 2025 and 2026.
What the job involves
The Service Desk is the first point of contact when employees of a client company run into IT trouble. A fresher joining the team would answer user calls, chats and emails, log each issue as a ticket, and work to close it within the agreed response time. The day-to-day work includes troubleshooting common hardware, software, login, email and network problems, passing on the harder cases to the right technical team, and keeping knowledge-base articles up to date so that common fixes are easy to find next time.
It is a support role, not a software development role, but it is a genuine way into IT for non-engineering graduates. Service desk experience can later lead to desktop support, IT operations, ITSM tools or cloud support work.
Salary, shifts and work pattern
Cognizant has not listed a salary figure in the listing for this drive, and candidates should treat any number doing the rounds online with care. Third-party estimates for Cognizant Analyst freshers are generally put in the range of Rs 2.9 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year, but that is a market estimate, not an official offer, and the actual figure is shared later in the hiring process.
The job is office-based, anywhere in India, and candidates must be willing to work in rotational shifts, including night shifts. The drive carries no service bond, according to the hiring details shared for this cycle. Candidates should confirm exact shift and transport terms for their location during the interview stage rather than assuming them.
How to apply
- Go to the official Cognizant campus recruitment portal or the Superset link given for this drive, and find the Digital Workplace Practice, Service Desk opportunity.
- Read the eligibility conditions and instructions carefully before starting the form.
- Register or sign in, and enter personal, educational and contact details accurately, making sure names and marks match the academic records.
- Upload a short resume, ideally no more than two pages, and keep academic documents ready for verification.
- Submit the form before 11:59 pm on 31 October 2026, and keep the registration confirmation safe. Watch the registered email and phone for assessment and interview details.
One caution applies to every off-campus drive. Cognizant does not charge candidates for interviews or offer letters. Never pay anyone who promises a job, and never share passwords, OTPs or bank details with an unknown caller. Apply only through the official portal.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for the Cognizant Service Desk drive?
Registration closes at 11:59 pm on 31 October 2026. The window is open now, and late applications are not accepted after the deadline.
Which batches and degrees are eligible?
Graduates of 2025 and 2026 with a three-year, full-time degree in BCom, BCA, BSc, BA, BBA, BMS or B.Voc. B.E. and B.Tech graduates and full-time postgraduates are not eligible for this drive.
Is there a minimum marks requirement?
Yes. Candidates need at least 50 percent in Class 10, Class 12 or diploma, and graduation, with no standing backlogs at the time of joining.
Where is the job located, and what are the shifts?
The role is office-based across India, with rotational shifts including night shifts. Candidates should be willing to work from a Cognizant office anywhere in India.
Has Cognizant announced the salary for this role?
No. The listing does not specify a salary. Online estimates for Analyst freshers are in the range of Rs 2.9 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year, but that is not an official figure.
For 2025 and 2026 graduates from non-engineering courses, this is a clear window. Check the eligibility, keep the documents ready, and apply before the 31 October deadline rather than on it.
