For students who are studying or planning to study an MBA, the job market situation has undergone significant changes. The days when it was enough to wait for interview day and receive an offer from a large company after one or two interviews are gone. Now, companies approach candidate selection much more thoughtfully.
The job search process itself has changed—when, where, and how a student finds a job. Data from the BT-MDRA Best B-Schools Survey 2026-27 shows that instead of waiting for final employment, companies now prefer to evaluate students over a long period through internships, practical projects, and pre-employment offers (PPO).
If one assumes that jobs are only available at the top 25 business schools in the country, the statistics may be surprising. Previously, the employment rate in the top 25 universities was 97.5%, but this figure has dropped to 96.4%. At the same time, in colleges ranked 51st to 75th, this rate has significantly increased from 87.4% to 93.8%.
The scholarship situation has also changed: the average scholarship in the top 25 colleges has dropped by 23%, while students from colleges ranked 51-75 have seen a 20% increase in scholarships.
Companies are less likely to assign positions without prior vetting. PPO rates have also decreased in leading institutions. Simply listing 'AI' or 'IIM' on a resume no longer guarantees a high salary. Employers are now closely examining what real results a student achieved during an internship and whether they benefited the company with their project or work.
Director Debashish Chatterjee of IIM Kozhikode and Professor Rohit Sindwani of MDI Gurgaon emphasize that modern companies can fully assess a candidate in just 2-3 months of internship, and if the result is positive, they immediately offer a PPO. According to Sarvanan Balsunduram, CEO of the talent consulting firm 'Han Digital', employers do not want to risk two years relying solely on 2-3 rounds of interviews; they want to see the candidate in action first.
Interestingly, the number of companies visiting campuses has increased by 8-10%, but this does not automatically mean an increase in vacancies. Recruiters visit all colleges, but they hire only those who truly possess the necessary qualities. Although the average package in the top 10 business schools could reach 29.9 thousand rupees, there is a decline in salary levels in lower-ranked colleges, indicating the high selectivity of the market.
Attracting the new generation, known as 'Generation Z', has become a complex task. Today, companies are not the only ones interviewing students; they themselves have to come to campuses to demonstrate the superiority of their corporate culture and offered roles. HR specialists spend an entire day interacting with students trying to attract them. The point is simple: if you have real skills, you know how to effectively use artificial intelligence, and you can solve business problems, then you shouldn't worry about the salary—companies will start looking for you.