Small jobs, big returns

More than 1,500 IIPM students hired by small and medium scale enterprises; average salary package Rs 4.2 lakh pa

Small jobs, big returns

More than 1,500 IIPM students hired by small and medium scale enterprises; average salary package Rs 4.2 lakh pa

The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) has found a small yet effective way to beat the slowdown. It is targeting small and medium-scale enterprises for campus placements.

As big employers tighten their purse strings this year, IIPM has hit the jackpot with more than 300 small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) recruiting about 400 students from its campus with an average salary package of Rs 4.2 lakh per annum.

"This year, the IIPM focused on the SME sector not just in metros but in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and villages as well. With the SME sector generating good business in the current economic scenario, many students were absorbed by these industries," said Amit Saxena, president, Corporate Communications & Legal Affairs, IIPM.

Jobs for all

Of the institute's total strength of 3,700 students, more than 1,700 have already been placed on campus while the interview result of about 200 students is awaited. The highest salary package that has been offered to an IIPM student so far this year is Rs 8 lakh (from the Chennai centre) and Rs 7.8 lakh (in Delhi).

Some of the big recruiters were American Express, Aviva Life Insurance, Deutsche Bank and ADAG - Reliance Life Insurance. Among SMEs, NIIT Education Centre, IBIBO Web Pvt Ltd and CEquity Solutions were among the well-known ones.

"Since the number of recruitment per company has reduced, IIPM's placement cell invited a larger number of companies as compared to last year. The cell is targeting around 950 companies this year and aims to place all the students who have applied for placements," said Saxena.

Hotspots

While Saxena agreed that most industries have slowed down, he said that insurance and IT are still recruiting. "Marketing is an evergreen field and many companies wanted students from this stream," said Saxena.
Sandeep Kumar, a student who got a job with a private bank in Mumbai, said, "We feel happy to know that in the time of recession when students of IITs and IIMs are finding it difficult to get jobs, we have already been placed with good companies."