New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- Companies across several industries have gone slow on hiring mandates. According to India's top recruitment firms, the domino effect of a drop in consumer demand in urban areas, stricter norms in the banking sector towards hiring of temporary employees, and a weak festive season are playing out in the January-March quarter of the current fiscal.

For India Inc., peak hiring season is in the festive season typically between September and December. Companies in the consumer, retail, logistics, e-commerce, insurance and banking sectors see a spurt in hiring as people splurge during this period. Hence, the demand for sales, marketing and feet-on-the-street employees who are hired both on temporary and permanent basis.

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