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Trends in Recruiting Show Much-Improved Job Outlook for MBAs

Published: Jan 18, 2011

 Education       Grad School       

The MBA hiring market shows steady signs of recovery as a recent survey shows that at most schools on-campus recruiting is much improved, full-time job postings have jumped in number and internship placement is expected to be strong this summer.

The fall recruiting trends survey, conducted by the MBA Career Services Council, shows that 63 percent of 79 schools surveyed said on-campus recruiting rose, while 26 percent said it remained flat compared to last year, when most schools reported a decline.

Which sectors reported the biggest improvement in hiring since last spring? Consulting firms saw the largest net change by far (about 60 percent of firms reported increased recruiting), followed by companies in the financial services sector, which saw a decrease in activity last year.  Real estate was the only sector that didn't show any improvement.

The survey notes the ways in which business schools changed up to improve student job placement. They began reaching out to employers more; they placed a stronger focus on networking skills; more career treks; stronger relationships with career-oriented student clubs; many schools even changed their curriculums to better suit specific companies' requests. Specifically, tapping into alumni networks more aggressively and creating stronger employer outreach appears to have had an effect. The biggest spikes in full-time recruiting activity were in alumni-initiated hiring and direct referrals/placements, with about 60 percent of schools reporting an increase.

A recruiter for Booz Allen Hamilton told the , "When the hiring for MBAs went down, I got more calls from business schools than I ever had before"…"they have definitely been more receptive to our suggestions."

[Fall 2010 Recruiting Trends Survey Results - MBA Career Services Council]

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