A report by mbauniverse.com and MeriTrac states that only 21% MBAs were employable in 2011-12 in India.

The nationwide study covered 2,264 MBAs from 29 cities and 100 B-schools. Although a large number of institutes are offering MBA degrees, the inability to meet industry expectations is denting the prospects of candidates. Also, lack of presentation skills among students creates a bad impression on recruiters. DNA sheds light on this matter. Students should work on their skills Personally, I dont agree that only 21% of MBAs are employable as stated by a recent report. Certainly a large number of MBAs do not find jobs as per their aspirations or expectations. The lack of employability is due to low industry-academia interface and also because the faculty is not doing enough to seek consultancy assignments or conduct management development programmes. An institute like ours has achieved 100% placements and we have paid special attention to the required interface with the industry. Also, we make sure that students develop a strong knowledge base. A number of steps need to be taken to prepare students for the selection process. Solving aptitude tests, mock interviews, group discussions are some of the preparations, which are very vital. Also, communication and presentation skills of the students need to be improved. It is the responsibility of business schools to prepare students systematically during the two-year course so that they can match with the industry expectations. Students must realise that they have to work hard to get attractive jobs and not just desire for them. Dhananjay Keskar, director, IBS Business School, Pune Resume should always stand out Freshers passing out of B-schools today lack in some key areas such as confidence, writing an effective CV, interview-handling skills, participation in group discussions and exposure to operational issues among others.The resume should always stand out as it creates the first impression of the candidate. It reflects your creativity and the learnings apart from the basic information provided. The CV must have some effect on the recruiter to be shortlisted. The second stage is the interview process wherein most freshers appear to be brash. They need to be taught interview etiquettes. They should be able to word their thoughts clearly and be focussed. The other major flaw in our teaching system is that it is totally book-oriented and does not emphasise on case-studies. Only through case-study method will students learn how to apply theory to resolve real-life problems. In India, only the top B-schools employ this teaching method. This is the reason why after selection there is a period of bridging-the-gap in most good companies, where candidates are supplemented with what is needed by the industry. This is equally true for technical programmes and marketing or finance-related hiring. In sales we learnt of Need satisfaction selling approach. This also applies to those passing out from our institutions today. Only if the product (student) meets my needs, will I buy (hire). Navin Kripalani, advisor in organisational dynamics There is a need for hands-on training MBA freshers are not being employed because of various reasons. The biggest problem is that majority of todays MBA holders dont have any work experience before pursuing their degrees. Exposure to the business world always helps in learning management skills. Also, the MBA course has become too academic. Majority of the students who pass out have worked onlyon one project, which is compulsory. Only attending lectures

and studying will not fetch you a good job. The MBA students need hands-on training. They should work on multiple projects. The second year of the course should largely focus on practical work instead of theory. When it comes to placements, many students fail in providing presentable resumes. Hence, in spite of having good skill-sets, many dont get shortlisted for any campus recruitment because of their dull resume. Another issue is that many students lack professionalism. There is also a need to re-look at the specialisations offered. Sachin Bhide, management consultant & corporate trainer The curriculum taught is outdated There is definitely an underlying slowdown in the industry. So, employers are following the wait and watch strategy, as far as new recruitment is concerned. Most of them have kept the employment process on hold. Not only MBAs but freshers from other streams such as engineers, doctors and others too need to be retrained by the industry. The employability issue has always existed. The very curriculum taught in B-schools today is outdated because they virtually prevent students from being creative. Also, the scenario in the industry is changing very fast. Unfortunately, B-schools cant match up to the industrys demands. The average students pass out with virtually blinkers on. They need to be far more creative because the industry has little time to train these freshers. Many institutes that are churning out graduates have no market value. Zubin Khabraji, regional director, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce Corporates expect way too much It has become a fashion now to conduct such surveys and then come up with blatant statements about employability. On one hand we speak about no jobs situation and on the other these types of surveys add fuel to the fire. These surveys should clarify as to what they mean by employability. I have students who belong to the rural background but yet are willing to learn and grow in their careers. There are instances where corporates expect way too much and look for executable graduates. We cannot teach everything in a classroom since the industry is constantly evolving. We do not get such feedback from the top recruiters. This is coming from those who cater to the overseas market and we cannot prepare a student to understand the vagaries of such markets Also, universities and B-schools work with a curriculum that can cater to a constant market, not an instant one. S Rananathan, director, JSPMsKautilya Institute of Management and Research

1. Increased competition. The days when college was only accessible to the rich and elite are over. College has become more affordable and a lot of pressure has been put on students to attend college in order to find a good job. The result?

Record number of college applications across the nation, resulting in more college graduates, and thus, more competition for the limited number of jobs available on the market. I can also safely assume that every person reading this knows at least one person in their social circle who has graduated college and is still having difficulty getting a job. The secondary effect of this is that the days when having a degree alone would get you a job are over. The prestige that comes with having a degree has now become diluted with the rampant number of students graduating. You now need something more than just a degree to get you that first job out of college. (more on that later). 2. Little or no work experience. Many college graduates make the grave mistake of assuming that their degree alone will qualify them for a job. They spend their college years just getting by, partying, and essentially, wasting their time. Because theres more competition, college graduates are now a dime a dozen. Whats going to separate one college graduate with a degree from the next and the next and the next? The result is they get stuck in a catch 22 position. They have no job experience, yet all the jobs out there require it if you want to apply. So they cant get a job because they have no experience and in order to get a job, they need a job for work experience, but they cant get a job without work experience and the cycle viciously continues. One way to get out of this cycle is to not pass up on jobs that you may think are beneath you. Swallow your pride and take those jobs or intern for free at a company you would like to work at. You could also propose a new position to an employer if you have the creativity and the boldness to do so. Youve got to start somewhere, and if you didnt take the time to gather decent work experience during your college years, this is the price you may have to pay. Always keep in mind that jobs can lead to other jobs. You never know if the job you think is beneath you can lead to the job you want. Theres always room to move up in the company. Always do more than what you are asked to do. That is one of the keys to moving on up Plus, by actually having that job, it can provide valuable work experience and knowledge, as well as the much needed dough. 3. No skills You have to be good at something (aka skills) in order to contribute something of value to a company. People with computer skills (or at the very least computer proficient) will always be in high demand. Learning these types of technological skills will always be in your best interest because companies leverage technology in their offices in order to be more efficient, and if you can integrate well with that, youve got something good going for you. Another valuable skill to have is people skills. (more on that later)

4. Lack of networking Many people get jobs through referrals. Statistics show the majority of people get their jobs this way. The reason why word of mouth is so effective is because it cuts through all the worry of whether or not this person can do the job. If somebody has been working for a company for some time, then that employee knows what it takes to succeed, and if that employee knows somebody who can do it, its an easy fit. The employer will trust the employee referring the new candidate and the new candidate will most likely get the job. Theres just one catch though. You have to be worthy of being referred. Remember that the reputation of the person referring you is one the line. If you do a bad job, you make them look worse. So have a fine reputation of being a hard worker, someone who learns easily, etc. so people will be happy to refer you. Spend a lot of time networking at college. Make a ton of friends, get in touch with recruiters, career counselors, etc. Dont underestimate the power of networking and word of mouth. (btw, my first job out of college was due to such networking.) 5. No preparation on the resume and cover letter. Your resume and cover letter act as your first impression. You cant charm them with your presence or your smile. Your writing does it all for you. So spend some time to make it look and sound good. When describing yourself or your work history, use action words. It makes a big difference. Go to google and type in resume action words and you should get a ton of sites which you can use as a reference when crafting your resume. Get a proofreader to look over your resume and cover letter. Make your cover letter and resume stand out. Be detailed and descriptive. I had a friend who volunteered to look over my cover letter when I told him I was applying for jobs during my senior year. He made some good suggestions and I implemented them and it sure made the cover letter look a whole lot better. It didnt hurt that he was a copywriter by profession :). His suggestions helped enormously in me getting call backs. I suggest you get some professional editing done as well. Its worth the investment. Think of all the money you can earn by just investing a very small portion of it to professional editing. 6. No interview skills So youve got past the resume stage and now youre at the interview. Think its a breeze? Think again. They WILL ask the hard hitting questions. Why should we hire you? What do you bring to the table? Tell me about yourself (that throws off a lot of people) Whats your greatest weakness (obviously reframe this question when you answer), etc. There are a ton of resources online you can tap into in order to prepare. Use our trusty friend Google.

You must prepare. Have all your answers ready to go when the question is asked. Be prepared to give examples of things youve listed on your resume. When you meet the interviewer, dont give the limp fish handshake or the bone crushing one. Give a firm handshake and smile. Show your friendly side. We are all human. Wear the suit, tie and jacket. Its never wrong to overdress. Even when I applied for a part time position while in college, I went to the interview wearing a suit and later found out I was the only applicant to do so and yes, I did get the job. Dont go in blind. Research the company. When I went to interview at the Hilton Hotels Corporate Office in Beverly Hills, my interviewer actually asked me when and where the first Hilton hotel was built. I answered Texas, 1919 of course. Did I get the job offer? Of course I did. When they ask: Do you have any questions?, make sure you do! Always ask questions. This shows you're interested in the job. Ask what kind of skills/qualities are needed to succeed in the job. Ask what a day in the life of the job is, etc., This is also your opportunity to flip the tables on them. Start interviewing the interviewer. Ask about opportunities for advancement, benefits package, etc. Remember, YOU are interviewing companies as well to see which one is best suited for you. Own the frame. 7. No weapon x Youve got to have an edge. Something thatll make you stand out from the rest. Be different. Among a sea of black family sedans, be the fiery red convertible. I cant help you with this part as the only person who knows yourself the best is you. So take some time, sit down and think of what are some of the best qualities you have and write them down. You can use this when they ask you the hot question of: Why should we hire you? 8. No follow up So you sent the resume and cover letter, but didnt hear anything back? Follow up. It cant hurt. It can only help. Shoot an email or a phone call and ask whats going on. Chances are, they may have not received it or forgotten about it. It also shows your tenacity and separates you from the rest of the people who dont follow up. Dont just assume that they dont want you and wallow in your self pity. Take action and make it happen. 9. Quitting too easily Not getting any call backs can be depressing. Dont look at it as a negative thing. Look at it as a positive thing. Its just a sign you have to change things because its not working. If you have worked in sales, you know that all sales is just a numbers game. If you have a good product (which is yourself) and if you can put the product out there in front of as many buyers as possible, youll eventually make a sale. Its inevitable.

So dont quit. Keep on going. 10. A lack of people skills One of the greatest myths regarding getting a job is that you just have to have the skills and knowledge. That may be true for some jobs, but the other major thing that employers are looking for is social skills. Will you integrate well with the staff? Will you mesh with co-workers? Are you a positive person? Are you easy to get along with?, etc. I remember times when a lot of staff members would talk about the interviewee right after he left. They talked about whether or not to hire him based on not his skills, but his behavior, demeanor and likeability. This ties in with the tip of: Be nice to everyone you see in the office because they DO talk about you after you leave. The secretary, the intern, etc,. they all chip in and can help make or break you. Try to avoid these types of mistakes and you shouldn't fall into the pool of college graduates who are having a hard time finding a job after they graduate.

What does a company expectfrom you? There have been many debates on"how to hire the best candidate foryour company"over the past few decades. Also, there has been aproliferation of guides and bookstelling you how to ace an interview. Butin my limited experience as a job hunter and some of my friends'experiences, the one thing I can tell for sure is: "there are no tried and tested methods" . So, with this in mind, I set out to asking other people Why Should a company hire you? I am sharing the same here now.Companies have their own methodologies, like Johanna Rothmanor one of my entrepreneur friend who advocates a week long project instead of aninterview to check the viability of a candidate as a potential employer. The responses I got from the job seekers were varied, but I will try todocument them under categories and add comments from various peopleas we move along: 1. Enthusiasm: The one quality which sets you apart. You might notbe the smartest, but you are enthusiastic and eager to learn. Youcannot fake this easily. Either you have it or you don't. It getsreflected, in the way you solve technical problems, the questions youask during the interview when an interviewer asks you a puzzle, andthe final question that you ask from your interviewer at the end of theinterview.My friends describe it to me as right day, luck and attitude. But oneof them used an interesting word for this "Innovation" and thenlaunched into the

problem he solved during Atrenta exam which wasreally a brilliant solution.I will give you an example, one friend of mine got through in Cisco,after getting rejected by 6 companies, 4 of them in the final stage.And when I asked him how did you get selected today, he replied "Idid everything right today by God's Grace". But, the thing which heattributes to God, was actually his enthusiasm. This is his dreamcompany; he has worked on Computer Networks for the past 2 years. 2. Hard Work: Apparently, this is one of the most obvious qualities tothe students. One of the guys who got through in DE Shawsummarized it as "technical proficiency, for a tech job i.e. coding,algo thinking capability". You demonstrate your hard-work by your academic performance,projects and performance in written tests. These things are always taken into account and we always lament when we miss out on any of these. 3. Ethics: This I found to be one of the most overlooked quality bystudents. But this is something, an employer values the most. Hemight be looking forHumilityor he might be looking at Honesty. Whatdo you think an HR Round is for? These guys know all the rightanswers; they distinguish people on the basis of their honesty and notthe supposedly "Right" answers as advertised in guides.So for instance, I was asked a programming Problem at Microsoft, forwhich I knew the answer before-hand. I told the guy: I know this. Hewas impressed enough to hire me. Don't try to fake, you will getcaught and you won't even know why you were rejected? 4. Communication and Inter-personal Skills: This is mostlythe reason why some people get rejected again and again, in spite of being brilliant technically. You are of no use to me, if you can'tcommunicate that brilliant idea in your head to me effectively.Butmany employers feelthat if a candidate is good in first three, theywill be able to teach him the fourth effectively

The unemployability issue has been brought to the fore by several reports including the TeamLease Services India Labour Report 2007. The report, titled The Youth Unemployability Crisis, puts the spotlight on the issue. The report says: a) 57 % of Indias youth suffer from some degree of unemployablity b) 53 % of employed youth suffer from some degree of skill deprivation while only 8 % of youth are unemployed c) 90 % of employment opportunities require vocational skills but 90 % of our college/ school output has bookish knowledge

d) Poor quality of skills/ education show up in low incomes rather than unemployment; 58 % of graduates make less than Rs 75,000 per year. Let us look at the issue of unemployability in detail. Who can get a suitable job that allows for learning and future growth? The TeamLease study says that employability is having the potential for obtaining and doing fulfilling work through the development of skills that are transferable from one employer to another. Explaining the definition further, the TeamLease report says, Employability depends on: the knowledge and skills possessed; the attitude towards employment; and the economic context within which employment is availed. Thus, the report says that four elements that can be considered critical characteristics of employability are: A) Productivity: Knowledge and skills, in terms of basic skills and occupation specific knowledge at different levels. Personal attributes like attitude to work, problem-solving, self-awareness etc. B) People also need the capability to use their skills, to market them and sell them. Marketing and deployment skills: career management, job-search skills, and approach Presentation C) External factors and circumstances So whats your assessment on the above parameters? Do you have the skills and knowledge required for a particular domain? And are you equipped to market them to a prospective employer? If you think you fall short on these parameters, you can acquire domain skills and knowledge in any of the following sunrise sectors to gain employability: Banking and Financial Services Insurance Retail services Media and Entertainment sector Healthcare services Travel, Tourism and Hospitality industry Telecom services IT and ITES/ BPO All these sectors offer myriad job opportunities for young graduates who possess the requisite skills. Other than domain skills and knowledge, you also need a winning attitude and flair (check-out our section soft skills for more) to present yourself to a prospective employer. If your self-assessment shows that you are deficient in these areas, and hence you think may not get a good job, dont lose heart. EmployabilityUniverse.com is designed to help you find the right job-oriented course for seeking the right job.