For years, securing a seat at an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) was synonymous with landing a lucrative job. But the assumption that an IIM admission equals assured employment is now under question.

At IIM-Trichy, the latest figures reveal that 59 out of 384 students from the 2023–25 cohort remain unplaced—roughly one in seven. Although 27% of the batch received offers with annual packages above ₹20 lakh, a significant chunk is still jobless, marking a worrying departure from past trends.

This unsettling data came to light following a Right to Information (RTI) query by an activist and was later verified by the institution. Officials attribute the decline to worsening economic conditions. “Unlike other disciplines, placements here are shaped by market forces, and the current job scenario is discouraging,” said a senior IIM-Trichy official.

This isn’t an isolated blip. Even B-schools like BIMS are facing a squeeze—19 out of 120 students from the same batch there are yet to be placed. Director Dr. Asit K. Barma, however, remains hopeful of completing the process soon.

Some students have taken matters into their own hands, accepting off-campus roles with modest salaries. One such student lamented, “The job I found pays less than 30% of the lowest campus package. Managing my student loan will now be a struggle.”

Experts say recruiters now prioritize niche tech skills—like HR analytics and green finance—over institutional prestige.

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