Is the hiring market expected to be weak this placement cycle?
The 2024-2025 placement cycle is genuinely weaker than the 2022-2023 peak, and FMS Delhi is not insulated from that reality despite its cost advantage and strong alumni network. This is not a one-college problem.
It is a market-wide correction that you need to plan around.
What the Numbers Tell Us
IIM Bangalore saw its average CTC drop from ₹33.82 LPA (Class 2023) to ₹32.6 LPA (Class 2024). IIM Calcutta fell harder, from ₹31.5 LPA to ₹29.1 LPA in the same window.
FMS Delhi faced fewer Day Zero offers and longer placement timelines, with the process stretching well past its historical close date. XLRI Jamshedpur extended its cycle by nearly two weeks compared to prior years. These are not rounding errors. They reflect a broad pullback by recruiters.
| School | Avg CTC 2023 | Avg CTC 2024 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore | ₹33.82 LPA | ₹32.6 LPA | Down |
| IIM Calcutta | ₹31.5 LPA | ₹29.1 LPA | Down |
| FMS Delhi | Not disclosed | Fewer Day-0 offers | Softer |
Where the Pain Is Sharpest
Consulting and finance have pulled back the most. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain reduced intake across IIMs, while Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley skipped several campuses entirely. Tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft cut MBA hiring and redirected budgets toward engineering roles. Startups, which absorbed roughly 15-20% of graduates in 2022, have nearly disappeared from campus drives as funding dried up.
FMS historically had strong placement in consulting and financial services, so this sector-level retreat hits its students disproportionately compared to colleges with heavier FMCG or general management placement pipelines.
Where Demand Has Held
Domestic FMCG and pharma roles are the relative bright spot. HUL, ITC, and Marico maintained offer counts, though packages stayed flat year-on-year. Accenture Strategy and Deloitte continued bulk hiring, but at lower CTCs than 2022 peak levels.
For FMS students, the good news is that the school's low fee structure (under ₹2 LPA for the full programme) means the ROI calculation still holds even at modestly lower packages.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you have an FMS admit, do not defer.
Placement cycles run in roughly two-to-three year waves, and no one can accurately predict whether 2026 will be better. A weaker market with fewer competing offers also rewards students who prepare early and stay sector-flexible.
Three practical moves matter most heading into this cycle
- Build domain depth in FMCG or consulting tracks from semester one, not semester three
- Target lateral-entry roles at firms like Bain, HUL, or JP Morgan where your pre-MBA experience becomes a differentiator
- Network with FMS alumni in sectors that are still hiring, particularly pharma, infrastructure, and development finance
Waiting for the market to recover is not a strategy. Adapting your targeting to where demand exists is.
Pro Tip: Before campus placements open, reach out directly to two or three FMS alumni currently at your target firms on LinkedIn, ask for a 20-minute call, and mention a specific role you are targeting. A warm referral from an alumnus can move your resume past the initial screen even when recruiter participation is down.