FMCG: The Preferred Choice

The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector has emerged as the most preferred industry for management graduates, with 44 per cent students rating the sector as the best option for coming placement session. The finding were revealed in the recently conducted Nielsen Campus Track B-School Survey, under which a total of 1,362 management students (graduating in 2010) from the top 40 management institutes were interviewed.

While certain key consultant companies still dominate campus recruitments, most FMCG players have gained in perception as compared to last year. FMCG has also topped the ‘industry of future’ list. Other industries preferred are management consulting, foreign banks, entertainment/media, and software/IT consultancy/IT services. The industry that has shown a significant movement in preference is entertainment and media.

According to the survey, HUL and P&G are considered "dream companies" for students with 64.2 per cent and 60.9 per cent of students are considering applying to these companies, respectively. In line with last year's survey, Ratan Tata remains the role model for management students due to graduate in 2010.

"The security that FMCG sector provides forms a major attraction for the graduating batch. However, the affects of economic downturn can still be seen as three out of every four students feels that recession is going to affect their final placements," says Shaveta Bhardwaj, the associate director of client solutions, The Nielsen Company.

After FMCG (33 per cent), the sectors showing promise for the future are Entertainment/Media (28 per cent), Management Consulting (26 per cent), Retailing and Telecom (both 23 per cent), and Oil & Energy (22 per cent).

Among various factors that drove their decision while choosing a company, good job prospects topped the list with 69 per cent votes. Other critical factors include high degree of independence (65 per cent), good market standing and good salary package (both 60 per cent), good job content (58 per cent), and a good take-home salary (57 per cent).

The average salary expectation of students from their "dream company" has notched up a few decimals to Rs 14.6 lakhs this year. Salary expectation from a foreign company is almost twice than that from an Indian company.

Triggers To Switch Jobs

Most graduates (almost 70 per cent) expect to move out of their first job in less than four years. The top three reasons for moving on are better career options (66 per cent), better salary (50 per cent), and better designation (44 per cent). 13 per cent of students would quit their job to pursue higher studies. However, a good designation with considerable autonomy, good pay and learning opportunities will deter them from further studies.

Feedback from seniors (79 per cent), summer training experience (78 per cent), and pre-placement talks (71 per cent) were considered as the most credible sources of information about a company, according to the survey. The activities undertaken by a company on campus also adds to their standing with students. Case study presentations, interactive sessions with key industry personalities and sponsorships are the most-commonly held activities on campuses.

Source: http://www.businessworld.in

Date: 31st Dec., 2009

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