A few days ago, a leaked email from IIM Kashipur’s Placement Committee went viral, revealing the reality of IIM Kashipur placements. The message allegedly suggested that students were asked to opt out of the placement process. Naturally, this triggered a massive uproar. News outlets, LinkedIn posts, and Reddit threads exploded with one question: “Are the IIMs struggling with placements?”
Suddenly, everyone was questioning the worth of an MBA. If even an IIM can’t guarantee placements, what hope is there for other institutes?
If you’re preparing for CAT, or just about to begin your MBA journey, this could feel deeply discouraging. But pause for a second. Don’t just react — think.
Because behind this volatility of placement outcomes lies a much deeper issue — not just about IIM Kashipur, not just about mid-tier schools, but about the entire MBA ecosystem and the mindsets we carry into it.
Let’s break it down clearly and thoroughly.
The 3 Stakeholders: Who’s Actually Responsible?
Everyone’s looking for someone to blame — the B-school, the corporates, the system. But in reality, the responsibility is shared. There are three core stakeholders in this situation:
(a) The Corporates
Let’s be brutally honest here — corporations are not placement agencies. They are economic entities, driven by profits, and their hiring decisions reflect that.
There are five things to understand about how companies hire from B-schools:
- They mirror the market. If the economy is in a slowdown, hiring slows down — period.
- Startups face funding crunches, leading to hiring freezes.
- High CTC offers are inflated. That ₹40 LPA package? Often includes joining bonuses, training costs, relocation, ESOPs, and even your food in the office canteen.
- Your in-hand salary is often 40–50% of the CTC, before taxes.
- No campus can force companies to hire. Not even the demi-gods such as IIM A/B/C, etc.
So if you’re entering B-school thinking the companies will line up with dream offers, think again. Hiring is a buyer’s market.
(b) The B-Schools
Top-tier B-schools (IIM A/B/C/L/K/I, FMS, XLRI, SPJIMR, ISB, etc.) do manage well even in slow markets. Why? Because of legacy, strong alumni networks, corporate relationships, and an emphasis on quality education.
But even other top B-schools are in a tricky spot:
- Some fudge placement data or mask the number of unplaced students.
- But even then, if unplaced students are asked to opt out just before audits — what’s the point of auditing incomplete data?
So while we can applaud the intent, the execution is questionable. Clarifications from B-schools won’t ease the pain of the student who’s been told to “opt out” quietly.
(c) The Students
Among the three stakeholders in the MBA placement equation—corporates, B-schools, and students—the student is the most under-discussed, yet arguably the most powerful.
Let’s unpack this with some honest observations:
- The MBA mindset today: Most students enter B-school thinking, “I’ve paid ₹20 lakhs, now where’s my ₹20 LPA job?”
It’s a transactional view—education as an investment, and placement as a guaranteed return. - Reality check: This mindset often leads to disappointment, especially when expectations don’t align with market dynamics or individual preparedness.
- Compare it with school: No one blames their school if they don’t get into a top undergrad program. We accept that effort, discipline, and outcomes are personal. Yet in MBA, the burden of career outcomes shifts almost entirely to the B-school.
- B-schools provide a platform, not a promise: They offer structure, networks, and exposure—not a job guarantee. It’s up to the student to extract value, build skills, and seize opportunities.
- The shift needed: Students must move from a consumer mindset (“I paid, now deliver”) to an ownership mindset (“I’ll make this count”).
The Brutal Problem: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
There are three big mindset traps that students fall into:
1. Placement is a Right, Not a Result
- You don’t “buy” a placement. You earn it.
- Think back to school — if you didn’t get into IIT after Class 12, would you blame your school? Of course not. But somehow, when you pay ₹15–20L for an MBA, you expect a guarantee. That’s flawed thinking.
2. Skills Are Secondary
- Many students assume:
“I’ll figure it out in second year.”
“I’ll just prepare for the placement season.” - This leads to lazy behavior in Term 1, no internships, weak CVs, and last-minute panic. Companies don’t hire potential. They hire proof. If your resume doesn’t scream capability by Term 4, you’re late.
3. Outreach is Optional
Most students don’t go off-campus until the final term — when it’s too late. And even then, they don’t know how to write a cold email, how to build a LinkedIn presence, or how to find hidden job roles.
The Right Way to Think: Fixing Your Mindset
Let’s reframe the way you approach your MBA.
See MBA as a 5-Year Career Accelerator
The MBA isn’t a job machine. It’s a career multiplier. You gain:
- A strong network
- Access to recruiters
- Career direction
- Accelerated growth opportunities
Yes, your first job matters — but it’s just the starting point.
Expect Hustle, Not Handouts
Companies are under no obligation to pick you just because you have a fancy tag on your resume. If you want that ₹20 LPA job — prove it.
Learn the skills. Build a portfolio. Pitch to companies. Do case competitions. Show your work.
What Smart Students Do: The Playbook
If you want to win this game, here’s what the smartest MBA students are doing:
Start Early
- Begin building your CV from Term 1.
- Don’t wait for the “placement committee to guide you.”
- Join case clubs, work on live projects, and start networking from day one.
Get Domain Clarity
- Decide your specialization — Marketing, Finance, Analytics, Operations, HR — early.
- Once chosen, identify top 5–10 companies in that field.
- Understand what roles they hire for, and tailor your CV accordingly.
- Not sure which specialization is right for you? The How to B-School course can help you decide.
Upskill Smartly
- Start with core MBA skills like Excel and PowerPoint, then add tools tailored to your specialization and career path.
- Your resume must speak the language of your industry.
Practice Constantly
- You practiced mock interviews for your MBA admission. Why stop there?
- Do mock job interviews every term. Get feedback. Fix your answers.
Master the Off-Campus Game
- Most hidden roles are filled through referrals.
- Reach out to alumni, connect with hiring managers, apply to unlisted jobs.
- These roles aren’t posted anywhere — but they’re real.
The Final Truth: MBA Still Pays, But Laziness Doesn’t
So, is MBA worth it?
Yes. But only if you work for it.
Even the best brand can’t save a lazy student. On the other hand, even a mid-tier college can become a springboard for a brilliant, driven student.
The truth is:
- B-schools can’t guarantee placements.
- Corporates won’t come unless they need to.
- Only you can build your value.
Your future depends on how early you wake up to this reality. Not on where you study.
Closing Thoughts
- If the recent developments around IIM Kashipur have left you feeling uncertain or anxious, you’re not alone. Such moments often trigger important questions about your decisions and direction.
- But rather than seeing this as a reason to doubt the value of an MBA, it might help to view it as a timely reminder—to pause, reflect, and realign your expectations with the realities of today’s professional landscape.
- The MBA journey still holds immense value, but its rewards are most accessible to those who approach it with preparation, adaptability, and a proactive mindset. You are not without control. In fact, how you respond now—whether by building relevant skills, seeking guidance, or clarifying your goals—can shape your trajectory far more than any external factor.
Your Authors
Along with Darpan Saxena, this article has been co-authored by Om Kasarkhedkar.
Om is a marketing enthusiast with strong leadership skills, creativity and a knack for helping students with their CAT preparation. As an aspirant himself, he had received interview calls from the prestigious MDI Gurgaon and MICA, Ahmedabad.
