This is a presentation on what recruiters expect from MBA students plua a insight into factors students should look at as they enter the workplace.

1. The X Factor-
What Recruiters Want from MBA s

2. TheTopMBA.com Recruiter Survey (conducted each year
since 1990 between February and May) shows that, overall,
recruiters are satisfied with MBAs, rating them 2.3 (where 3
represents highly satisfied).
The TopMBA.com Recruiter Survey

3.  TheTopMBA survey found that, whilst almost all
employers were satisfied with analytical, language and
technical skills possessed by MBAs, there was a
common feeling that business schools are still not
doing enough to develop these softer skills (as shown
in chart).
The Top MBA Survey- CHART

4.  In a recent survey of 508 MBA employers from around the
world, QSTopMBA found that; people skills, strategic thinking,
and leadership were the three most important qualities for their
MBA hires.

5.  A separate survey of MBA recruiters
by Said Business School also
identified soft skills - communication,
entrepreneurship and creativity as of
greatest importance.
MBA Survey Reinforcement

6. Recruiters hire MBA’s for the X Factor
�When recruiters hire MBA’s :They look for the X factor
� the X-factor can best be described as an entrepreneurial
spirit or a drive and enthusiasm that makes this person stand
out from the crowd.
�This trait may not be unique to MBAs, but when you add in
other requirements, namely
�a requirement for academic rigour, a breadth of
understanding of general management, proven leadership
skills, language ability and geographic flexibility,
� it’s not surprising that an MBA becomes almost mandatory
to the hiring profile.

7. �Most MBA employers take the analytical and problem
solving skills as a given when they look at MBAs.They
really do focus on the soft skills when they make their
hiring decisions
�“A course in soft management skills, combined with
several live consulting assignments with real clients,
help to develop “the leadership and personal skills of
our MBAs” Manchester Business school”
The Bottomline

8.  � Investment banks place emphasis on problem solving and
initiative
 �They want people who have been successful in their former
careers, no matter what their background.
 � In an industry renowned for its quantitative nature, soft skills
remain key.
 �Most research and pure quant roles are filled by PhDs and
graduates
 � MBAs tend to prefer and are best at client facing roles, be it in
equities, fixed income or corporate finance.
Different sectors look for different
profiles

9. TheTopMBA.com survey also reveals that
recruiters have a strong preference for MBAs
with prior professional experience - 88%
prefer candidates with between two and eight
years of professional experience - only 4% will
hire MBAs without any prior work experience.
Professional experience

10.  Problems still arise with candidates who have great
experience but in a completely unrelated field.An
MBA does enable people to change their industry or
function, but they have to bring relevant
transferable skills
CITING
 A investment bank didn’t hire the MBA who was previously a
Jeweller. MBAs need to be realistic about how radical a career
change they can make
The Bottomline:
Prior experience is crucial … But

11. The Race Ahead……

12. Career Scope

13. What
you like
Areas of
Interest
Hobbies
Sports
Fun & Games
Reading
Writing
Music
Travelling
Cooking

14. What
you’re
good at
Qualifications
Extra Curricular
Activities Strengths
Opportunities
MBA/MSc
Fests
Communication
skills
Projects
Accolades
Management Skills
Knowledge
Span

15. Desired
Lifestyle/
Income
Family Upbringing
Lifestyle
Living for today or
tomorrow
Car/Bus
Debit/Credit
cards
PG/Apartment
Eating Habits
Dependent(s)
Clothes
Accessories

16. WORK
ACCESS
PREPARE
SEARCH
CONTACT
INTERVIEW
Job
Hunting
Cycle

17. WORK
 Track Achievements
 Connect with people
 Increase skills
 Assess yourself

18. ASSESS
 Identify Assets, Deficits
 Prepare Portfolio
 Develop Resume
 Target Specific jobs

19. PREPARE
 Wardrobe
 References
 Support Systems

20. SEARCH
 Used varied methods
 Connect with others
 Track progress

21. CONTACT
 Phone calls
 Cover letters
 Application forms

22. INTERVIEW
 Research
 Offer
 Questions
 Negotiations

23. Things to do
 Companies In India
 Performance
 Vacancies available
 Mapping qualifications required for vacancies
 Pay package
 People to reach out to

24. Are you
here?