Recruiters prefer MBAs with experience

Business-school graduates with work experience are at an advantage compared to their peers who have never worked before, at a time of sluggish campus placements. Leading management colleges and companies say inducting candidates who know how to meet corporate demands and are aware of the latest management skills are preferred over novices.

- Devina Sengupta [e-mail] MUMBAI

"When there are rapid changes in the business environment, companies want people who have the latest skills and corporate experience.

They need senior management who can think out of the box and prefer a recent MBA graduate with work experience to someone who completed the degree a few years ago," said Amit Karna, chairperson for PGPX at IIM-Ahmedabad.

PGPX is a one-year, full-time MBA programme for management executives. Karna highlighted that since the pandemic, the unpredictability has eliminated concepts like fiveyear plans in companies that are now replaced by short-term goals.

Consulting firm Deloitte, which is one of the top recruiters at B-schools, explains why a work experience makes the cut.