The Placement Reality at IIMs: An Overview of Recent Cases

For aspiring business managers, enrolling in one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is undoubtedly a gateway to numerous career opportunities. However, what happens when graduates do not get placed?

Understanding the Current Context

Take, for example, my personal experience at MDI Gurgaon in 2020—a year when the economy was in a recession due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scenario for placements that year was particularly tough. Companies were hesitant to commit large numbers of offers, and the secondary wave of the pandemic added an extra layer of uncertainty.

During our final placements:

2 of my seniors received placement offers from startups, but these were ultimately rescinded. Another student underwent a withdrawal due to family business reasons. A notable fact remains that not a single year at MDI has seen a scenario where no student gets an offer.

While these were challenging times, the general trend at IIMs has been remarkable, with placement rates typically ranging between 98% to 99%. This high placement rate often excludes instances where students opt out of placements to pursue their own ventures or other business opportunities.

Rare Cases and Exceptions

Occasionally, one might come across stories of students who do not get placed or take a longer than usual time to secure an offer. These instances are indeed rare and are usually linked to the candidate’s profile or their performance during the interview rounds.

For instance, in 2001 and 2008, there were rare cases of students not finding placements in a timely manner. These events were exceptions rather than the norm. It’s important to understand that these cases do not reflect the general practice or expectation for students graduating from the IIMs.

Place of Choice or Not

A related query often arises: Do students end up in jobs they didn’t initially prefer? The answer is yes, some do. However, this was not the main focus of my observation. The primary challenge stems from the large number of students who secure placements well within the expected timeframe.

Typically, IIMs boast a 98% to 99% placement rate, with the bottom 20% getting the lowest pay packages. This on-campus employment scenario is quite different from that of foreign B-schools, where the placement period might extend up to 3–9 months beyond graduation.

Conclusion and Advice

While it’s true that there may be occasional setbacks and rare exceptions in the placement scenario at IIMs, the overall track record remains impressive. If you're preparing for entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, or NMAT, it's crucial to focus on your preparation and stay positive.

If you have any more questions or need further assistance with your preparation, feel free to reach out. Best of luck!