The hiring landscape for 2026 is officially open with major global corporations announcing their flagship early-talent programs. From Cisco’s prestigious apprenticeship in Bangalore to IBM’s backend development internships and NatWest’s specialized AI/ML engineering contracts, there is a diverse range of roles for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 graduation batches. Whether you are a non-technical graduate seeking business operations experience or a B.Tech student aiming for a Full Stack career at Milliman, this guide provides the direct pathways to these high-impact roles.
Apply for top 2026 job openings: Cisco Sales Operations Trainee, IBM Backend Intern, NatWest AI/ML Software Engineer, and Milliman Trainee Full Stack. Explore direct application links for freshers and 2025-2026 graduates in Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Noida.
1. Cisco Off-Campus 2026: Sales Operations Analyst Trainee
Cisco’s Apprenticeship Program is one of the most sought-after non-technical career starts in India. Based in Bangalore, this role is designed for 2025 graduates who want to merge business acumen with technology operations.
Role Overview & Responsibilities
As a Sales Operations Analyst Trainee, you will function as a vital link between sales strategy and data-driven execution. You won’t just be “supporting” sales; you will be analyzing the data that drives Cisco’s go-to-market strategies.
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Sales Enablement: Assist in data crunching to provide insights for New Year Readiness (NYR) activities and sales planning.
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Process Governance: Collaborate with stakeholders on account creation and ensure data integrity within CRM tools.
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Reporting & Visualization: Master MS Excel and PowerPoint to build dashboards for senior leadership reviews.
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Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, and Sales teams to execute campaigns.
Eligibility Criteria
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Educational Background: 3-year Bachelor’s degree (BBA, B.Sc, BCA, B.Com, or BA).
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Batch: 2025 graduates only.
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Requirement: Must be enrolled on the NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) portal with a valid ID.
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Skills: Proficient in Excel, strong communication, and an analytical mindset.
2. IBM: Backend Developer Intern
IBM is opening doors for 2025 and 2026 graduates to join their software engineering teams in Bangalore. This internship is focused on building the robust server-side logic that powers IBM’s enterprise cloud and AI solutions.
Technical Skillset Required
IBM looks for candidates with a deep passion for computer architecture and systems design. You will be expected to have:
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Programming Proficiency: Strong knowledge of C, C++, or Java.
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Scripting Mastery: Experience with Python, JavaScript, Perl, or Bash for automation.
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Core Fundamentals: Understanding of Computer Architecture, Networking, and Debugging.
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Preferred Tools: Experience with Git/GitHub, IntelliJ, and knowledge of Mainframes is a massive plus.
The Intern Experience
Unlike standard internships, IBM interns are integrated into feature teams, working on real-world software design and testing cycles. You will gain exposure to enterprise-grade version control and agile methodologies.
Apply Link: https://careers.ibm.com/en_US/careers/JobDetail/Back-end-Developer-Intern/62243
3. NatWest Group: Software Engineer – AI/ML (Contract)
NatWest is hiring for a specialized 6-month fixed-term contract in Bangalore, specifically targeting the intersection of Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. This is a “Gold Mine” opportunity for 2024 and 2025 graduates with a background in AIML.
Responsibilities (What You’ll Do)
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Innovative Solutions: Build customer-centric, high-performance AI scripts and tools.
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API Integration: Develop seamless data exchange layers between legacy systems and modern AI models.
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AI/ML Research: Conduct research on the latest trends in Gen AI, LLMs, and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).
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Cloud Deployment: Utilize AWS services to manage and deploy machine learning models.
Must-Have Skills
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Academic: B.Tech or M.Tech (preferably in AIML or Software Design).
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Core AI: Proficiency in Python, Deep Learning, NLP, and RAG architectures.
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Experience: 0 to 1 year of experience (Freshers with strong projects are eligible).
Apply Link: https://jobs.natwestgroup.com/jobs/16848828-software-engineer-aiml-fixed-term-contract-6-months
4. Milliman: Trainee Software Engineer
Milliman is one of the world’s largest providers of actuarial and related products. Their Gurgaon office is hiring freshers for a Trainee Full Stack Engineer role, offering a comprehensive launchpad into modern web engineering.
Career Pathway: Full Stack Development
As a trainee at Milliman, you will work within a distributed global team, gaining hands-on experience with:
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Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and React.js (including Redux).
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Backend: .NET Core and C# (OOPS concepts are critical here).
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Data Engineering: Databricks, SQL, and Azure cloud infrastructure.
Why Milliman?
The company offers a structured mentorship program where freshers are guided by senior architects. They focus heavily on “Commitment to Excellence” and “Global Collaboration,” making it ideal for those who value quality code and professional ethics.
5. Breathe ESG: SDE Intern (Sustainability Tech)
Breathe ESG is a fast-growing SaaS startup in the sustainability space. They are looking for SDE Interns who have a “hacker mindset”—those who enjoy breaking systems to make them better.
Internship Details
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Duration: 6 Months with a high probability of a PPO (Pre-Placement Offer).
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Batch: 2026 or early graduates.
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Focus: Automated workflows, testing systems, and product reliability.
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Impact: You will contribute to reshaping ESG reporting and decarbonization for global enterprises.
How to Apply: Send your resume directly to hr@breatheesg.com
Comparative Salary & Role Matrix 2026
| Company | Role Type | Location | Target Batch | Primary Skill |
| Cisco | Apprenticeship | Bangalore | 2025 | Excel, Sales Ops |
| IBM | Internship | Bangalore | 2025/26 | Java/C++, Python |
| NatWest | Fixed-Term | Bangalore | 2024/25 | AIML, Python |
| Milliman | Trainee SDE | Gurgaon | Freshers | .NET, React |
| Breathe ESG | Intern (PPO) | Bangalore | 2026 | Automation, QA |
How to Crack These 2026 Interviews
For Sales Ops (Cisco)
The interview will focus heavily on logical reasoning and case-based scenarios. Be prepared to explain how you would handle a large dataset to identify a sales trend. Brush up on VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and basic data visualization.
For Software Engineering (IBM, Milliman, NatWest)
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The Basics: OOPS concepts (C# or Java) are the foundation for Milliman and IBM.
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AI/ML Focus: If applying to NatWest, ensure you can explain RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and how LLMs are fine-tuned.
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Coding Standards: Practice writing “Clean Code.” Companies in 2026 value readability as much as functionality.
For Internships (Breathe ESG)
Startups like Breathe ESG value ownership. Mention any personal projects where you took a product from “0 to 1” or where you identified and fixed a critical bug in an open-source repo.
Final Checklist for Applicants
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ATS Optimization: Use keywords like “AIML,” “React,” “.NET Core,” and “Sales Operations” in your resume.
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NATS Registration: For the Cisco role, ensure you have your NATS ID ready.
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LinkedIn Presence: Recruiters from companies like Breathe ESG often check your LinkedIn activity; ensure your profile reflects your technical interests.
The 2026 hiring season is competitive, but these five openings offer some of the best entry points for both technical and non-technical graduates. Apply early, as these roles often close as soon as a target number of quality applications is reached.
