'Consulting is the most-sought after sector' - Really? This survey revealing top dream companies of MBA students speaks otherwise!

...in continuation with (What makes Indian B-Schoolers choose one company over another?)

Here is a list of Top 10 Dream Companies to work for according to Premier 30 B-School Students’ (as part of the D2C Campus Employer Branding Report 2021, covered by Forbes India) that clearly reflects the student's mindset and why they want to work for them.

10. Procter & Gamble (P&G) 

We have P&G in the tenth place on the tally of the top dream companies to work for! Trusted by millions, this 183-year-old American multinational consumer goods corporation is known for challenging convention and leading innovation. Over the years, P&G has given access to unparalleled development programs for students and professionals to help them start their careers on the right foot.

Whether it is workshops, internships, B-School competitions like P&G CEO Challenge, hackathons, seminars, training sessions, they have learning-focused programs across a wide array of areas.

9. Goldman Sachs

The next spot is taken by Goldman Sachs, one of the largest investment banking firms, for its extensive opportunities to learn everything there is to know about the finance industry. From Exploratory Programs to Full-time Jobs and Internships, the company is dedicated to providing a hands-on experience even to its interns rather than making them learn just by watching.

Who knows, the next lucky intern to grab a PPO straight from the internship is you!

8. Tata Sons

Here comes one of the topmost employer brands - Tata Sons! Name anything, and TATA is already doing its best. Be it work-life balance or providing a sustainable career to the employees, the conglomerate is way ahead in the league. 

Do you know that a fair number of TCS employees believe that the company offers jobs with not only a positive outlook on their future but also assures job security? It's also comforting to know that they feel TCS is a brand that can help them boost their career.

Due credits for such an impactful employer branding go to its rigorous campus engagements, whether it is Campus Connect programs or B-School competitions like TATA Crucible, TATA Imagination Challenge, the company is in the good books of the students.

Read how Tata Imagination Challenge became one of the biggest B-School campus engagement!

7. ITC

Call it Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited, or India Tobacco Company Limited, or ITC Limited, it has a special corner in the hearts and minds of the MBA students. To be honest, how can someone shut one’s eye to its glamorous jobs and fat-pay checks! (duh!)

The company employs over 28000 people at more than 60 locations, has over 200 manufacturing locations across India, and is part of the Forbes 2000 list - all of this along with its vast growth opportunities makes ITC the perfect dream company for many MBA grads.

Known for its unique campus engagement initiative Interrobang?! (ITC Interrobang Case Challenge and the InterroJam Sessions), the company offers a golden opportunity to win amazing prizes and PPIs to the students. Not to forget to mention its InterroQuiz, a daily online quiz hosted on its Facebook page - 'ITC Hub n Scope' to learn more about the company. (Well, that’s quite an applaudable employer branding!)

6. Microsoft

Microsoft is an example of a rare breed – a business that isn’t afraid to shake up a convention or enter new markets. This is the dream company of those students who have done a different kind of MBA - one that is a mix of humility and creativity. The company has reinvented itself in various ways by moving beyond its staple solutions for enterprise clients and IoT devices. 

And this is what Microsoft does when it comes to helping students jumpstart their careers. They provide a platform that motivates students to innovate and change the world. Besides their internship programs that provide real-world projects in collaboration with teams across the world, they offer a plethora of modules and programs that focus on learning and growing skills.

5. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

BCG is the home to some of the smartest people on the planet! Indra Nooyi (former CEO of PepsiCo) Bill Bain (founder of Bain & Co), John Legend (Grammy award-winning musician) are the well-known bright talents of the company. It won’t be wrong if we say that BCGers don't like to follow the status quo. It is definitely the place for thinkers and doers (and above all a dream consulting firm for millions).

They have consulting internships and a distinguished platform that invites students to join BCG by just submitting an online application. So, if you are a passionate, forward-thinking, open-minded, and accomplished student, BCG is your place.

Note: Hit the mark by writing the cover letter that can get you hired!

4. McKinsey & Company 

Do you know that McKinsey & Company has nearly half of their incoming consultants as MBAs? 

Well, this should not come to you as a surprise because its insane training, Fortune 100 client interaction, exceptional development programs, vast clientele, and dream-like exit opportunities attract MBA grads to kick their career up a notch.

The company looks for students with a variety of academic backgrounds from colleges and universities around the world. They also run on-campus events and a virtual summer program - McKinsey Early Access that provide multiple opportunities to build meaningful connections in advance.

3. Amazon

When you talk about dream companies to work for, Amazon has to be there! After all, who doesn’t want to work alongside peers and leaders – diving deep into projects, programs, and services that impact millions of customers? 

Amazon has always brilliantly conceptualized campus activities and engagements aimed at employer branding, thus ensuring that students get deep insights into how the company works and what opportunities they will get if they work with them. Whether it is their famed ACE Challenge or recently launched Amazon Advertising S.M.A.R.T Challenge, they successfully cherry-pick the best fit for their company through such activities. 

Note: Did we mention that their leadership development program also offers incubation across Amazon’s diverse businesses?

2. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)

The second position on the tally of Top 10 Dream companies to work for according to Premier 30 B-School students (as per D2C Campus Employer Branding Report 2021) is bagged by HUL. Admired by many, MBA graduates champ at the bit to participate in their campus activities and be a part of this CEO factory!

HUL clearly understands the future of work isn’t just about data, robots, and algorithms – it’s really about people. They invest smartly in the structure, content, and marketing campaigns of their campus engagements that draw the attention of MBA students vividly. It is these efforts by the company that has made HUL L.I.M.E the poster boy of the B-School competitions. (Correct us if we are wrong!)

Also Read: How HUL L.I.M.E went global!

Interesting Fact: HUL L.I.M.E. reclaimed its place as the D2C most prestigious B-School competition 2021 across B-Schools!

1. Google

3, 2,1...and we have the champion!

Google is undeniably a highly popular company among MBA grads. Google’s offices do offer many amenities but the one thing that distinguishes Google from other employers is their culture and open working structure. They’ve always fostered an environment where their employees feel comfortable being themselves because they believe that ideas can come from anyone at any time! 

But, behind their glamourizing stage lies their unique campus engagements. It is with the help of these activities (be it case-study challenges, hackathons, or leadership lessons) they make sure to leave an indelible mark on the minds of MBA students. The best example is the Google Case Competition launched in 2018, where they even gave students a tour of their office! It is these prudently curated engagements that attribute to the word-of-mouth publicity and hence creating a strong recall value!

Is consulting really the most sought after? 

Google is the most sought after company and overall too 3 FMCG companies namely HUL, ITC & TATA make it to the list. Well, B-schoolers do want to work with consulting firms due to lucrative perks but if we look at this list of top 10 companies, only 2 consulting companies feature in top 10! 

A game of campus employer branding... 

In a staunch battle of hiring the best talent, companies are pulling out all the stops. They are making sure that their organization is the student’s foremost consideration when applying for jobs. From crafting a masterpiece of campus engagement to providing all fancy perks, all they want is a long-lasting effect on the minds of MBA students.

Hackathons, case study challenges, simulation games, are some of the campus engagement activities, but what about an insightful interaction with the students even before they join the campuses? One such example of this one-to-one interaction is D2C IGNITE where renowned leaders and recruiters from companies like McKinsey, Bain & Co., Flipkart, HUL, AT Kearney, LÓreal, PepsiCo, TATA-TAS, ITC Ltd., Reliance, RPG, Aditya Birla Group, RPG Group, Reckitt, Amazon, Marico, and many more guide the students and give them the first-hand account of industry outlook, their competitions, and leadership programs.

All in all, campus engagements are the cornerstone of brand awareness among students. They help students recognize the companies on campus and build excitement. (And if you will allow your analytical skills to take a quick overview of the top 10 dream companies of the MBA grads, an effective campus employer branding is a common ground they share!

If you are looking for more information, talk with our sales team.

Email your queries at sales@dare2compete.com or make a call at 9311777388!

Having said this, here are some of the resources at your disposal that might pique your interest: 

• D2C Campus Employer Branding Report 2021
• A definitive guide to build a strong employer brand
• Debunking the Myths associated with Employer Branding
• How building an Employer Brand can make all the difference
• How to conceptualize B-School and Engineering campus engagements for enhancing employer brand equity