The average annual base salary and the median sign-on bonus of INSEAD MBA students (December 2016 and July 2017 graduates) saw an increase from the previous year at $104,800 and $25,000 respectively.
An impressive 90% of the graduates had reported receiving an offer three months after graduation as compared to 89% in 2016, according to Katy Montgomery, Global Director, Career Development Centre, INSEAD.
Overall annual median salary was $103,100 and overall median performance bonus $22,200.
The school maintained its diverse and global footprint in 2017 with students accepting job offers in 64 countries.
INSEAD’s multi-campus employer engagement specialists engaged with more than 600 companies and expanded recruiting activities beyond the traditional on-campus interviewing to include networking afternoons, career treks and talent & networking fora.
Consulting continues to be the most popular sector with 49% of the students (33% new hires and 16% returnees) deciding to join or remain in the industry.
Career opportunities remained high in other sectors also. Technology, Media & Telecommunications came second as the most desirable industry.
For the first time, Fintech has been added as a sub-sector with 11% of the graduates accepting job offers.
INSEAD’s multi-campus employer engagement specialists engaged with more than 600 companies and expanded recruiting activities beyond the traditional on-campus interviewing to include networking afternoons, career treks and talent & networking fora.
Following the trend of marketplace disruption, external and internal career events included start-ups and mid-size businesses in addition to big company brands and conglomerates.
“We now count four mid-size companies within the top employers’ list,” says Katy.
Mirroring innovation in the market and to meet the ever-changing talent needs of employers, the Career Development Centre team has created and implemented a unique career coaching model, careers core and electives curriculum and pre-INSEAD career activities to best prepare students for recruitment activities and life-long career management.
Career education includes experiential learning and multiple opportunities to practice and perfect, says Katy.
While a total 1029 completed the MBA program in December 2016 and July 2017, 998 graduates participated in the formal recruitment activities.
The school said 98% of the students had responded to the Employment Statistics Survey. Of them, 90% reported having received at least one job offer 3 months after their graduation date.
While 85% parted with details of their career decision, 75% reported full salary information.
A majority of 52% (445) students stated they found a job with the help of the Career Development Centre and Alumni network, 23% (192) said Returnees and/or Sponsored Students helped them. Own contacts were cited by 13% (115).
Summer internship was reported by 8% (70) while 4% (30) embarked on creating their own company.
As far as job locations are concerned, 38% chose Western Europe and 26% Asia Pacific. Africa/Middle East was the choice for 10%, North America 9%, Southern Europe 6%, Latin America 5%, Central/Eastern Europe 4% and Northern Europe 2%.
While 79% of the graduates changed sector or country or function, 29% changed all three dimensions, 53% changed the country, 54% changed sector and 62% changed function.