This is an aspect of B-school that is always on a student’s mind. There is no denying that a major motivation of coming for an MBA is the ensuing placement. Many a time, we are told by alumni how the first placement is not the only thing that matters in the long run. Yet, we do take our placements quite seriously.
So what should we look for in a company? Be it during placements or later ahead in our careers. I am not qualified enough to determine what factors will matter later. But here is what I feel matters during placements:
1. Growth Potential
One needs to be selfish when it comes to deciding which company to choose. Look at what growth the company will provide you with. Not only the growth of the company in general, but for your role in particular. Is it a role where you get to interact with the best in the company and with the clients? In what time frame will you rise to a certain level if you do stick with the company?
2. Work Content
At least 10-12 (even more usually) hours of yours will be spent at work every day. Unless you enjoy the work that you are doing, it may get taxing and mundane. Perhaps expecting oneself to wake up on Monday morning with a smile is too much to expect. But getting up with a frustrated groan is also not ideal. So ensure your work is in line with your interests and talents. Many times, for instance in finance, the initial couple of years may be boring work. But that would be followed by exciting and very well paid work. In that case, you have to make a call whether the initial boredom is worth the eventual rise.
3. Work Culture
Those who have come with prior work experience know how major a factor this is. Every company does have a culture and a reputation regardless of whether they have actively tried to create it. Talk to your friends in the industry or with past experience in the company and see if the work culture is one you will enjoy. There is no set pattern for an ideal work culture. But it is essential that you know what suits you best and whether your company is able to align with that.
4. Sector Preference
This is also a tricky one. What if the other factors are great but the sector as a whole is one that you did not envision yourself in? A lot of us face this quandary during our summer internship or final placements. You must be rather careful here because changing sectors later is not a very easy task. Consulting to any other sector is a relatively easier task. But, for instance, Finance to Marketing and vice versa is tough.
5. Package
Last but not the least, the package is definitely something you take into count. Even if the initial package is below the typical average offered, look at how the pay rises in the next 3-5 years and whether it is worth it. But again, I have heard nearly all alumni say that 10 years down the line, a job in any sector will be such that money will not be an issue to think about. Hence, do not let it be the most important factor on your mind.
A way to go about this entire process could be to give weights to each of these priorities and then rank them on a scale of 1-5. The weights would be depending on how much each factor matters to you personally.
All the best with all of your careers :)
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