Campus placement has become a critical mechanism facilitating the transition from higher education to employment, particularly in emerging educational hubs such as Coimbatore. While institutions frequently measure placement success through the number of offers and salary packages secured, limited research examines whether campus placements genuinely contribute to sustainable early career development. The present study investigates the influence of campus placement on early career outcomes of graduates in Coimbatore. The research focuses on salary levels, job quality, career growth opportunities, job satisfaction, and alignment with career aspirations. Primary data were collected from 116 graduates across engineering, commerce, science, and management streams using a structured questionnaire. Simple percentage analysis was applied to interpret the findings. The results reveal that although campus placement plays a significant role in facilitating employment access, perceptions regarding job quality, career alignment, and long-term growth remain mixed. While a substantial proportion of graduates secured moderate salary packages (₹4–6 LPA), dissatisfaction regarding competitive compensation and career counselling support was evident. Many respondents prioritized job quality over salary for long-term success, indicating evolving career awareness among graduates. The study concludes that campus placement serves as a gateway to employment but requires structural improvement to enhance sustainable career outcomes. Institutions must shift focus from quantity-based placement metrics toward quality-based career development strategies.
Harshini et al. (Thu,) studied this question.