HCL Technologies joined hands with Madras University for day one slot at colleges � even those in the tier I and tier II cities under the university's ambit. Meanwhile, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is attempting to fend off rivals at its traditional hunting ground, the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT). The biggest battle is for bagging the number one slot -- usually the first day of recruitment -- at top engineering colleges.

With ambitious hiring plans laid out for the coming year, information technology majors are not only making sure they reach the campuses early, they are also trying to fend off rivals by wooing universities for the fiercely contested "day one slot." Institute placements follow a hierarchical order where top firms are given the day one slot and the rest follow.