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This broad grouping of industries covers, aerospace, automotives, chemicals, logistics, manufacturing, steel and for the purpose of this report, consumer goods and retail. Each industry reveals individual trends, but a common theme has been a steady increase in MBA
hiring for the last three years with the 2007 survey reporting an increase in hiring of 24% (18%). The increasing globalisation of international trade, growing inter-dependence of common markets and increased international competition has fuelled the interest in MBAs across the sector.

In particular, those organisations that have fully embraced globalisation understand that MBAs represent an essential pool of international managers who are capable of working in diverse cultures and business situations. A sizeable number of MBAs who do find roles in the industrial sector will do so with companies such as General Electric, Ford and General Motors where specific MBA induction programmes have been the norm for more than twenty years. Internationally-minded European companies like Siemens and DaimlerChrysler have established MBA entry programmes.

Sangeeta LaForges of General Motors NA looks for "more strategic, globally minded MBAs". But finds many "are shopping the market for the best deal". Finding the right candidate that truly wants to work for your company is a challenge at times."

"For our purchasing function, the MBA is the prime hire, if they have relevant experience. From the start, an MBA employee is responsible for purchasing hundreds of millions of dollars in parts / products," says Alberto Piccone of Ford. But Alberto cautions that, "The years of experience between their undergrads and MBAs has been shrinking... This limits the hiring evaluation to just a couple of jobs."

The energy sector has reported the largest increase in MBA recruiting within industrials. There seem to be two drivers of this trend. First of all, the search for alternative energy sources is attracting many MBAs into smaller, entrepreneurial organisations. Secondly, as Graham Hastie of London Business School reports, "Many of the big oil companies will need to replace their senior management over the next ten years as they come up for retirement. These companies have identified that they need new MBAs for their leadership programmes and are offering exceptional packages to get the best people."

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Source: -
QS World MBA Tour - QS TopMBA.com International Recruiter Survey 2007
© QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 2007
Website: www.topmba.com