At Kellogg, Tech Becomes Nearly As Popular As Consulting

Source: Kellogg School of Management

94.6% OF MBAS HAD JOB OFFERS WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF GRADUATION

In its 2018 employment outcomes, published today (Nov. 15), Kellogg also reported that 83.5% of this year’s class had at least one job offer in pocket by graduation, compared to 85.4% a year earlier, while 94.6% had offers three months later, versus 94.1% in 2017. Kellogg said that 78% of its students accepted their offers by commencement, compared to 79.5% last year, while 92.5% accepted three months later versus 90.8% in 2017.

While Kellogg did not break out placement stats for international students, Kirkpatrick says they compare favorably to the overall job offer and acceptance numbers for the class. “Our acceptances are near that of domestic students,” she says. “They were right at the top of that. We had just a tiny increase of accepts outside the U.S. so that indicates that the international students are finding jobs in the U.S. But it doesn’t say how challenging those job searches are.”

Beyond the big three industries, Kellogg MBAs chose a wide variety of fields to enter in 2018. Consumer packaged goods and healthcare both claimed 7% of the graduating class. Students going into the consumer packaged industry, however, has dropped significantly at Kellogg, long known for its academic prowess in the marketing arena. Two years ago, twice as many Kellogg MBAs took jobs in consumer packaged goods companies. In 2017, 12% entered the field. Real estate and retail each attracted 3% of this year’s graduates, while manufacturing firms hired 4% of the MBAs (see below table).

MORE COMPANIES RECRUITING MBAS AT KELLOGG

Another interesting and positive trend: A record 228 companies recruited at Kellogg in the past year, up from 207 last year. “A growing number of companies are finding Kellogg talent and appreciating it,” says Kirkpatrick. “We are constantly looking at developing relationships with companies, especially those that represent what’s next. We are partnering with our students on this and we have a rich alumni network to draw from.”

Some 13 students were exclusively focused on doing their own startups this year. “When you are thinking about entrepreneurship, you are thinking bout whether to start your own company or join a startup or early stage company,” says Kirkpatrick. “What students think about is what stage of startup would appreciate my skillset. An early stage angel round company is very different from a round C company where there would be more opportunies for MBA hires. In round C, companies are needing a broader set of MBA skills and those companies start recruiting MBAs to fill out their expertise more broadly.”

Like other business school career officials, Kirkpatrick says that early signs are highly positive for the MBA job market next year. “It is incredibly robust,” she says. ”There is a lot of activity on campus. You could over extend yourself very easily. Our students are surprised by the abundance of opportunies that come here.”