Initial Learning Program (ILP)

Initial leaning Program (ILP) is a training program of TCS. All over India, following TCS ILP centers are there:

1. Ahmadabad
2.Chennai (Karapakkam)
3. Hyderabad
4. Kolkata
5. Trivandrum – Thiruvananthpuram

During this training period, you will be trained in technical and business skills aspects. Time period of training is 40 working days for On-campus placed people and 60 working days for Off-campus placed people. After getting offer-letter in hand, you will be given a choice to opt for the course you want yourself to be trained in. You will have to fill 3 choices and you will be assigned any of the those 3 choices. Various courses on which TCS provide IT training are:

1. Dot Net
2.Java
3. BIPM
4. Mainframes
5. C++/UNIX

At the same time, you will be given an option to fill the preferred location where you want yourself to be posted after training. Here also, you will have to provide 3 preferred locations and most probably you will get first preference after training.Now after offer letter, you will get joining letter describing your ILP location and all. Now, joining letter may say that you are pre-mapped or non pre-mapped. Pre-Mapped means that after training, your posting location (also called base location) will be same as your ILP location. For example, if your ILP is in Hyderabad, then your base location after training will be Hyderabad only. On the other hand, if you are pre-mapped candidate, then you will be posted most probably according to your preferred locations.

If you are on-campus placed person, then you will be given a course called 'Aspire' where you will learn some basic IT skills like basics of computers, basics of programmings, database management systems, business skills, problem solving etc. You have to go through the theory provided and after that you will have to appear for a test for each module. If you complete it soon, then you will get joining date soon. In the similar manner, you will also get a 'Tech-Lounge' course where you will be given a course on which you will be trained on during ILP. It may be Dot net, java, BIPM, mainframes or c++/UNIX. Here also you will have to complete modules and take tests. These are all mandatory things for on-campus people. Their training period will be  40 working days.

If you are off-campus placed person (like me), then completing Aspire and Tech-Lounge module is not compulsory for you. Your training period will be 60 working days.

AFTER JOINING ILP

After joining ILP, you will have to appear for two tests:

IRA1: This is initial readiness test 1 which will be based on your aspire module. There will be multiple choice questions.

IRA2: This is initial readiness test 2 which will be based on your tech-lounge module. This is not that easy but at the same time it is of no importance.

Note: When I joined, I didn't have IRA1. They only conducted IRA2. So I can't provide much information on IRA1. Some people says it is very important. If you perform bad in this, then there will be a chance of rescheduling of your ILP. But don't worry as this case is very rare.

English Oral and Written Test: After about 4-5 days of joining, you will have English communication and written tests. You will be given a topic on which you will have to speak. Similarly another topic will be given on which you will have to write.  In my case, whole batch was given 3 topics and we had to choose anyone of them to speak. Similar was the case for writing too. Both writing and speaking tests held on different days in my case.It depends on faculty what kind of approach he/she wants to follow. Someone will give you only single topic on the spot to speak (but don't worry you will get some time to think and write some relevant points in that time and then speak) or someone will give you 2-3 topics and you will have to choose anyone of them to speak. If you fail in any of these, then you will be in remedial (meaning that you will be given another chance). And if you will fail in remedial too, then you will be in LAP (meaning that your training period will be extended for another 20 working days). It is not necessary to speak fluent English in front of them. If you are average enough, you will make it clear just speak some relevant points on the topic that will be given to you. Prepare your mindset for these tests in advance if you feel that you are below average in communication.

ILP PHASES: 

ILP is divided into following two phases:

PHASE 1: Here you will learn all the basic concepts. For example, if you get Dot net as your stream for training then you will be learning basics of C# programming, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL server.

PHASE 2: Here you will enter into project phase where you will be given a case study and you have to implement that practically based on your learning during phase 1. You will be working in a team of 5 or 6 people in order to do that. A team lead will also be assigned. You will be given a date on which you have to present your final product in front of your technical and business skills faculties.

MORE ON ILP PROCESS

ILP is a virtual training system which means that no faculty is going to come and teach you. You will be provided some pdfs and video lectures (prepared by TCS faculties) on portal and you will have to learn all things by yourself. Yes, sometimes faculty will take sessions about your doubts and all.

You will have two faculties, one technical and one business skills. You will also have some business skills sessions where they will teach you some business aspects like team skills etc etc. They can also make you do some activities like performing skits and all. But this will depend on faculty. Some faculties are very interested in making people do some activities and some are not. This all depends. But you will enjoy in these sessions.

In ILP, you will have tests at regular intervals of time. These tests in ILP are called diagnostics. If you fail in any of the tests, then you will have a re-d0 (i.e. another chance). If you fail again, then there will be remedial (i.e. one more last chance). If you fail again then you will be in LAP and your training period will be extended by 10 working days.So, if you are in LAP in English communication/written test as I mentioned earlier, then your ILP will be extended by 20 working days and if you are in technical LAP, then it will be extended by 10 more working days. 

Moreover, you will have some IQLASS sessions. These are like video conferencing where some of the TCS ILP centers will join and one faculty from any of the ILP centers will teach you on a topic. You will have a mic in front of you. In case you want to ask any question, you just have to press a button. By doing so, your mic will be 'ON' and camera will catch you. You will sleep hard in these sessions no matter what.

After completion of all the diagnostics, you will have another test called PRA (project readiness assessment) which will nearly be same as IRA2 but of no importance. There is a myth that this test will decide your ilp ratings.But trust me, it is not like that. For ILP ratings, your overall performance will be measured.

POST ILP

After ILP, you will be posted to base branch. You will be assigned a particular domain and under that domain, you will get a project. Project may be of support, maintenance or development (very less chance). You will get development project if you are lucky because as a fresher you are not expected to work on development. But trust me it doesn't really matter in TCS. At the end, your performance will bring you appraisal. Don't be dismayed for not getting a development project. And yes, it is not necessary that you will get project on the same technology on which you were trained in ILP. If you are trained on dot net then you may get a java or unix or some other technology project. Be prepared for that too.

BENCH PERIOD

After ILP, first you will have to report to RMG (resource management group). RMG is a person who makes sure that you will have a project. After coming to base location, RMG will send you for various project interviews. For example, if your base location is Delhi, then he may send you to any of the TCS offices located in Delhi for the project interview. In project interview you will have a small discussion about what you did and what did you learn in your ILP. Mostly they will ask casual questions and they will check whether you are suitable for the project or not.

Note: Sometimes you won't have interviews for the project. You will be allocated to the project directly.There may be some c
hances that project managers will not find you suitable so you will be rejected and again RMG will send you to another project so don't worry about that.It is RMGs duty to get you into a project. Also there may be some chances that after coming to your base location, there will not be any projects available in domain assigned to you. In that case you will be considered 'on bench'. Don't worry you will be getting salary on regular basis. During bench period, you will have to report to RMG and come back that's it. Once any project comes, RMG will consider you for that. 

So, this is all about ILP process. I have provided you an overview. In case of any doubts, feel free to comment.