A few years ago, the top career choice for most young graduates from top universities was joining a well-established MNC. Banks, FMCGs, and oil & gas companies would hoover up talent from universities across Pakistan.
Today, things are different. The young talent of today does not feel quite the same way, and the stronghold that MNCs had over the professional aspirations of fresh grads is now beginning to loosen. Gen Z graduates today are not looking to become cogs in the wheel but instead wanting to be the drivers of change. Startups hand over the wheel to them to steer in their own way towards success.
The narrative is fast changing. A simple survey among university students revealed that over 42% of the students would prefer joining a startup, rather than an MNC, quoting a plethora of reasons such as a fun working environment, young leadership, exciting and rewarding work, and quick career progression.
Besides, recent survey shows that, 80% of young talent of top universities feels that, millennials are more interested in working for startups while meager 19% of talent is unsure. While only 1% states the very different story.
As the MENAP region catches up to the world in the startup ecosystem, a number of young, savvy startups have made their debuts here, challenging the few big corporate names in the industry. Most are founded by relatively young people, raising funding in tens of millions of dollars, fast-tracking their careers, and making news. And naturally, the fresh graduates gravitate towards these startups, aspiring to be a part of something bigger.
Over 80% of the students and fresh graduates agreed that they have witnessed and experienced an increased willingness to work in startups now than ever before. This is perhaps due to the amazing startup success stories that have regularly been making headlines in the MENAP in the recent past.
78% agreed that only a couple of years ago, startups were a road rarely taken by fresh, promising young grads. The most stated reason for the youth’s openness to work at startups is the exceptional learning and exposure and exponential career growth experienced. Quite understandably, the “startup culture” is also found to be a huge attractive force.
