QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends

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QS TopMBA.com

Jobs & Salary Trends

2014

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Introduction

Who will be interested in the survey?

Methodology and Scope

Summary of Key MBA Hiring Trends in 2014

Demographics & Sample of MBA Employer Respondents

Long-term trends in MBA Jobs 1990-2014

Demand for MBAs Around the World in 2014/15

5.1.1.MBA Jobs Trends in USA & Canada

5.1.2.MBA Jobs Trends in Latin America

5.1.3.MBA Jobs Trends in Western Europe

5.1.4.MBA Jobs Trends in Eastern Europe

5.1.5.MBA Jobs Trends in Asia-Pacific

5.1.6.MBA Jobs Trends in Middle East & Africa

MBA Jobs by Sector in 2014 and Forecast for 2015

5.2.1.MBA Jobs in Consulting

5.2.2.MBA Jobs in Financial Services

5.2.3.MBA Jobs in Technology & Telecoms

5.2.4.MBA Jobs in General Industry

5.2.5.MBA Jobs in Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

Functional Roles on Offer to MBAs

Preferred MBA Experience Levels

Key MBA Skills

MBA Salaries and Compensation

Overview of Regional MBA Compensation in 2014

Comparing MBA Salaries in North America and Western Europe

1999-2014

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MBA Salaries and Bonuses by Industry Sector in 2014

Regional Review of MBA Salaries & Bonuses in 2014

6.4.1.USA & Canada

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6.4.2.Latin America

6.4.3.Western Europe

6.4.4.Central Europe

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The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a graduate management degree that prepares professionals for management responsibility. It is one of the best-known degrees in the world, with more people taking it than any other postgraduate course. Deciding to take an MBA is a crucial step in an individual’s career.

Since 1990, the QS Intelligence Unit, in collaboration with TopMBA.com, has conducted an annual survey of MBA employers worldwide to determine trends in international salaries and recruitment. QS is proud to produce the longest established, geographically broadest and most comprehensive global review of MBA jobs and salary trends.

The 2014 International Employer Survey is as extensive as ever and presents an unrivalled overview of the world MBA recruitment market. For the purpose of this report, responses were received from 5,669 (4,318*) respondents from companies in 54 (39) countries, actively recruiting MBAs** over a three-year period, with 1,632 brand new respondents in 2014. This represents approximately four times the response of the GMAC MBA Employer Survey and approximately ten times the response level of the Bloomberg Businessweek MBA Employer Survey.

The 2014 QS International Employer Survey was conducted between March and July 2014.

* Comparative figures for 2013 are shown in brackets throughout the report

* QS Global Employer Survey also collects responses from companies seeking to hire

masters and undergraduate level students. In total 28,759 employer respondents

contributed to our reports in 2014.

Who will be interested in the survey?

This research will be of interest to all who follow the international MBA recruitment market. It will help three groups in particular to make informed strategic decisions:

~ Companies and agencies that recruit MBAs

• National and international recruiters will find the survey useful in managing

human resource policies, such as whether to determine salaries globally or locally, and whether to benchmark their salaries against peer institutions.

~ Business school administrators and career services offices worldwide

• MBA program administrators and career services professionals will find the

survey valuable for providing guidance to students and managing relationships with recruiters.

~ Current and future MBA graduates

• MBAs can use the research to determine which industries and geographies to

pursue in their MBA job search, and to help negotiate an optimum compensation package.

Introduction

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About the Contributors

~ Editor - Nunzio Quacquarelli is founder and managing director of QS Quacquarelli

Symonds Ltd, publishers of TopMBA.com and organizers of QS World MBA Tour. Nunzio has an MA from the University of Cambridge as well as an MBA from the Wharton School and has been responsible for publication of the QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report since 1990.

~ Analyst – Susan Gatuguta Gitau is a research analyst and member of the QS

Intelligence Unit. Susan has an MA in Corporate Strategy and Governance from the University of Nottingham.

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The QS TopMBA.com International Employer Survey, from the QS Intelligence Unit, collects primary data on the state of the recruitment market and predictions of future trends from recruiters in general industry, consulting, financial services and technology.

QS obtains information directly from the employers who hire MBA graduates, offering unique up-to-date insights into salary and MBA job trends around the world. Each respondent is designated as being responsible for MBA recruiting within his or her company, whether as a whole or in a division. They are asked to identify their geographical responsibilities, confirming whether they recruit locally, regionally or globally. The data includes specific analyses by sector, geography and year. Time trend analysis as well as sector and regional variations have been incorporated into this final report.

As the demand for MBAs grows around the world, it is increasingly important to differentiate between local MBA employers who seek MBAs purely from local institutions, versus employers with an international recruitment mandate seeking MBAs from a top-tier of up to 200 global business schools. In particular, throughout the report, we seek to distinguish salaries offered by local employers versus offers made by international employers.

QS produces a separate report – World Business Schools Rankings – Full-time MBA – that identifies the institutions most sought after by international MBA employers.

QS TopMBA.com also collects data directly from business schools which report average salaries achieved by graduating students; this data is included in section six for comparison with the data reported by employers.

QS further differentiates its research by the objectivity of its position as a third party, operating between recruiters and business schools. Our long established contacts with recruiters who share their information with QS, and the bank of data on MBA recruitment and remuneration built up by QS over the last 20 years, allow meaningful trends to be identified over time. QS operates the website www.global-workplace.com which provides career opportunities and networking facilities exclusively for member business schools. Over 100 business schools and 1,000 employers subscribe to QS Global-Workplace.

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1. Summary of Key MBA Hiring Trends in 2014

Each year, QS continues to conduct the largest survey of employers worldwide, with 5,669 (4,318) MBA employer respondents contributing to this year’s report, including 1,631 brand new respondents, from a total of 35,000 (27,000) respondents globally to our Global Employer Surveys.

The QS TopMBA.com Jobs Index shows an overall 8% increase in MBA job opportunities in 2014, a drop from the 14% growth experienced in 2013, but still very favourable compared to OECD GDP growth.

With employers forecasting 12% growth in MBA demand in 2015, we are perhaps seeing the emergence of a mature qualification with a long-term growth rate likely to swing between 6-12%, rather than the phenomenal 15% average growth reported by QS TopMBA since 1990. Since 1990, the MBA qualification has played a central role in the globalisation of business, with export oriented companies in Western and emerging markets fuelling worldwide demand growth for MBAs.

MBAs = Mobile, Bright, Ambitious

15% = Average Growth in MBA Demand Worldwide 1990 – 2012 10% = Average Growth in MBA Demand Worldwide 2013-15e

1.1. Summary of Key MBA Recruiting Trends

By Region:

~ _{NORTH AMERICA - The QS TopMBA.com report highlights that across}

North America MBA demand has jumped 10% in 2014, in line with our forecast from last year’s report. It seems that as confidence in economic recovery arrives in North America, we are seeing renewed demand for MBA graduates from globally oriented and local employers.

~ _{WESTERN EUROPE - The story in Western Europe is one of a lag in}

recovery of MBA demand, with 0% reported net growth in MBA demand in 2014. Growth in demand in Switzerland (15%), Germany (9%), Belgium (9%), France (6%) and the UK (5%) has buoyed the region. Northern European MBA demand has been offset by continued declines in Southern Europe, especially in Italy (-27%) and Spain (-1%). However there is some good news for Europe’s MBAs. Growth across Europe is forecast to accelerate in 2015, with Italian and Spanish employers leading the way with a projected 15% and 7% growth in demand in 2015 respectively.

~ CENTRAL EUROPE - Central European employers reported growth of 10% in 2014, not quite the dramatic increase we forecast in last year’s report, but but still a respectable figure. The growth figures are boosted by global companies expanding operations in Central Europe, with Russia and Kazakhstan reporting 19% and 18% growth in MBA demand respectively. There is a growing appetite for Western educated MBAs to return home after their MBA to local/regional employers.

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~ _{ASIA – After several boom years, demand for MBAs in Asia is settling at}

a sustainable rate of 11% per year. In recent years, the MBA qualification has been embraced by Asian employers, particularly in India and China, where demand is growing in consulting and professional services, manufacturing, IT/computer services, finance and micro-finance. Since 2011, India has been vying with the USA to be the largest MBA job market and there is no sign of this trend reversing with forecast growth of 8% in 2015.

~ MIDDLE EAST - From a small base, MBA demand has grown rapidly in recent years and it is not surprising that growth rates have settled down to just 2% in 2014. Growth has centered on the recovery in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Parts of Africa are reporting optimism for 2015 MBA demand in sectors like energy, mining, consulting and finance. Demand is forecast to jump by 12% in 2015.

~ LATIN AMERICA - MBA demand in Latin America has become much more plentiful in recent years amongst local employers and this trend is continuing, albeit at a more sustainable growth rate of 7% in 2014 after a year of 10% growth in 2013. Employers in the region are utilising MBAs as a key talent pool as companies battle to internationalize across the region. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico continue to be the engines of MBA growth in the region.

By Sector:

~ ENERGY – Although relatively small by volume, but very attractive to MBAs, the large energy companies have reported 18% growth in MBA demand in 2014, supplemented by many smaller companies operating in renewable energy fields.

~ _{TECHNOLOGY –The big story in 2014 is the spread of demand amongst global}

technology companies, which are now recruiting in almost every region of the world. Top technology firms such as Amazon and Apple feature prominently in rankings of popular MBA employers as multinationals spread their reach to recruit MBAs from a growing number of business schools all around the world, in large numbers. Miriam Park, who heads up Amazon’s MBA recruiting team, says, “We love MBAs because they’re strong analytical thinkers and problem solvers. They are a strong pipeline of leadership talent for the long-term.” Other technology companies are responding in kind with several expanding (or establishing for the first time) large global MBA recruitment programs. High tech/electronics companies report 11% growth in demand in 2014. IT/computer services report 8% growth whilst telecoms report 7% growth.

~ CONSULTING – Since 1990 there has been a six-fold increase in the number of MBAs recruited annually by the consulting sector. The global expansion of this industry and the demand for MBAs have gone hand in hand. Consulting and professional services report a 9% demand growth in 2014 continuing this

long-standing pattern, albeit at a slower rate than previous years. Consulting is a bellwether of the health of the MBA and the sector is forecasting 8% growth in 2015.

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~ _{MEDIA – Media & Entertainment has traditionally been a small sector in terms of}

MBA demand but 2014 has been the best year for MBA hiring since the dotcom boom, with 11% growth reported. The spread of broadband is fuelling the demand amongst traditional media companies looking to digitise their products and also amongst many smaller companies seeking to become new media giants. Facebook and LinkedIn are the biggest brands embracing MBAs, but the list of hiring companies is extensive.

~ MANUFACTURING & FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS – Though

not seen as typical MBA recruiters, there are a growing number of local and national players who seek MBAs (salaries tend to be below average). Consumer goods is reporting 12% growth in 2014, whilst manufacturing is reporting 10% growth and the numbers being hired are significant, especially in emerging markets.

~ PHARMACEUTICALS & HEALTHCARE – This industry is dominated by global players, many of which have run global MBA hiring schemes for many years. After a bit of a lull, their appetite for MBAs seems to be resuming with 9% growth in demand in 2014.

~ _{FINANCIAL SERVICES – Traditionally the financial services industry has}

accounted for about one third of MBA demand. Since the financial crisis this sector has undergone significant regulatory and structural change, which has slowed hiring patterns, especially in the USA and Western Europe. In 2014 we are seeing some recovery in demand growth for MBAs in financial services, especially in Latin America, but also in North America and parts of Europe. However, this has been offset by a slowdown in demand for MBAs in this sector in parts of the Middle East and Southern Europe. The result is an overall growth of just 7%, which perhaps hides an underlying recovery story. The forecast for 2015 is 5% growth but if the North American recovery carries on apace, there could be rapid re-evaluation of hiring needs.

By Employer Requirements:

The MBA recruitment market is probably the most globally flexible recruitment market of any profession, with employers willing to embrace career changers and targeting an incredible breadth of nationalities and skill sets. Our 2014 research reveals that employers continue to seek more experienced MBA candidates, preferably with international experience, combined with strong interpersonal and ‘soft’ skills. Employers also are increasingly willing to look internationally to find the right talent.

~ _{In 2014, we identify that more MBA employers are recruiting on a}

pan-regional or global basis, rather than on a purely domestic basis.

• Despite only 19% of respondents focusing on global recruiting compared to 32%

last year, it is not that North American employers have withdrawn from global MBA hiring. Rather, we have seen a big increase in the numbers of domestic-only recruiters returning to MBA hiring in 2014, reflecting the growing strength and confidence in the US economy. Amongst North American recruiters 63% focus purely on national recruiting whilst 13% are localised in their search. Not surprisingly, Asia is the next biggest source region for these employers as the

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technology industry witnesses a revival.

• European recruiters are more globally minded than their North American

counterparts with 36% recruiting globally, up 14% from 2013, and 20% recruiting across Europe, down from 29% last year. Nonetheless, close to 50% are recruiting Central Europeans in particular. Between 24% and 34% of European employers are also very actively looking for North Americans, Asians and Latin Americans.

• Amongst Middle Eastern employers, 95% are targeting local or domestic MBAs,

while 41% are targeting European MBAs. Demand for MBAs across all regions has increased in comparison to last year.

• Fewer Asia-Pacific employers are targeting local or domestic MBAs down 7%

from 2013. In spite of this decline, 83% of their recruitment activities are based in Asia-Pacific while 36% are targeting MBAs in North America and 28% are targeting MBAs in Western Europe. However, a greater proportion is targeting Central & Eastern European candidates (34%).

• Latin American employers are locally focused with 97% targeting their domestic

and local MBAs. In 2014, 15% of Latin American recruiters expressed an interest in Western European MBAs, up from 10% last year.

~ Business school graduates are still not meeting expectations in terms of their soft skills including communication, interpersonal and strategic thinking skills, which are highly sought after. Soft skills are far and away the most important skills employers are looking for from new MBA recruits. Communications, interpersonal, strategic thinking and leadership skills make up four of the five most important skills for new hires to possess. Relevant work experience is the fifth criteria.

~ Employers are broadly satisfied with the technical skills acquired by MBA students, and this result seems to be independent of which business schools employers target. This refers to academic achievement, computer skills, languages and skills acquired in finance, marketing, e-business, and risk management.

~ International study experience is sought by 67% of MBA employers. Recruiters strongly agree that screening for language skills and inter-cultural communication skills is an important part of the hiring process for international MBAs. The type and duration of study experience is also important. They most significantly agree that candidates with international experience outperform those without.

~ There was a big increase in demand for MBAs with more than five years of

work experience in 2014, with 29% of employers preferring this group compared to just 24% in 2013.

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~ _{In recent years there has been a steady drop in employer demand for}

MBAs with less than three years of experience and especially for MBAs with less than one year of work experience. This trend has continued in

2014 – 33.6 % in 2014 compared to 35% in 2013. Demand for young and

pre-experienced MBAs is low in Western Europe and Latin America – in both these regions there is an above-average demand for MBAs with 5 to 8 years of work experience. By contrast, Asia-Pacific employers are much more willing to recruit younger MBAs with 0 to 3 years’ experience.

~ Some significant changes have appeared in the functions offered to MBAs in 2014.

Business development and marketing are the two most popular functions on offer, overtaking general management, finance (other) and consulting.

~ The favorite MBA majors/study specializations amongst employers are strategy and

leadership, whilst business innovation has been growing in popularity in recent years and has caught up with finance.

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2. Summary of Key MBA Salary Trends in 2014

Overall MBA salaries have increased 4% on average in the mature North American and Western European markets for the first time in several years, with an average salary of $94,200, whilst average MBA compensation in North America (including bonuses) is up a whopping 15% to $128,600. With evidence of MBA demand picking up steadily in North America as well as in several European markets, we continue to predict that MBA salaries are likely to increase again in 2015 in these regions. At the elite end of the MBA hiring market we see salaries between $110,000 and $150,000 as the norm in North America and Europe. The QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report provides the first view of MBA compensation trends in 2014 based on our survey of 5,669 actively hiring MBA recruiters, including 1,632 new respondents.

~ Average total compensation offered by MBA employers in North America increased

by 15% to $128,600 ($112,200), with salaries of $97,700 and bonus of $30,900.

~ Total compensation offered by MBA employers in Western Europe grew by 3% to

$112,600 ($109,100). By contrast, total compensation for MBAs in Central & Eastern Europe is $72,700, up 6%.

~ Total compensation offered by MBA employers in Asia-Pacific actually fell by 2% to

$86,000 after several years of strong growth. MBA salaries in the region remained roughly flat at $68,000 with bonuses being cut back.

~ Total MBA compensation in Latin America, at $71,400, and Middle East, at $70,300,

were both slightly down in 2014, compared to 2013. This can be explained by increases in the numbers of local employers in sectors like consumer goods and manufacturing, which typically offer below- average salaries. Salaries offered by international employers in these regions were flat.

When comparing salaries and compensation by country, QS looks only at responses from domestic employers: The top ten countries in terms of average domestic MBA compensation in 2014 are: Switzerland ($122,000), Australia ($115,600), Denmark ($112,000), UK ($98,000), USA ($93,200), France ($89,800), Germany ($89,800), Spain ($83,100), Japan ($83,000), and Canada ($87,500).

Ten years ago an MBA was effectively a passport into a career in strategy consulting and investment banking with salaries as much as 50% higher than those in other sectors. These sectors still pay well, but they are no longer the top-paying sectors as they were in the past.

~ Metals & Mining Among all employers in Europe and North America, the highest paying sector in 2014 remains metals & mining, offering an average MBA salary of $134,250 ($139,000).

~ Energy – This sector has seen a surge in employment demand in 2014, jumping into the No. 2 spot for average salaries on offer, at $107,000.

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~ Pharmaceuticals – Dominated by multinationals, pharmaceuticals have dropped from the top spot in 2012 to No. 3 in 2014, with an average MBA salary of $99,200 ($100,300).

~ _{Construction/ Property – Coming in at No. 4 is the construction/property sector,}

with average salaries of $98,350 ($97,200).

~ Financial Services – With an average salary of $95,050, financial services ranked No. 5 overall, although bonuses in this sector can often be quite large, with total compensation often exceeding $200,000.

~ _{High Tech/Electronics – The boom in demand in high tech and electronics}

companies raised the average salary to $94,950, with the sector placing sixth overall

~ Consulting – Global strategy consulting firms offer salaries between US$110,000 and $160,000 in Europe and the USA, but there are a large and growing number of small and niche consulting firms recruiting locally, resulting in an average reported salary of just $88,250 ($89,150) across the sector.

~ The lowest average MBA salaries are offered in retail, utilities, law,

transportation, travel & hospitality and the public sector all below $80,000 per year.

As more employers compete in the global market for top MBA talent, we observe a longer-term trend toward equalization of MBA salaries across regions (this trend has been on-going for over a decade). Western European and North American salaries remain very similar overall and across most industries. The gap between the highest-paying region (North America) and the lowest (Latin America) narrowed to only 30% in 2013, compared to 50% a decade ago. However, with upward pressure on US salaries in 2014 this gap has widened once again to almost 40%.

Africa & Middle East Asia Pacific Eastern Europe Latin America US & Canada Western Europe 19% 13% 30% 6% 18% 14% 2012 Less than 50 staff Between 50 and 250 staff Over 250 staff

2013 2014 22.1% 21.9% 56.0% 22.4% 23.1% 54.5% 17.6% 16.4% 66.0% 14

3. Demographics & Sample of MBA Employer Respondents

The 28,759 employers responding to the QS Global Employer Surveys between 2012 and 2014 include 5,669 who were actively recruiting MBAs, whilst the remainder were recruiting only undergraduates or Masters students. All employers that responded to the survey are guaranteed confidentiality for the components of their individual responses, except for any open-ended feedback they have chosen to provide, on the value of an MBA or concerns with MBA hires.

Chart: Regional Breakdown of MBA Employer Respondents

Responses were received from employers across the globe, with 19% of employer respondents based in Western Europe, 14% in North America, 30% in Asia-Pacific, 6% in Eastern Europe, 13% in Middle East and Africa, 18% (of which the majority were hiring locally) in Latin America. Among respondents in Asia-Pacific, 12% were employers in Australia and New Zealand. This breadth of response provides detailed insights into MBA recruiting patterns across the globe.

Chart: Employer Response by Size 2014

Aerospace / Defence

Construction / Property

Consulting / Professional Services Electronics / High Technology

Energy

Consumer Goods

Financial Services / Banking IT / Computer Services

Law

Manufacturing / Engineering Media / Entertainment & Arts

Metals / Minig

Pharmaceuticals / Biotech & Healthcare Public Sector / Govt. / Non-profit

Recruitment / HR service Retail

Telecoms

Transprtation / Distribution Travel / Leisure / Hospitality Utilities Other Eduction 400 600 800 1000 200 15 In 2014, a higher proportion of respondents worldwide was made up of large companies with

over 250 employees. This points towards a potential shift in the MBA recruitment market from small consulting and financial services firms to larger industry players.

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 16

Consulting and professional services was the largest responding sector in 2013 and once again in 2014. Banking and financial services was the second largest responding sector, followed by manufacturing and engineering, which displaced HR/recruitment services from third place. IT, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals were also extremely well represented in the sample. Companies select their own industry definition and the other category is made up of respondents across all sectors who felt their companies did not quite fit the narrow industry definitions provided.

Table: Sample of Responding Employers by Region 2014

The following table gives a snapshot of some of the organizations that took part in the survey across the world all of which are recruiting 25 or more MBAs in 2014. A more comprehensive list can be found in the appendix at the end of this document.

Asia Europe US & Canada Latin America Consulting Beijing Consulting Group AT Kearney Booz Allen Hamiliton Accenture

Grant Thornton LLP Bain & Company Deloitte Deloitte

Ernst & Young BCG Ernst & Young KPMG

IBM PwC Towers Watson PwC

Finance Commonwealth Bank AXA American Express Banco Santander

Citibank Bloomberg BlackRock Bancolombia

Nomura BNP Paribas Citibank BBVA Continental

OCBC Bank Deutsche Bank ING HSBC

Industry Air Liquide Abbott 3M Colgate Palmolive

Alstom Alstom Best Buy Daimler

Baxter Bayer ConAgra Foods Exxon

Bombardier Boehringer DHL Merk

Technology Hitachi Alcatel-Lucent Brightstar Corporation Hewlett-Packard

Microsoft Google Apple Atos

LG Electronics Avaya Oracle BlackBerry

0.00 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00

Industry Consulting Finance Technology

17 Since 1990, QS has conducted the largest survey of MBA employers worldwide – the only

available long-term study of global MBA employment demand. MBAs = Mobile, Bright, Ambitious

Average 15% Growth in Demand Worldwide 1990 – 2011 (see chart) Average 10% Growth in Demand Worldwide 2012– 2015e (see chart)

The MBA qualification has proven to be probably the most recession-proof postgraduate degree since the financial crisis in 2008. Despite all the shocks to the financial system and despite contraction in financial services, MBA graduates have been successfully finding well-paid jobs in diverse sectors all around the world.

Since the financial crisis, MBA employer demand contracted only slightly in 2009 and 2010 but had a stellar year of over 25% growth in 2011, fuelled by a boom in demand in emerging markets. Since 2012, we have seen steadier growth, slightly below the long-term growth rate of 15%.

With the on-going economic recovery, North America and Europe will see renewed demand for MBA graduates. This, combined with steady demand growth in emerging markets, suggests that we are perhaps seeing the emergence of a mature qualification where the long-term growth rate is likely to swing between 6 and 12% per year, rather than the phenomenal 15% average growth reported by QS TopMBA since 1990, as shown in the chart below.

Chart: Index of MBA Recruitment 1990-2015e (Year 2000 = 1)

4. Long-term trends in MBA Jobs 1990-2014

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From 1990 to 2012 worldwide demand for MBAs grew at an average compound annual growth rate of 15%. This growth was spread across all the major continents and focused on graduates from the world’s top 200 business schools, in particular.

There have been dips in demand. The period 1990 to 1992 saw a brief global contraction that impacted MBA demand. Between 2001 and 2004 following the dotcom crash, slow growth in major economies as far apart as the US and Japan, took its toll and demand for MBAs fell sharply. By contrast the post-Lehman financial crisis of 2008-10 proved to be relatively benign for MBAs. Although there was retrenchment within financial services overall demand was flat and then recovered quickly.

So why has the MBA experienced this long-term growth of 15% annually? The answer lies, firstly, in its flexibility, allowing early career professionals to bring about significant career changes in either industry or function, and perhaps most importantly to relocate to a new part of the world.

Isabella Pinucci, career service coordinator at Italy’s SDA Bocconi School of Management, says changing one or more aspects of their careers motivates many MBAs. “Whether it’s sector, industry or function or country or region, [switching careers] seems to be driving a greater proportion of candidates.”

Secondly, an MBA is increasingly a recognized route for accelerated career progression for aspiring business leaders. For example, it has become common for engineers and technology managers to take an MBA to help progress from a technical to a managerial position, or if already managing a team, then to reach the next step in their career.

Thirdly, the MBA qualification fosters entrepreneurs who start businesses and then come back and recruit MBAs into their small, fast-growing companies. There will always be the Bill Gates and Michael Dells of this world who drop out of college only to become wildly successful. Yet ask a venture capitalist or an angel investor what they look for in aspiring entrepreneurs, and beyond the requisite experience in the chosen field, an MBA is usually mentioned.

Demand for MBAs in consulting has been growing consistently. The chart above reveals that the absolute number of MBAs hired into the consulting sector has more than tripled since 2000, and increased six-fold since 1990. As business becomes ever more global and complex, the demand for specialised consultancy skills is growing exponentially, and the MBA qualification is a key selection criteria for a sector that values generalist skills and deep intellect above all else. This enormous expansion in MBA demand in the consulting sector simply reflects the enormous growth in this industry since 1990 – consulting services generated over US$100 billion by 2007, up from US$10 billion in 1990.

The chart reveals that MBA demand in financial services has also increased, albeit less rapidly than consulting – doubling between 2000 and 2007 and, following a period of retrenchment, seemingly entering a new growth phase since 2012. Despite the drama of financial crises, MBA demand has remained remarkably resilient in this sector over the long term. However, demand in financial services is not recovering at the same pace as consulting within developed markets.

19 Since the turn of the millennium, MBA demand in general industry (consumer goods,

construction, energy, manufacturing, mining, retail, etc.) has really taken off as demand in emerging markets has accelerated. In 2014, there have been more MBA jobs reported in general industry than in financial services.

Demand for MBAs in the technology sectors has experienced an era of unprecedented growth, especially in Asia. As reported last year, more and more high technology and computer services companies are looking to MBAs to commercialise their products. Most of this growth is taking place in Asia with big US employers actively hiring in the region. In 2014, overall demand grew by 11% in high technology and by 7% in telecoms.

Paul Danos, dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, explains the enduring appeal of top international MBA programs. “Demand for graduates of top MBA programs by the great businesses of the world continues to be strong. As businesses grow in complexity and scope, companies need more and more skilled and well-educated leaders,” says Danos, who is stepping down as dean in 2015. Danos says he foresees “no end to the insatiable demand of top businesses to employ high-quality MBA talent.”

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5. Demand for MBAs around the World in 2014/15e

It’s beginning to look as if 2014/15 will be the year in which employers in Western economies will gradually expand their hiring programs, rather than taking a wait-and-see attitude. The QS Survey suggests many HR managers, especially in North America, believe their companies were too cautious in 2013. They’ve increased MBA hiring in 2014 and are predicting a further increase in MBA demand in 2015.

By contrast MBA demand growth in emerging markets, which has outstripped Western markets in recent years, is beginning to settle down to more sustainable rates. All in all the qualification seems to be entering a more mature phase in terms of employer patterns of hiring.

The table below shows the year-over-year change in numbers of MBA job opportunities reported by employers in 2014, by region and their expectation for 2015. The business cycle plays a major part in the short-term trends in MBA hiring, with local demand patterns fluctuating quite rapidly.

Table: Percentage Increase in MBA Jobs by Region

World Region

Projected Change 2014/13

Projected Change 2015/14

Africa & Middle East 2% 12%

Asia-Pacific 11% 8%

Eastern Europe 10% 5%

Latin America 7% 8%

US & Canada 10% 9%

Western Europe 0% 3%

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

Employers in the US & Canada have ramped up MBA hiring by 10% this year and are looking to grow demand by a similar amount again next year – really impressive figures for such a large and mature MBA market.

European employers are also becoming more optimistic for 2015. Northern European economies are already back on track with strong demand in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia. Southern European countries are also showing signs of recovery in 2015.

Whereas Asia-Pacific reports the highest growth in 2014, employers in Africa and the Middle East project a 12% increase in MBA recruitment in 2015, by far the most impressive growth across all the regions.

The surge in employer demand in emerging markets has inevitably brought about a change in behaviour of international MBA students. A few years ago, an international MBA was a route to a new life in the USA, Canada or Western Europe. In 2013, an international MBA is as much about learning international business practices and creating a network - a powerful career advantage for MBAs seeking to exploit the rapid growth of China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and other emerging economies.

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MBA Job Market Rank 2014 Rank 2013

United States 1 2 India 2 1 China 3 3 Mexico 4 6 United Kingdom 5 4 South Korea 6 5 Argentina 7 7 Canada 8 12 Brazil 9 8 Singapore 10 11

Mauro Guillen, director of the Lauder Institute at Wharton, emphasizes that since 2008 “a higher percentage, perhaps as many as two out of every three international students, are returning to work in their home countries, or in emerging markets, rather than staying in the USA. This trend, however, could lose steam if emerging-market growth falters, as it has already in Brazil.”

The table below shows the top ten countries by volume of MBA hiring.

Table: Top 10 Countries for MBA Demand

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

The United States regains the lead as the largest market for MBA candidates, vying with India, which moves to second place.

China remains in third place, while Mexico has displaced the UK and South Korea from fourth and fifth place respectively. Singapore enters the top 10 by volume of MBA jobs, for the first time. The growing demand in both Mexico (a non-BRIC emerging economy) and Singapore (a member of the ASEAN network) signals a shift in global perceptions of MBAs. Research by Bank of America Merrill Lynch reveals that Mexico’s rising population and lower labour costs in comparison to China have made it a strategic market for the US. This has resulted in increased foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector. A growing labour force goes hand-in-hand with demand for qualified managers, creating a ripe market for MBA recruitment. Singapore has experienced vibrant economic growth in recent years and employers in the region seem to be embracing the MBA qualification.

The UK leads the European contingent of MBA employers. Germany, France and Spain follow but do not make the top-10 list. The UK shows a continued commitment to MBA hiring, which reflects the dominance of the service sector in the UK economy and the sensitivity of MBA hiring to the performance of the service sector, with the banking and finance sector being a major employer. Germany is quite different from the UK in terms of the profile of companies hiring MBAs, with technology, engineering and software companies sitting alongside consulting firms as the major MBA employers. MBA opportunities in France and Spain are also more common in general industrial companies and consulting firms.

22

Table: Top 10 Countries for Projected Growth in MBA Demand

Growth Rank 2014 Country Expected 2014 Growth

1 Russia 19% 2 Kazakhstan 18% 3 China 17% 4 Switzerland 15% 5 Mexico 14% 6 Colombia 13% 7 South Korea 13%

8 United Arab Emirates 12%

9 Saudi Arabia 12%

10 Canada 12%

Russia and Kazakhstan lead the table in terms of growth in demand for MBAs in 2014. Traditionally the volume of MBAs hired locally in each country has been relatively small, so in a sense this represents a catchup with other emerging MBA markets that have experienced rapid growth in recent years.

Saudi Arabia and UAE are also demonstrating very high growth levels. UAE is recovering from a severe recession and would seem to be back on track. Saudi Arabia is just entering the MBA hiring market and is in an early phase of development.

Latin American companies are now reaching out to American, Spanish and other European schools to pick up the talented nationals choosing to study overseas. Mexico and Colombia back this trend; both nations are well placed within the top-10 projected growth markets.

5.1.1. MBA Jobs Trends in USA & Canada

The QS TopMBA.com report highlights that across North America MBA demand has

jumped 10% in 2014, very much in line with our forecast from last year’s report. It seems that as confidence in economic recovery arrives in North America, we are seeing renewed demand for MBA graduates from globally oriented and local employers.

Table: Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels - US & Canada

The recovery of the US economy has previously been shaky and seemed to have held 2014/13 2015/14

US & Canada 10% 9%

The recovery of the US economy has previously been shaky and seemed to have held back confidence in increasing MBA hiring numbers, but this changed in the past year. The stabilization of the financial services, the recovery of some manufacturing industries and the return of new MBA employers, all look set to create strong demand in 2014.

Technology companies are underpinning the growth in demand in the USA, with the big brands like Google, Amazon and IBM at the forefront. Miriam Park, who heads up Amazon’s MBA recruiting team, says, “We love MBAs because they’re strong analytical thinkers and problem solvers. They are a strong pipeline of leadership talent for the long-term.” Endeca (Oracle) is very active as are international companies like Samsung.

23 Internship programs – still the favourite screening mechanism of MBA recruiters – have been

a popular first step for companies testing the MBA recruitment market, and this year saw the birth of several. Look for a steady increase in the number of internship opportunities as firms continue the trend towards the ‘try before you buy’ approach.

The US job search continues to be a challenge for international students seeking the coveted H-1B visa. The HR manager at KIMC in the US told TopMBA.com “Visa issues can cause problems. However, in our case, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) visa extension has helped.”

5.1.2. MBA Jobs Trends in Latin America

MBA demand in Latin America has become much more plentiful in recent years amongst local employers and this trend is continuing, albeit at more sustainable growth rate of 7% in 2014 after a year of 10% growth in 2013. Employers in the region are utilising MBAs as a key talent pool as companies battle to internationalise across the region. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico continue to be the engines of MBA growth in the region.

Table: Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels – Latin America

2014/13 2015/14

Latin America +8% +7%

The QS TopMBA.com Employer Survey reveals a 14% increase in MBA demand in Mexico, 9% uplift in MBA jobs in Brazil, and a 13% increase in MBA jobs in Colombia.

Professional service companies like Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, Accenture and IBM all report big jumps in MBA hiring throughout Latin America, with the biggest increases in Argentina. The attractions of Buenos Aires seem to be a factor for these professional service companies.

Mining and industrial companies are adding to the demand for MBAs. Companies like Senac Mines in Brazil and Grupo Elektra in Mexico are very active.

Many European banks now own the major Latin American banks and they actively recruit MBAs, as do consultancies and major industrial companies. The biggest such recruiters are BBVA and Banco Santander, which have emerged as regional banking leaders in Latin America, though HSBC is not far behind.

5.1.3. MBA Jobs Trends in Western Europe

The story in Western Europe is one of a lag in recovery in MBA demand, with 0% reported net growth in MBA demand in 2014. Growth in demand in Switzerland (15%), Germany (9%), Belgium (9%), France (6%) and the UK (5%) has buoyed the region. Northern European MBA demand has been offset by continued declines in Southern Europe, especially in Greece, Italy and Spain. However there is some good news for Europe’s MBAs. Growth across Europe is forecast to accelerate in 2015, with Italian and Spanish employers leading the way with 15% and 7% projected growth in demand in 2015. The vibrancy of the consulting sector within the region underpins this better growth forecast for 2015.

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Table: Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels – Western Europe

2014/13 2015/14

Western Europe +0% +3%

MBA hiring in financial services has seen some improvement in 2014. The financial centres of London and Frankfurt are recovering and bank profits have begun to pick up once again, but MBA hiring is still restrained. Many European banks have strengthened their capital/asset ratios and are now highly liquid and looking for talented traders to make good use of all the cheap government money available in the system. BNL in Italy, Paribas and Santander are amongst the European banks with optimistic projections for 2015 MBA recruitment.

The German economy is usually the engine of MBA demand in Western Europe. Siemens, BMW and Daimler Benz are examples of German companies with longstanding MBA recruitment programs. Strong demand for German goods in Asia in particular, has fuelled a demand for Asian MBAs to join German companies. Likewise, many service companies are desperate to recruit German MBAs to serve their successful German clients.

Another source of growth in Europe is bi-lingual Chinese-European language speakers. Europe gradually has to acclimatize to Chinese investment in European business and China is also becoming a major market for European exports. As a result, future business leaders with experience of both China and Europe are rapidly increasing in demand amongst recruiters. “We do see increased interest in hiring Chinese MBAs and international MBAs who speak the major Chinese languages,” reports Vinika D. Rao, executive director of the Emerging Markets Institute at INSEAD, which has campuses in France and Singapore where MBA students study. “Currently, the focus continues to be primarily on China, Hong Kong and other Asia-based positions. However, as Chinese investment in Europe grows, we anticipate increased interest in hiring bilingual MBAs who can communicate effectively and adapt comfortably to both the site office in Europe and the HQ in China.”

5.1.4. MBA Jobs Trends in Eastern Europe

Eastern and Central European employers reported growth of 10% in 2014, not quite the dramatic increase we forecast in last year’s report, but still significant either. The growth figures are boosted by global companies expanding operations in Central Europe, with Russia and Kazakhstan reporting 19% and 18% growth in MBA demand respectively. There is a growing appetite for Western-educated MBAs to return home after their MBA to local/ regional employers.

Table: Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels – Eastern and Central

Europe

2014/13 2015/14

Eastern and Central Europe 10% 5%

Russia has sustained strong growth in MBA demand throughout the recent world financial crisis and is projected to have a further surge in MBA hiring in 2014, fuelled by the energy boom and expansion of the financial services sector. PricewaterhouseCoopers is typical of

25 Elizaveta Komolova, an HR consultant with Morgan Hunt in Moscow, told TopMBA.com that

Russian companies “are looking to hire more and more MBAs compared to recent years. An MBA is becoming a default attribute of a successful manager.”

Komolova adds “MBAs in Russia are expected to be more practice-oriented, have more structured knowledge and a broad business network. MBAs are known for their ability to think long-term and use their business contacts for the best.”

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are oil economies that are encouraging their local young professionals to study for an MBA. Strong demand in energy and finance has resulted in a strong uplift in MBA demand in both ecomomies since 2010. Central governments are also encouraging state-backed companies to recruit more MBAs, both locally and internationally. Good Czech or Hungarian candidates are highly sought after, but mainly outside their home countries. Romania has a growing domestic demand for MBAs, and increasingly EU recruiters are hiring these nationals who now hold EU citizenship.

5.1.5. MBA Jobs Trends in Asia-Pacific

After several boom years, demand for MBAs in Asia is settling at a sustainable rate of 11% per year. In recent years, the MBA qualification has been embraced by Asian employers, particularly in India and China, and especially in consulting and professional services, manufacturing, IT/computer services, finance and micro-finance. Since 2011, India has been vying with the USA to be the largest MBA job market and there is little sign of this trend reversing with 8% growth forecast in 2015.

The QS TopMBA.com report highlights that across Asia employers are continuing to embrace MBAs as they pursue global expansion. The MBA is becoming more in vogue. Asian candidates are amongst the highest GMAT scorers in the world, and are focused on developing excellent technical skills often at the expense of integrating fully in the social aspects of the MBA.

Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels - Asia Pacific

2014/13 2015/14

Asia-Pacific 11% 8%

Without a doubt, the TopMBA.com International Employer Survey is reflecting the emergence of more and more Asian companies seeking MBAs – they represent over a quarter of total respondents. Some employers are willing to hire from local business schools at relatively low salary levels, whilst other Asian employers remain fully committed to hiring from top North American, European and Australian business schools and are often willing to pay the higher salaries expected by graduates of those schools, with a slight ‘cost of living’ adjustment. The rise of an elite cadre of Asian business schools is underway, but will probably take another ten years to be fully established.

26

For the last few years, the most dynamic MBA market has been India, which has experienced an explosion in employer demand for MBAs, at least those from top-tier programs. India reports similar levels to the USA in terms of volume of reported MBA jobs for fresh graduates. But among the many Indian companies that responded to the QS Employer Survey, there are several distinct groupings. Whilst multinational employers still have a strong preference to recruit MBA graduates from international business schools, local companies concentrate on locally educated MBAs. The majority of Indian employers are actively looking to recruit from local business schools like the IIMs, the Indian School of Business as well as many others. Other local Indian companies that are looking for MBAs without work experience, almost as an alternative to a fresh undergraduate, are offering salaries below US$30,000. These employers have been excluded from the results of the survey.

Demand for MBAs in China is also strong and getting stronger. It is ranked as the third largest MBA market in the world. Banks in China are recruiting large numbers of MBAs. China seems to be maturing as an MBA hiring market with a good number of opportunities in the professional services and consulting sectors, although these numbers are now growing more slowly than some other sectors. The projected demand levels from IT / computer services surpassed consulting for the first time in 2014.

As reported last year, demand is so strong that the Municipality of Shanghai has funded the launch of its own local business school – Shanghai Advanced Centre for Finance - to compete with other local schools like CEIBS and Cheung Kong Business School. Employers in China could not find enough Chinese MBAs returning from US and European business schools, spurring the local government into action.

South Korea is joining the MBA party in Asia. Fuelled by big multinationals like Samsung, LG and Hyundai, South Korea is reporting 13% growth in MBA demand in 2014. South Korean employers told TopMBA.com they valued MBAs for their “passion and attitude,” “strategic thinking” and leadership skills.

Japan is a mature MBA market, with a long tradition of companies sponsoring students to study at Western business schools. Yet here too we see vibrancy with 10% growth in 2014.

5.1.6. MBA Jobs Trends in Middle East & Africa

From a small base, MBA demand in this region has grown rapidly in recent years and it is not surprising that growth rates have settled down to just 2% in 2014. Growth has centered on the recovery in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but parts of Africa have also reported increased demand, albeit from a relatively low base, in sectors like energy, mining, consulting and finance. Demand is forecast to jump again by 12% in 2015. Ameera Al Kaabi of UAE University in the United Arab Emirates, says the biggest constraint on more MBAs coming to the Middle East is pay: “The salary package is not attractive to them.”.

Projected Increases in MBA Recruitment Levels – Africa & Middle East

2014/13 2015/14

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Even so, the UAE seems to be on the path to recovery, also showing a 12% increase in MBA demand led by banking, energy and IT companies with offices in the UAE. Banks like Standard Chartered are basing much of their back office operations globally in Dubai.

5.2.

MBA Jobs by Sector in 2014 and Forecast for 2015

Two of the biggest MBA job markets by volume of job opportunities have traditionally been financial services and consulting (with 22% and 12% of total MBA demand respectively) which require the technical skills and high levels of motivation that MBAs are so well-suited to provide. However, the volume of job opportunities from financial services declined by 2% in 2014 from 24% in 2013.

The second largest sector for MBA demand is IT/Computer Services at 13% of the total share of MBA jobs, a 4% incline in comparison to its 2013 volume. Recruitment/HR is gaining ground as a top destination for MBA graduates and accounts for the fourth highest job share. Increasing demands on human resources departments have driven the need for skilled HR managers.

In addition to showing these shares of the MBA job market, the table below also shows the growth in reported jobs by sector in both 2014 and forecast for 2015.

Table: Growth in MBA Demand by Industry Worldwide - 2014 and 2015e

Sectors Worldwide

Share (%) MBA Jobs

2014 Growth 2014/13 Growth 2015/14

Aerospace / Defence 1% -12% 0%

Construction / Property 2% 12% 10%

Consulting / Professional Services 12% 9% 8%

Electronics / High Technology 7% 11% 8%

Energy 4% 18% 5%

Consumer Goods 1% 12% 5%

Financial Services / Banking 22% 7% 5%

IT / Computer Services 13% 8% 12%

Law 1% 37% 21%

Manufacturing / Engineering 5% 10% 13%

Media / Entertainment & Arts 0% 11% 2%

Metals / Mining 2% 10% 1%

Pharmaceuticals / Biotech & Healthcare 4% 9% 0%

Public Sector / Govt. / Non-profit 2% 8% 8%

Recruitment / HR services 9% 9% 9%

Retail 2% 0% 4%

Telecoms 5% 7% 11%

Transportation / Distribution 1% -2% -3%

Travel / Leisure / Hospitality 1% 8% 1%

Utilities 0% 10% 1%

Other 7% 8% 8%

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5.2.1. MBA Jobs in Consulting

Since 1990, the number of MBAs recruited annually by the consulting sector has increased six-fold. The global expansion of this industry and the demand for MBAs has gone hand-in-hand. Consulting and professional services reports 9% demand growth in 2014 continuing this longstanding pattern, albeit at a slower rate than previous years. Consulting is a bellwether for the health of the MBA and the sector is forecasting 8% growth in 2015.

The table below looks at growth in consultancy demand by region. As we enter a likely period of economic growth, consultancies tend to acquire a different type of project compared to recessionary environments. Big recession projects like business restructuring and process re-engineering tend to dry up, to be replaced by M&A and strategic growth projects. This adjustment can take a year or so to work through from pipeline to live assignments and this particularly seems to be the case in Africa & Middle East where economies are recovering but this has not yet been reflected in consulting growth, resulting in a decline in MBA demand in 2014. By contrast consulting firms in other regions have worked through this phase and are experiencing something of a boom. In Latin America, Western Europe and the US and Canada consulting firms are hiring accordingly, creating lots of opportunities for internationally flexible MBAs.

Table: Growth in MBA Demand in Consulting

Region 2014/13

Africa & Middle East -4%

Asia-Pacific 8% Eastern Europe 8% Latin America 15% US & Canada 11% Western Europe 8% Worldwide 9%

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

Almost all major investment banks actively recruit MBAs. The credit crunch caused huge cutbacks in MBA hiring amongst some banks – especially Citigroup and Bank of America, which received the largest US government bailouts. Despite redundancies amongst experienced bankers however, entry-level recruitment remained steady in most other banks throughout the credit crisis.

Demand for MBAs collapsed during 2001-2003. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and others cut MBA hiring by up to 80% in some offices, but 2009 was completely different with many banks hiring actively. Today, investment banking isn’t the only destination sought by many finance-minded MBAs. “MBA students with relevant financial or strategy experience can find more opportunities at some of the ‘boutique’ corporate advisory firms or in private equity, but this requires more proactive networking,” says Mark Davies, employer relations manager at Imperial College Business School. “At Imperial, we have also seen MBA graduates hired into compliance, wealth and risk management roles, where demand for talent at all levels has been growing recently.”

29 So, what turns a bright new business school graduate into a successful banker? Nebal Fahed,

head of graduate recruitment – Americas for Deutsche Bank, says personality is a big piece of the puzzle. “While numerical ability is certainly essential, the sheer scale of our business means that we need MBA students from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds,” Fahed says. “We look for high achievers with the intellectual curiosity and the determination to deliver innovative solutions for our global clients.”

Most people associate investment banking with mergers and acquisitions, but most of the top banks look to recruit MBAs into global markets (sales and trading securities, fixed income and derivatives), managing assets, structured finance, corporate finance and increasingly on-and-off balance sheet hedge funds. There are also many back office positions in risk, financial control and technology.

Changes in regulations are creating more MBA opportunities. Market risk and compliance departments are seeing increased MBA hiring as banks seek greater security and control of risky investment classes. In fact, an overall emphasis on compliance experience may be spreading throughout the financial services industry.

Another new feature in recent years has been the entrance of hedge funds, private equity and venture capital houses into MBA recruiting in significant numbers. In the past they have focused on more experienced MBA alumni recruited through a network. Today, they are recognising the need to recruit younger MBA graduates to meet the growing market opportunities. Jairaj Singh, a recruitment consultant specializing in investment banking and global markets at Michael Page Hong Kong, states that roles available to MBAs have shifted. “Risk and compliance have been key areas of growth, while corporate finance and M&A teams have become leaner due to cost cutting pressures,” he says. “There has been relatively strong activity on the buy side, with client attention focused on China; multiple hedge funds, to which much risk has been deleveraged, and asset management firms have made their presence felt.” It is not just banks, hedge funds, and private equity shops that recruit MBAs into financial services. GE Capital is now one of the biggest recruiters of MBAs worldwide. American Express is also emerging as a major player. Insurance steadily hires MBAs. In the US there are a number of insurance companies that recruit ten or more MBAs each year such as AIG, Travellers, CIGNA and Liberty Mutual.

5.2.3. MBA Jobs in Technology & Telecoms

The big story in 2014 is the growing demand for MBA talent amongst global technology companies, which are now recruiting in almost every region of the world. Top technology firms such as Google, Amazon and Apple feature prominently in rankings of popular MBA employers as multinationals spread their reach to recruit MBAs from a growing number of business schools around the world, in large numbers. Other technology companies are responding in kind with several expanding (or establishing for the first time) large global MBA recruitment programs. High tech/electronics companies report 11% growth in demand in 2014. IT/computer services 8% growth while telecoms report 7% growth.

30

Table: Growth in MBA Demand in Technology & Telecommunications

Region 2014/13

Africa & Middle East -14%

Asia-Pacific 9% Eastern Europe 14% Latin America 0% US & Canada 21% Western Europe 2% Worldwide 8%

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

Apple is now the most successful high tech company in the world and, along with Microsoft and Oracle, is undertaking an MBA hiring drive, recruiting into finance, sales, marketing and product management. Chloe Chometon of Oracle Ireland looks for MBAs with “International exposure [and] structured thinking.” Tom Kozicki, executive director of the MBA Career Center at UC Irvine says “the high tech corridor on the west coast has been an important source of jobs for our MBAs and remains strong.”

The web is attracting MBAs, with household names like Google and eBay snapping up entrepreneurially minded graduates. “MBAs at Google find plenty of opportunities to do cool things that matter, whether in product management, sales and finance, marketing, people operations and everything in between,” says Kyle Ewing, head of the tech giant’s global staffing programs. “While we value all levels and types of education, we look for MBA candidates with creativity, passion, and a healthy disregard for the impossible.”

Telecommunications companies such as Samsung, Apple, British Telecom and Vodafone are very active. Asian technology recruiters are hiring actively in China, Taiwan and Korea. Although we still lack many Chinese recruiter respondents in the research, Korea is an example of the dynamism of technology in Asia.

5.2.4. MBA Jobs in general industry

MBA demand in general industry (consumer goods, construction, energy, manufacturing, mining, retail etc.) is strong as many local employers in emerging markets expand the overall demand for MBAs. Though not seen as typical MBA recruiters, there are a growing number of local and national players who seek MBAs (salaries tend to be below average). The consumer goods sector is reporting 12% growth in 2014, whilst manufacturing is reporting 10% growth, with large numbers of MBAs being hired, especially in emerging markets.

Media & entertainment has traditionally been a small sector in terms of MBA demand but 2014 has been the best year for MBA hiring since the dotcom boom, with 11% growth. The spread of broadband is fuelling the demand amongst traditional media companies looking to digitise their products and also amongst many smaller companies seeking to become new media giants. Facebook and LinkedIn are the biggest brands and are embracing MBAs, but the list of hiring companies is extensive.

31

Table: Growth in MBA Demand in General Industry

Region 2014/13

Africa & Middle East 18%

Asia-Pacific 16% Eastern Europe 5% Latin America 5% US & Canada 12% Western Europe 11% Worldwide 12%

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

Manufacturing and general industry were among the success stories of the North American market, with many companies repatriating operations from overseas back home, creating demand for general managers. But Asia will not give up the fight easily and still outstripped the USA in terms of demand growth. Our “General Industry” category is a broad grouping of industries covering aerospace, automotives, chemicals, logistics, manufacturing and steel. Each industry reveals individual trends, but a common theme is the continued recovery in MBA hiring.

More and more industrial companies are fully embracing globalization and understand that MBAs represent an essential pool of international managers who are capable of working in diverse cultures and business situations. In particular, multinational supply chains and procurement require internationally minded, multilingual managers, making MBAs a natural talent pool.

A sizeable number of MBAs who do find roles in the industrial sector will do so with multinational companies such as General Electric, Samsung, Toyota and Motorola, where specific MBA training programs have been the norm for over a decade. Internationally minded European companies like Siemens have established MBA entry programs as well.

The energy sector continues to report strong MBA recruiting with an 18% increase in MBA jobs in 2014. There seem to be three drivers of this trend. First of all the search for alternative energy sources is attracting many MBAs into smaller, entrepreneurial organizations. Secondly, many of the big oil companies will need to replace their senior management over the next ten years as they come up for retirement. Finally, the growth of renewable energy sources is creating demand for new talent. “Today’s ever-changing energy landscape with increasing focus on renewables, energy security and energy efficiency creates exciting career opportunities,” says Zeynep Flouret, assistant director of the INSEAD Career Development Centre. “According to INSEAD’s 2013 Employment Statistics, energy giants remain solid recruiting partners of INSEAD but career opportunities in energy come from a wide range of sources including entrepreneurial firms.” Exxon Mobil and BP are among the largest MBA employers in the energy sector, though the impact of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill cast a shadow over the prospects of all big players in the oil sector as governments increase regulations to limit drilling.

32

Consumer goods companies have been committed to MBA hiring in the US for many years, but MBA careers in this sector have grown slowly in Europe and Asia, with worldwide growth at a very respectable 12% in 2014. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products traditionally hires many MBAs in the US and around the world; this program has remained unchanged in recent years. By contrast Procter & Gamble has traditionally hired small numbers of MBAs as have many other consumer goods companies. But the situation is changing and it is now common for both local operations and head offices of consumer goods companies like Diageo, BAT and Coca Cola to hire significant numbers of MBAs.

The increasing globalization of international trade, growing interdependence of common markets and increased international competition, have fuelled interest in MBAs across the sector, but also made it vulnerable to a global recession.

Inflated MBA salaries remain a problem for MBA recruiters in the industrial sectors. A consistent message from recruiters in the industry is that they have to look outside the top-tier business schools to find the talent they need. However, they are almost all reporting success in their search.

5.2.5. MBA Jobs in Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

This industry is dominated by global players, many of which have run global MBA hiring schemes for many years. After a bit of a lull, their appetite for MBAs seems to be resuming with 9% growth in demand in 2014.

Table: Growth in MBA Demand in Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

Region 2014/13

Africa & Middle East 0%

Asia-Pacific 2% Eastern Europe 4% Latin America -4% US & Canada 20% Western Europe 8% Worldwide 9%

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

The major pharmaceutical companies have always been very active MBA recruiters and pay the best salaries after consulting and investment banking. They also offer attractive benefits and international mobility. They have remained committed to MBAs throughout the last decade and growth in recruitment numbers is steady rather than spectacular. There are also many smaller pharmaceutical and healthcare companies that are aggressively pursuing MBA hiring to help them meet their growth potential.

Healthcare employers say MBAs’ communication, multitasking and teamwork abilities make them valuable. But a lack of international experience, high expectations for responsibility and promotions, and unreasonable salary demands make recruiting MBA talent difficult.

2014 2013 Consultant E-commer ce Finance - Advisor y

Finance - Other _{General Management IT} / T

echnolog y Mark eting Operations/ Man ufacturing

Other Roles Sales / Business De

velopment

Strategic Planning _Suppl

y Chain / Logistics 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 33

5.3.

Functional Roles on Offer to MBAs

MBAs come from very diverse backgrounds and industries, with as many as 50% looking to make a career change after their MBA. This is refl ected not just in the wide variety of companies seeking to employ MBAs, but also the variety of functions they enter after completing their course. Many companies recruit MBAs into more than one function. At 3M, for example, MBAs are generally found in one of three functions: HR, fi nance or marketing/ strategy.

Chart: Functional Roles Offered to MBAs

Source: QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2014/15 (www.topmba.com)

The chart above shows some signifi cant changes in the functions offered to MBAs in 2014. Sales/ business development, consulting, fi nance – other, and management continue to account for the largest proportion of roles offered. However, IT/technology (+5%), marketing (+2%) and E-commerce roles (+2%) surpassed their 2013 levels.

The heat map table below highlights the shifts in roles offered to MBAs over a four-year period. The higher the proportion of roles offered, and the darker colour, means more interest in the particular function in comparison to the previous year.

6% 5%

6%

34

5.4. Preferred MBA Experience Levels

MBAs with three to five years’ experience remain most in demand and, together with MBAs of five to eight years of work experience, account for 57% of MBA employer demand. The least popular experience range is 0-1 years of experience. This contradicts the policy of several top-tier US business schools which are actively recruiting these “pre-experience” candidates in the pursuit of ever-higher average GMAT scores, a policy with which employers do not agree.

As a general rule, employers seek out MBAs with both the academic knowledge an MBA imparts and highly developed leadership and teamwork skills. Randall Lewis, executive director of the Professional Development Center at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management, says “Employers want candidates that are problem solvers, great communicators and work well with others.” Adds Susan Shald, director of talent scouting for Gallup: “We’re looking for people that have this technical expertise that they can get down to the nuts and bolts of what they need to deliver, but also talk to someone at a high level if they need to.” James Prazak, operations manager at Tricon Energy in the USA, argues strongly against pre-experience MBAs. “They lack maturity, and feel they can command more money and prestige than un