IIM placements favor engineers in tech/product roles but non-engineers dominate in finance, marketing, and specific consulting roles. The specialisation by background is visible but not an absolute filter. At IIM Ahmedabad (Rs 27.
5L fees, Rs 35.22 LPA avg, 99%+ CAT cutoff), placement role distribution by background: Tech/Product roles go 80% to engineers; FMCG marketing 60% to non-engineers; Finance 50-50 with CAs/BCom dominating IB; MBB Consulting 55% engineers but trends shifting. The Reddit thread's claim of industry preference for tech degrees in sales/marketing is partially true for Indian job market but not at IIM ABC level.
Top MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) explicitly diversify their IIM hires across backgrounds. FMCG giants (HUL, P&G, Nestle) prefer non-engineers for brand management. The salary variance by background at IIM ABC placements: engineers average slightly higher (Rs 36-38 LPA) due to tech/product premium; non-engineers average Rs 32-34 LPA.
The gap narrows at senior levels. For non-engineers specifically targeting finance (CA + MBA): this is the optimal path as CAs dominate finance placements. For engineers targeting marketing: you'll face CA + non-engineer competition and need to position strongly.
The bottom line: both engineer and non-engineer candidates land strong placements at IIMs - the role distribution reflects industry demand, not discriminatory bias. Check your eligibility at collvera.