Trend towards hiring graduates is emerging across range of non-traditional sectors
MBA GRADUATES once were snapped up by a few key industries. But as the global economy picks up steam, demand is spreading in sectors across the board.
'Management consultants, traditionally a large hirer of MBA graduates, are continuing to recruit strongly,' said Mark Hirst, professor and director of Hong Kong programmes, the Australian Graduate School of Management.
'There is a discernible trend towards hiring MBA graduates in strategy and business development roles across a range of industries.'
Raymond Yeung, course director of the MBA in International Management that is offered jointly by the University of London and University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education, agreed that the need for graduates was being felt in almost every sector.
'We do not notice the demand for MBA graduates falls into a particular industry,' Dr Yeung said. 'Instead, many companies in all industries now see a top MBA as an essential management entry-level qualification, regardless of their size.'
This was a major change. 'In the past, it was almost impossible to become an analyst at a top investment bank or a consultant at a top consulting firm without an MBA,' he said. 'Lately ... the big demand for MBAs is coming from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
