Most B-school grads unlikely to land plum jobs this year: Survey

New Delhi: Stung by slowdown that has gripped the economy, a majority of B school graduates are unlikely to land plum jobs this year, owing to campus hirings dropping by a staggering 40 to 50 per cent, according to a study.

Barring top-rung institutes like the IIMs, most business schools are in for a lean placement season, along with a similar dip in the number of students opting for fresh admissions, said the study by industry body Assocham.

Moreover, the salary packages which are offered at B-schools and engineering colleges are also being curtailed by 35-40 per cent as compared to last year, the study revealed. "Global uncertainty has certainly affected the placement pattern at B-schools ~~amp;amp; engineering colleges.

This year the numbers of placements are fewer and there is also no hike in the average pay packages," Assocham Secretary General DS Rawat said. Apart from the IIMs and a handful of others, it will be difficult for several business schools to get 100 per cent placement in future, he added.

On a sector-wise analysis of companies participation in campus hiring, the study found that offers from the financial and telecom sectors have gone down by 35 per cent. The lean placement scenario has led to a drop of 40 to 50 per cent in the number of students seeking admissions to B-schools as well as engineering colleges, as recruitment is the primary objective most students to secure admissision in these colleges, the study found.

"Recruitments at the campus have gone down drastically. As a result a large number of the B-schools and engineering colleges are not able to attract students," Rawat said.

There has been a drop about 15,000-18,000 in total registrations this year, which means a 35 per cent drop in students appearing for the MAT exam conducted annually by the AIMA (All India Management Association), the study found.

More than 190 B-schools have already closed down in 2012 in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Dehradun while another 165 are struggling for survival, the study paper revealed.