IIM students explore new avenues for summer jobs

Students from the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) have treaded the unexplored path this year during their summer internships. Several students have opted for unconventional areas for their summer jobs.

The IIMs this year have experienced a massive shift in the placement scenario in the profiles of companies coming for the recruitment process and also in the preferences made by students in job offers.

While sales, marketing, banking and finance have remained highest on the offered and accepted job offers in the reports published by three of the IIMs, students are also seen to have moved to internships under government projects.

IIM-Ahmedabad has four students who have chosen to work under Dr APJ Kalam on the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) project. Another student has opted to learn governance and policy-making under a member of Parliament from Sikkim.

“Considering the internship period will be around the announcement of budget, it will be good for the students to get a live experience,” said an official. Prof Saral Mukherjee, the placement chairperson from IIM-A, stated that there are a significant numbers of students opting for unconventional jobs this year on their campus.

IIM-Kozhikode saw companies from hospital management and sports management coming on campus. Its official report states, “Students this year have shown increasing interest in non-conventional sectors such as media and entertainment, sports managements, start-ups and health and wellness etc.”

IIM-A’s placement report states, “Students will be interning in firms in sectors such as social gaming, advertising, credit rating and even rural finance. Several students who are keen to pursue a challenging and entrepreneurial experience have chosen to intern with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.” NIF works towards discovering grass-root innovations and helping them develop into self-supporting businesses.