Are Consulting And Finance Still The Top Career Choices? What IIM Data Shows | Education and Career News
Last Updated:
One of the main reasons for consulting’s continued strength is the breadth of roles available to MBA graduates. While finance has opportunities in banking, private equity, etc.
What the MBA employment market looks like in 2026? (AI Image)
Consulting and finance continue to occupy a central position in the MBA job market, with placement data from some of India’s leading business schools showing strong recruiter demand for management consulting, investment banking and financial services roles. However, at the same time, technology, product management, healthcare, as well as consumer businesses are steadily broadening the MBA career landscape.
As per official data, consulting has emerged as the dominant career option among Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) students. At the institute’s 2026 final placement process, a total of 664 offers were made to 596 students by 177 firms. Among this, 45% were in management consulting, while technology/product management accounted for 15% and investment banking for 11%. The institute reported 267 offers across 24 firms in consulting, including strategy, advisory and technology consulting.
Finance also remained a significant recruitment area at IIMB. The finance, banking, investments and fintech category accounted for 68 offers from 38 firms including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, EY India, among others.
The numbers indicate that consulting and finance together accounted for more than half of IIMB’s 2026 placement offers – with consulting accounting for 45% share and investment banking at 11%. However, the data also shows that the MBA job market is no longer limited to traditional consulting and finance roles.
One of the main reasons for consulting’s continued strength is the breadth of roles available to MBA graduates. Several firms recruit consultants to apply their problem-solving, business strategy, operations and transformation skills. Finance has retained its importance, particularly through investment banking, private equity, asset management, financial advisory and fintech.
As per the official data, IIM Ahmedabad’s 2025-26 final placement process reported strong participation from consulting, investment banking, private equity, venture capital and asset management, alongside technology, consumer businesses, healthcare, manufacturing and other sectors.
ALSO READ | IIM ‘ABC’ Placement Package: Which Campus Produces The Highest-Paid MBA Graduates?
Consulting remained one of the strongest recruitment areas at IIMA too. In the management consulting cohort, Boston Consulting Group made 33 offers, followed by McKinsey & Company with 21 and Bain & Company with 20. In advisory consulting, EY-Parthenon made 15 offers and Deloitte USI 12.
Finance-related hiring was also prominent at the institute. The private equity, venture capital and asset management cohort recorded a 45% increase in offers over the previous placement cycle, with recruiters including Blackstone, General Atlantic, Temasek, Elevation Capital and Z47.
Which other areas are expanding?
However, the institute reported increases in offers across several newer or expanding cohorts, including analytics and IT consulting, which grew 150%; consumer services, 150%; pharmaceuticals and healthcare, 60%; fintech, 36%; renewable energy and greentech, 50%; and core manufacturing and infrastructure, 33%.
At IIMB too, technology/product management generated 85 offers, while e-commerce, payments, telecom and logistics accounted for 57. Manufacturing, construction, energy and infrastructure contributed 34 offers, FMCG and retail 31, conglomerates 30, and healthcare and education 20.
Thus, while consulting and finance remain the dominant traditional career tracks at the country’s leading B-schools, they do not represent the entire MBA employment market.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18New career paths emerging for MBA graduates include technology, product management, healthcare, and consumer businesses. There is also increased participation from sectors like pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity, energy distribution, D2C travel brands, new-age consumer brands, non-fungible tokens, luxury reselling, fintech, digital banking, biohacking, and personalised healthcare. AI-native firms are also making formal campus appearances with roles in AI consulting and AI delivery.
Ask News18About the Author
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, …Read More
August 26, 2026, 13:15 IST
Read More