Second line B Schools churn out unemployable graduates

The Linked in Sessions : A series of Q&A sessions taken from the Editors Linked in Sessions


The Question : Are Second rung Business Schools actually churning out students who can not be employed ?  


I STRONGLY disagree.

First and Foremost, what is the definition of "second rung" B Schools? Most of the time it means all those institutions that are not in the top 20 or 30. That's like saying second rung millionaires are not really rich.




Second. "Unemployable" ? On what Grounds? If you're recruiting from "second" rung B schools and are looking for students with a skill set that is highly developed and niche, then you need to sort the recruiting right. You need to know what your going to get before trying to expect something. You can't wallpaper a wall and say its not as good as plastic-paint.

One needs to have a look at the kind of input that these colleges get. They do not get the 90+ scorers of competitive exams. Others before me have pointed out, the kind of circumstances that students applying to these colleges are in, in terms of expenses and facilities that are available to them.

But what is most annoying, is that organizations are in a position to make such general comments, they do not see their own standing as organizations. Many "top" B schools do not allow every organization to enter their summer recruitment program. These organizations also are the ones that do not have strong training and induction systems in place.

If I may, I'd like to give my example. I am from a second rung institute, and I have no hesitancy in saying that most RECRUITERS are interested in making quick buck by getting by netting students from top institutes. Its the recruiters who make these students "Unemployable" by not ensuring fits with the organizational requirements. I myself have been rejected so many times, until 2 recruiters took time to meet me,understand my strengths and dreams and help me get where I am. I know of a few others too who have been fortunate to get good breaks. It wasn't easy for any of us though.

And believe me all these students too know what they are good at and where they can excel. Its just that they do not get opportunities and have to be force fit into something else.

Another practical example, Organizations are willing to take graduates from premier B Schools and invest time and training on them for almost a year, however a graduate from any other institute is expected to perform from Day 1.


My experience with organisations has led me to believe that recruiters face a "b school myopia". They find the shortest and easiest way to solve their recruitment issues, is to hire someone from an "Assured" source with a high package, and have no worries in grooming and developing people.

There will be students who will be difficult to place or to get jobs. But to generalize in this manner and to call them "unemployable" is outright shameful. 


Foot Note: It has been a general notion, that students passing out of lesser known colleges and B schools, are less productive, are more difficult to mold and are overall not capable of handling jobs that require higher skill levels. These skill levels are supposedly a standard fix of students from Top B Schools. The Author has posted his views , with respect to the lack of sensitivity to students as educated individuals with characters and talents of their own, irrespective of the college they have attended, and the generalization blanket - That students from Second Rung B Schools are not employable - thrown over all the colleges that are not ranked in the top 10-20 colleges, as an excuse for not actually wanting to actually explore talent.