Breaking Barriers, Building Collaborations: A Perspective on Recruiter Mindset and Outreach Strategies

Ashoka University stands out as a premier choice for leading recruiters across diverse sectors in the country. From Consulting, BFSI, Media, Edtech, and IT/Tech, to FMCG, Research/Analytics, BPO/KPO, and Development Sector, organisations value Ashoka talent and actively seek to hire our young graduates. In the past decade, Ashoka has significantly expanded its network of dedicated recruiters, with more than 150 companies participating in campus placements.

A notable game-changer has been the introduction of Zero Week hiring similar to the first-day campus recruitment at India’s premier colleges. We successfully placed around 30% of our batch at the beginning of the academic year during Day Zero. This strategic approach is a testament to Ashoka’s commitment to providing its students with career opportunities that align best with their aspirations. 

Over the years, we have seen a paradigm shift in hiring trends and recruiter mindset when it comes to placements at Ashoka. It is interesting to note that organisations now want “Diversity of Degrees” in their boardrooms. Our recruiters have frequently attested to the merit of liberal arts pedagogy and what it brings to the table. Our graduates not only can craft strategies for business in an economic context but also social and cultural, adding immense value to the development of human resources as capital. The FMCG sector is a great example. Predominantly, this industry sources talent from management schools; however, the tide has turned, with prominent players such as HUL, Marico, ITC, and Pidilite actively seeking Ashoka graduates from disciplines as diverse as psychology, economics, and computer science for coveted roles in management trainee and HR positions. 

At the heart of our efforts lies the belief that nurturing relationships with recruiters is pivotal in shaping the professional landscape for our students. Our outreach strategy and continuous efforts to bridge the gap between recruiters and students have paid off well. The crux of our approach has three core target areas. 

Firstly, our strategy prioritises due diligence and market intelligence. We maintain a dynamic, sector-specific database of potential marquee and other recruiters, meticulously curated through comprehensive database scans and thorough research on top recruiters from esteemed institutions. This list undergoes continuous refinement based on real-time market insights. 

Secondly, continuous engagement with the industry is always beneficial for us to keep them involved and eventually hire students from us. Hosting a series of engagement events both on and off-campus exclusively tailored to industry stakeholders and students ensures our continued presence in their considerations during the hiring process. These events have facilitated remarkable breakthroughs with organisations previously outside our sphere of dialogue. 

Lastly, customisation is embedded within our outreach strategy to address industry perceptions regarding our holistic and multidisciplinary curriculum. Through systematic research and analysis of sector-specific hiring trends, we ensure that students are upskilled as per the prevailing industry demands— this includes career preparatory programmes, exposure to business, marketing, and finance courses offered by the Ashoka Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), and clubs and societies. Our pitch decks are customised to showcase the above efforts and have been instrumental in fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with industries. 

To drive mutual success, collaboration between industries and institutions is paramount. While we persist in exposing students to diverse disciplines and upskilling, industries must embrace self-starters with a drive for change—generalists with robust problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. This approach cultivates well-rounded professionals ready to innovate and thrive in dynamic environments.