u/CFdlC

There’s a misconception within the Big 3 that just because you graduated here, you’re guaranteed a career in top companies and industries and have the leverage to ask for a higher salary compared to everyone else. The sad truth is that university prestige alone doesn't give you that right.

The reason why these top companies prefer Big 3 graduates for their entry level roles isn’t solely because of the university name. It’s because the people they choose to hire, more often than not, excel more than other competing applicants in terms of leadership experience, work experience, and academic achievements. It’s the combination of all those factors that convinces top companies to risk and invest in someone despite relatively low years of experience.

Even among Big 3 graduates, competition is tough. If you’re the type of student that was never interested in networking through orgs, never driven enough to pursue challenging internships where you can own projects, and content with low grades, then you’re a lot closer to the average graduate than you are to those who end up in FMCGs and big MNCs.

Case in point, I know a lot of people from top programs like UPD BA/IE who still struggled to get competitive offers, simply because they didn’t have all of the factors. The most common mistake I’ve seen is that they focused too much on academics and never graduated with as much work experience compared to their peers. Then there are those who took on a lot of internships, but never any meaningful ones where they actually made a real impact. This is also why there are people from outside the Big 3 who end up in top companies. They knew what to focus on and had everything necessary to stand out.

Competition in the real world is tough and unforgiving, especially with the increasing number of fresh graduates and fewer competitive entry level jobs each year. Make the most out of your stay in university or prepare for a wake up call.