Debunking Myths: Careers Beyond Consulting Post Ashoka
Ashoka University's placements extend beyond the confines of consulting. It celebrates diversity, empowers students to pursue their passions, and equips them with skills to excel across sectors.
Diversity lies at the core of Ashoka Placements—what distinguishes Ashoka graduates is their adaptability across sectors. A student suited for consulting seamlessly transitions into FMCG, Startups, Venture Capital, impact investing, and many more. From Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Pidilite, ITC to Fractal Analytics, Tata Power, Adobe, IBM, Teach for India, Gartner, Blume Ventures, Deutsche Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank & the London Stock Exchange Group, our graduates find themselves in roles across diverse domains. Ashoka’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals is reflected in a wide range of sectors and roles its graduates venture into, defying stereotypes and having a wide range of opportunities.
Amidst the buzz of placements, there exists a prevalent misconception that Ashoka University predominantly channels its students into consulting roles. Certainly, consulting remains a desired career path, often facilitated by our flagship Day Zero Week at the outset of the academic year. However, our pedagogical approach extends beyond conventional problem-solving skills; it nurtures strategic thinkers & cultivates team leaders and innovative minds. Equally appealing are general management roles, research positions, and marketing roles, underscoring the diverse interests and ambitions of our student body.
The average Cost to Company (CTC) stands at an impressive 12 LPA (Lakhs Per Annum), indicative of the calibre of our students. While consulting leads with 18% of placements, it is followed closely by Edtech/Education at 16%, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) at 15%, Development at 14%, Media/Advertising/Publishing at 9%, and Research and Analytics at 7%. These percentages underline the varied career opportunities our students explore, showcasing their readiness for the professional world.
Not only full-time roles but also internship opportunities have a notable influx of offers in the development, ed-tech, research, and marketing sectors. Companies such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Baring Private Equity, India Alternatives, Ather Energy, Nestle, MakeMyTrip, and the Marico Innovation Foundation actively seek Ashoka interns, offering invaluable exposure and experience.
It is interesting to note that the highest CTC and stipend for our summer internships are from FMCG entities, highlighting the breadth of opportunities available. This year, our highest stipend for the summer internship increased from 1.5 Lakh per month to 2.2 Lakh per month.
With a strong background in economics and finance, our students exhibit a keen interest in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector. We have placed students in roles that include risk management and investment and portfolio management. This year, we have also seen a significant number of women securing placements in the banking sector, including organisations like HSBC, Axis, and RBL. The diverse academic backgrounds of these women demonstrate the inclusivity and opportunities provided by Ashoka.
The liberal arts pedagogy at Ashoka empowers graduates to excel in creative careers that include writing, editing, publishing, advertising, and beyond. This is evidenced through placements in esteemed organisations like Publicis Group, Penguin Random House, Leo Burnett, 9.9 Group, Convegenius, NIIT, ABP Network, and Marico. Ashoka students majoring in pure sciences, be it Biology or Physics also have shown ingenuity by securing positions in media agencies like Edelman. This highlights the applicability of scientific knowledge beyond traditional research domains.
Furthermore, some of our non-consulting roles span project management, research, HR, digital marketing, content strategy, and marketing management, among others. Our students have also been able to crack research roles in noteworthy GCCs (Global Capability Centres) such as Mckinsey Knowledge Centre and Egon Zehnder Knowledge Center India.
At Ashoka, the passion to create impact lies at the heart of multidisciplinary pedagogy. Many of our students pursue careers in education, policy, and health domains in the development sector companies committed to impactful initiatives. Organisations such as the Center for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), Ola Foundation, Antara Foundation, Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE), The Convergence Foundation, Reliance Foundation, and Pratham Education Foundation are just a few examples of where our students are channelling their talents to create a sustainable impact on society.
In conclusion, Ashoka University’s placements extend beyond the confines of consulting. It celebrates diversity, empowers students to pursue their passions, and equips them with skills to excel across sectors. Our graduates emerge as future-ready leaders poised to make significant contributions in a dynamic professional landscape.