Start-ups: Employers of choice

While the positive growth of entrepreneurial environment has led Indian youth to join or set startups, the recent recession too has fostered the same

The current market scenario has given a new level of confidence to the younger generation which is reflecting in business school graduates who are taking substantial amount of risks in a much planned way. Add to that the success stories of entrepreneurs across various sectors too which has encouraged and challenged business school graduates to start something of their own.
Reasons galore… “Entrepreneurial trend gives people an option to do something of their own, create employment, generate revenue for country and society which is actually good especially in a downturn," - Jaya Joshi, PRO, IITMumbai

Reasoning this trend, Laura Parkin, executive director, NEN says,“Now, since there isn’t as much job security attached to big firms, people have become more open to the idea of working in or running start-ups.” Murari P, recruitment coordinator, IIM-Calcutta adds,“The ability to work in an unstructured environment while shouldering a lot of responsibility early on is one of the main attractions of working in a start-up. Added to this, a first-hand feel of how to run a business by yourself gives many a budding entrepreneur the insight into the entire framework.”Ashish Wadekar, student representative – placement committee,TISS agrees,“The external market environment propelled us to approach start-ups..”

Clearly, the slowdown is making students look at this as an option who are willing to take the risk as many big firms might offer the same amount as a start-up firm.“Also, in a start-up, laterals get better job roles and designs,”opines Wadekar.“This has proved to be a good opportunity for start-ups to enter the campus and build relations unlike previously when there were apprehensions on part of start-ups due to salary expectations,”Wadekar elaborates. A lot of TISS students this time around have, in fact, joined start-up firms which are working as Training outfits and HR consultancies.

What remains to be seen is whether a trend that has witnessed a rise in the recent times of recession would just be a flash in the pan or last for long.“In fact, this is only the initial stages of what might turn out to be a more focussed approach from students in the future,” concludes Murari P.

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