India's graduate job market
This resource is for any student interested in working in India, especially Indian students planning to return home for career development.
India’s economic growth
According to Statista (July 4, 2024), in 2023, India's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth was at about 7.83 percent compared to the previous year.
India’s workforce is expanding in the industry and services sectors, growing partially because of international outsourcing — a profitable venture for the Indian economy. However, with the rapidly growing population, India’s unemployment rate remains relatively high.
India’s graduate job market
Industries that recruit fresh graduates
India’s economy is rapidly evolving, driven by a blend of technological advancements, economic reforms, and demographic shifts. Tap (11 June 2024) listed the top 10 emerging and fast-growing industries in India. They are:
- IT & Software services
- Renewable Energy
- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
- E-commerce & Digital Economy
- Telecommunication
- FinTech & Digital Banking
- Agriculture & AgriTech
- Manufacturing & Infrastructure
- Education & EdTech
- Direct Selling & Consumer Goods
In India, the software and hardware industries account for the highest share of entry-level positions, at 32%. Other industries that are hiring fresh graduates include: Sales and business development (14%), HR and admin (8%), Healthcare (8%), and Marketing and Communications (8%), The Times of India reported.
Employability rate among graduates by degree
Although tech industries accounted for the highest share of entry level positions, data by Statista 2024 showed that in 2024, graduates in the Masters of Business Administration domain had the highest employability rating at about 71%, an increase from previous year (60%).
It is followed by Bachelor of Engineering and Technology (65%), Master of Computer Applications (65%), Bachelor of Pharmaceuticals (54%), Bachelor of Science (51%), Bachelor of Commerce (48%), Bachelor of Arts (47%), and Industrial Training Institutes (40%). The Polytechnic domain had the lowest employability rate of around 22%.
Skill shortage
2023 India Talent Shortage Report published by Manpower indicated that India’s skill shortage is at its historical high. In 2023, 80% of employers reported difficulty finding the skilled talents they need.
The same report found the top 5 soft skills that Indian employers are seeking are:
- Creativity & Originality: 37%
- Critical thinking & Analysis: 35%
- Leadership & Social Influence: 32%
- Reasoning & Problem-solving: 30%
- Active Learning & Curiosity: 30%
Whilst the top 5 technical skills are:
- IT & Data: 37%
- Sales & Marketing: 30%
- Engineering: 29%
- Operations & Logistics: 22%
- Manufacturing & Production: 22%
The skill shortage has been spreading across industries.
As hiring demand continues despite growing talent scarcity, 52% of employers are willing to hire internationally, with 36% only hire domestically. This provides opportunities for overseas Indian graduates who are returning home.
Salary insights
RiseUpp published Top 25 High-Paying Jobs for New College Graduates in India 2024: Salary Insights on LinkedIn in January 2024. It listed the roles that have the highest salary potential, their qualification requirements, skill requirements, responsibilities and top recruiters.
Finding employers and opportunities
Gradlink India provides comprehensive advice on looking for and applying for opportunities in India, including:
- Online job portals
- Social networking
- Newspapers
- Recruitment agencies
- Individual employers
- Networking and word of mouth
- Job fairs
Recruitment process
GoinGlobal and Gradlink India provide detailed advice on CVs, cover letters, interviews, and thank you letters for the India graduate job market.
Tips & advice
Don’t assume that an employer will understand and value the advantages that study in the UK can bring. It is your job to explain it to them and give details of the ‘added’ value’ this experience enables you to offer to their company/organisation. This could include:
- Skills and knowledge from your course, which need to be linked to the role/employer you are applying to.
- Employers overseas may not know that the University of Sheffield is one of the top British universities. You can find out more about the University of Sheffield, through the university’s About us webpages.
- English is the predominant business language used across India, so it would be advantageous to promote your skills in this to employers.
- Studying abroad will have helped you develop adaptability and flexibility, as well as your resilience.
- Talk about Sheffield Graduate Attributes and highlight use of mySkills.
- Teamwork is a highly valued skill for many Indian companies, so you should highlight examples of when you have used and developed this skill in applications.
All of the above points are worth mentioning in your application forms, CVs and interviews.
In addition, India has a diverse business culture across the country, so it is important to research local cultural norms if you are applying to work in an area you are not familiar with.
In all cases however, ensure to use formal language in your application and interviews. If you are meeting with an employer in person for your interview, bring a business card if you have one - these are frequently used in India.
Interviews are generally competency based and employers will ask you about your education, skills and experience. Ensure that you thoroughly research the company and the industry you are applying to.
Body language is often a formally assessed criteria at interview stage so be mindful of this - remember the PEOPLE acronym - Posture & Gesture, Eye contact, Orientation, Proximity, Looks and Appearance, Expressions of Emotion.
Psychometric tests are being more frequently used by employers in India, in addition to the Interview. For example, verbal and numerical reasoning or situational judgement tests. The Careers & Employability Service has practice tests available, please visit our website about online tests.