FMCG tops MBA graduates wish list; Hindustan Unilever as most-preferred recruiter

The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector has emerged as the sector of choice for business school graduates with Hindustan Unilever topping the list as the preferred recruiter, according to a Nielsen survey. Thirty six per cent students preferred a career in the FMCG sector.

In its 12th year, the study took the views of 1,100 final year students from the top 35 B-schools in India in October-November last year. A majority of students also felt that FMCG has the highest growth potential.

After FMCG, top sectors of choice are management consulting, IT consultancy and services, investment banking, foreign and domestic banks, IT product and development, financial institutions, retail and conglomerates. Amongst the recruiters of choice, HUL was followed by Google, Aditya Birla Group, Accenture, McKinsey & Co, Infosys, P&G, BCG, Citi Group, Microsoft, TAS and Axis Bank.

"With the FMCG growth in the country being driven by consumption, the sector continues to find favour with students who see it as a sector with huge growth potential," says Nielsen executive director Dinesh Kapoor.

HUL's executive director (HR) Leena Nair said the economic environment has helped FMCG to be the sector of choice amongst the future talent.

"The finance sector probably lost out due to the environment. There is also excitement and speed of working in the FMCG sector, which do attract young talent. Companies like HUL have big leadership practices and brands which is yet another major attraction," says Nair.

Nair says HUL has undertaken a lot of work to become the destination for the best of talent. "We are constantly identifying and grooming the next generation and leaders.

We also invest a lot on training and mentoring talent," she said. HUL won the number one position after a decade.

HUL was also ranked the 'dream company' amongst B-school companies for the third year in a row, followed by P&G and McKinsey & Co. ITC also made it into the list of dream companies.

The average salary expectations of the students from their dream company remained the same as compared to the last year at Rs 16 lakh per annum, reflecting students gave more value to their role and job.

However, the salary expectation from a foreign company continues to remain almost double than that from an Indian company.

The 2011 Nielsen survey also showed that the top five dimensions students considered when it comes to seeking employment were high degree of independence at work, salary package, learning on the job, growth prospects and standing of the company in the market respectively.

Sensex under pressure; oil & gas, private banks, infra fall

The market remained under selling pressure ahead of expiry in the last month of 2011. It seems that the Nifty may close below the 4700-mark today, weighed down by infrastructure, oil & gas and private banks stocks. The Sensex was down 65 points at 15,662.72 and the Nifty fell 25 points to 4,681.05.

Index heavyweights Reliance Industries and L&T fell 1.65% and 1.34%, respectively.

Among others, Infosys, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, HDFC, ONGC, TCS, HUL, ITC and NTPC were down 0.3-0.8%. In the realty space, DLF dropped over 1.5%.

Shares of Tata Power and Maruti Suzuki were biggest losers, falling 2-2.5%. Reliance Communications and BPCL plunged 3% each.

However, shares of SBI and Tata Motors gained 0.6% each. Sterlite Industries topped the buying list, rising 1%.

The market breadth is still in favour of declines; about 1133 shares advanced while 1426 shares declined on the BSE.

Most active shares on exchanges were SBI, Reliance, Fortis Healthcare, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.

At 12:48 hours IST : Nifty in narrow range; RIL, Infosys, L&T down

The Nifty showed smart recovery from day's low amid choppy trade, though it could not able to touch the 4700 mark. Overall, it was moving in a tight range of 4680-4699. It was weighed down by index heavyweights Reliance Industries, Infosys and L&T while SBI, ICICI Bank and BHEL were providing good support. The Sensex was down 31 points at 15,696.66 and the Nifty dropped 14.5 points to 4,691.35.

Shares of Reliance Industries dropped for the third consecutive session today, falling over 1%. L&T, Infosys and TCS were down 0.4-0.85%.

Tata Power remained biggest loser among Sensex 30 stocks, declining 2% on profit booking. Maruti, Bajaj Auto and DLF slipped 0.5-1%.

However, major largecaps like SBI, ITC, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, BHEL, Tata Motors and Wipro gained 0.2-0.7%, which limited the downside.

In the second line shares, Jaypee Infra shot up 13%. Mcleod Russel, Fortis Healthcare, Deccan Chronicle and Kwality Dairy jumped 5-6% while Gujarat Flourochemical, Glodyne Tech, Shree Global, Jain Irrigation and TV18 Broadcast fell 5%.

In the smallcap space, Global Offshore, Sandesh, Indo Rama Synthetic, DQ Entertainment and KGN Industries rallied 5-10%. However, PG Electroplast crashed 17%. Fulford, Unichem Labs, GSS Infotech and Alchemist were down 5-6%.