Job Market Kinder to HIgher Ranked Schools

A new study confirms what pretty much everyone knows: graduating from a more highly ranked school yields better job and employment opportunities.

The study, released today (June 6) by the MBA Career Services Council, found that 76% of schools reported an increase in on-campus activity for full-time positions compared with last spring. That confirms earlier reports that this year’s job market for MBAs has had a dramatic turnaround from the recession-plagued market of two years ago.

More importantly, though, the study found that the improvement at higher ranked schools was generally better than unranked business schools or lower ranked institutions (see table below). Some 83% of business schools ranked from first to 20, for example, reported an increase in on-campus recruiting, versus 75% for those ranked 51 to 100 and just 58% for schools that were not ranked. Meantime, none of the top 20 schools reported being down this year, but 11% of the schools that weren’t ranked reported a decline in on-campus recruiting.

Full-time, on-campus opportunities increased regardless of a school’s ranking

% Reporting Change in On-Campus Recruiting Ranked 1 to 20 Ranked 21 to 50 Ranked 51 to 100 Not Ranked
Up 83% 82% 75% 58%
Flat 11% 11% 20% 26%
Down 0% 7% 0% 11%
Too Soon to Tell 6% 0% 5% 5%

Source: MBA Career Services Council Spring 2011 Recruiting Trends Survey

There were similar results for job postings as well. Though full-time postings increased across all schools, the largest single increase—94%–was at schools ranked first through 20 (see table below)

Full-time postings increased across all schools

% Reporting Change in Full-Time Postings Ranked 1 to 20 Ranked 21 to 50 Ranked 51 to 100 Not Ranked
Up 94% 81% 86% 84%
Flat 0% 8% 9% 11%
Down 6% 7% 5% 5%
Too Soon to Tell 0% 4% 0% 0%

Source: MBA Career Services Council Spring 2011 Recruiting Trends Survey

The council, an association of B-school career management offices and companies who hire MBA students, said both on-campus recruiting opportunities and full-time job postings have increased for most schools worldwide. “The survey results indicate a positive trend we have observed in the past year,” said Nicole Hall, president of the council in a statement. “We’re seeing an increase in almost all industries and in most company types. Schools are continuing to find creative ways to assist students and companies with the job search process, and their efforts are paying off.”

The survey findings show that 76% of respondents report an increase in on-campus recruiting for full-time jobs. At the same time last spring, just 38% of schools reported an increase. In fall 2010, 63% of schools reported an increase. Similarly, the findings also show that 86% of respondents report an increase in full-time job postings, compared with 70% last fall and 60% last spring. 16% of schools reported on-campus recruiting is flat compared with last year, and 5% reported a decrease.

Full-time recruiting activity increased at almost all types of companies, including start-ups, small firms, large firms and non-U.S. companies. Recruiting for family-owned businesses remained flat.

Increases in recruiting activity are occurring across most sectors, the council reported. Over 40% of respondents reported increases in consulting, consumer products, financial services, pharma/biotech/healthcare products, and technology.  Real estate and government were the weakest industries, with around 40% of schools reporting a decrease in recruiting activity. The changes to recruiting activity noted here are consistent with broader economic outcomes.

DON’T MISS: WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT FROM THEIR MBAS or CLASS OF 2011: MORE MBA JOB OFFERS, HIGHER PAY

 

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