GCC vs startup vs IT services: how their hiring processes differ
In this article (6 sections)
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Hiring for data and AI roles in India usually follows three broad patterns. Global capability centres (GCCs) tend to run structured, multi-round processes with standard levels and background checks. Startups tend to move faster with fewer rounds, heavier weight on practical work and the founder or hiring manager deciding. IT services firms often hire in volume, through campus drives, off-campus tests and project-specific requisitions. Each rewards different preparation, so it helps to know which one you are facing before round one.
These are general patterns, not rules. Any single company can differ, and the job description and recruiter's first call are the best guide to its actual process.
The three processes, side by side
| Stage | GCC | Startup | IT services |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you enter | Careers portal, referral, recruiter | Referral, founder or team post, job boards | Campus drive, off-campus test, portal, vendor |
| Screening | Recruiter call on level, notice period, CTC | Short call, often with the hiring manager | Online aptitude or coding test for volume hiring |
| Technical rounds | Two or three: SQL/coding, domain, system or case | One or two, often a take-home or live build | One or two, often on fundamentals and the project stack |
| Managerial | Hiring manager plus sometimes a senior leader | Founder or team lead | Project or delivery manager |
| HR round | Formal; compensation bands, policies | Brief; equity or ESOP may come up | Formal; standard grades |
| Typical speed | Slower, many approvals | Can be days | Varies with project urgency |
| Background check | Usually thorough, via an agency | Varies | Usually standard |
What each is really testing
GCC. Can you work within a large global organisation: clear communication with teams in other time zones, careful handling of data governance, and depth in the specific stack. Levelling matters; the same title can map to different bands.
Startup. Can you ship something useful with little support. Expect questions like "how would you build this in a week?" and a take-home that looks like real work. Speed and ownership count as much as technique.
IT services. Can you be deployed onto a client project quickly. Fundamentals, certifications relevant to the client's stack, and the ability to explain your projects clearly matter. For some roles, a client interview follows the internal one.
A preparation matrix
Use this to plan your week before each process.
| Preparation | GCC | Startup | IT services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehearse SQL and Python fundamentals | High | Medium | High |
| One portfolio project you can demo live | Medium | High | Medium |
| A written case or design answer | High | Medium | Low |
| Knowledge of the company's product | Medium | High | Low; know the client domain if told |
| Salary band research | High | Medium; ask about ESOP terms | Medium |
| Documents ready for verification | High | Medium | High |
| Aptitude test practice | Low | Low | High for volume drives |
For take-home work, which startups use most, see time-boxing a take-home assignment.
Questions to ask the recruiter on the first call
The answers tell you which pattern you are in:
1. How many rounds are there, and what does each one cover?
2. Who makes the final decision?
3. Is there a take-home or live exercise? How long is it expected to take?
4. What level is this role, and what is the band for that level?
5. How long does the process usually take from here to an offer?
6. For this role, will I work directly with clients or customers?Question 6 matters most for forward-deployed and solutions roles, which exist at all three types of company. At a GCC, "client" may mean an internal business unit in another country; at a startup, a paying customer; at an IT services firm, the account you are deployed to.
Logging the process
Record each company's type and rounds in your job application tracker. After ten or fifteen applications you will see which type moves you furthest, and where you drop out. That is better evidence for where to focus than any general advice, including this article.
Choosing between offers from different types
When offers arrive from more than one type, compare the work you will do in the first year, not the brand. Use the questions in accepting a job offer to get each offer's terms in writing before deciding.
The FDE for Freshers programme runs for 6–7 months and combines engineering foundations with the client-facing delivery skills that forward-deployed roles at all three company types ask about.
Pankit Kumar has 10 years in Data Science & AI, building and shipping production systems in regulated pharma and clinical environments. He is a freelance trainer at Boston Institute of Analytics, AnalytixLabs and Scaler, and has taught this material to thousands of working professionals.
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