The INSEAD Job Market Reality Check: Fear, Facts & First-Hand Truths

There’s a big elephant in the room. “The job market“

Everyone’s whispering about it. Everyone’s worried about it. And the question floating in every applicant’s mind right now is simple:

Does it make sense to apply to INSEAD this year?

Last year felt “super duper scary” for many. So instead of speculation, we brought in lived experience. Real alumni. Real outcomes. Real clarity.

It was a great conversation. And what came out of it might surprise you.

The session was hosted by Paridhi, Co-Founder of MBA & Beyond, alongside Shantanu (Founder, MBA & Beyond, and an INSEAD Alumnus), along with an INSEAD MBA 2025 graduate who secured multiple job offers post-graduation. This session gave insider insights on positioning MBA applicants’ profiles, navigating the INSEAD experience, and maximizing career outcomes.

The Core Question: Is the Job Market Recovering?

The recent INSEAD graduate, now working in consulting in Singapore, shared that:

• The market is better than last year
• It is not as strong as 2022
• But it is clearly recovering

The quality of education? The cohort? The experience?
Unchanged.

What fluctuates is the hiring cycle, not the institution.

The market, in his words, is “correcting.” Maybe not back to 2022 highs immediately. But it is moving forward.

And that matters.

Campus Choices: Fontainebleau vs Singapore. Does It Affect Jobs?

INSEAD offers flexibility:

• You start at a home campus (Fontainebleau or Singapore)
• You can exchange across campuses
• Options include Abu Dhabi, China, and US partnerships

“The recent INSEAD graduate” planned a multi-campus journey. He ended up being a “Fonte lifer.”

Why?

1. He built strong connections in Fontainebleau.
2. Logistically, moving with his partner and two cats wasn’t easy.

And yet, he landed a consulting job in Singapore without even studying there.

Shantanu emphasized that while academics and test scores matter (they’re table stakes), scholarships are fundamentally about impact beyond your job description.

So Does Campus Decide Geography?

For consulting?
No.

You apply globally. You list preferred locations. Firms evaluate you regionally.

For off-campus networking?
Being in the same timezone helps. But even that isn’t a barrier. Coffee chats happen across continents. “The recent INSEAD graduate” did them from France into the Asia-Pacific.

Bottom line: Campus can help regionally. But it does not limit you.

The Real Secret Weapon: The INSEAD Community

Shantanu, a 2017 graduate, shared something powerful.

He received two job offers in Singapore.

No formal interviews.

Why?

Because of relationships.

One role came from an INSEAD alum VP who simply connected and offered him the role. Another from a former colleague who trusted his work.

That’s the hidden ROI.

Not the classroom slides.

The community.

You don’t need to be physically present in a country.
You need someone there who trusts you.

That’s the leverage.

Internship Strategy for January Intake

If Singapore is your target geography:

You should ideally do your internship there.

Why?

Because for consulting internships:

• You choose your location
• If converted to full-time, you cannot switch locations
• Regional staffing systems are fixed

You can transfer later after a few years. But not immediately. So choose strategically.

The European Dilemma: Dream vs Reality

A difficult truth emerged. Europe’s job market is currently shrinking. Language barriers matter. If you don’t speak French, German, or Spanish, client-facing roles in those countries are tough.

Does that mean Europe is impossible?

No.

But it requires:

• Trade-offs
• Startup openness
• Function flexibility
• Or a Plan B and Plan C

“The recent INSEAD graduate” initially wanted Europe. He pivoted when ground realities became clear.

“Agility matters more than stubbornness.“

Should You Reapply to INSEAD?

The honest answer given:
Reapplication in a short time frame is risky.

Unless something significantly changes, a new leadership role, startup traction, or major career pivot, there’s rarely enough “delta” in 6-8 months.

If INSEAD is your dream, apply when ready, not rushed.

GMAT & Consulting: Is There a Cutoff?

No rigid minimum.

• Academics are non-disclosed to recruiters.
• GMAT is asked, but it’s not make-or-break.
• It’s one data point among many.

Plenty of candidates below 700 have entered consulting. Focus on admission first.

Product & Tech at INSEAD – Is It Only Consulting?

Reality check:

INSEAD is known for consulting. MBB visibility is high. The ecosystem supports it heavily.

But product and tech paths exist.

• Dedicated clubs
• Career development officers
• Alumni in product roles
• PM placements in London
• British Airways product roles
• Dubai product leadership hires

However:

Google doesn’t “place” you.
Microsoft won’t hand you a job.
You must network.

As Shantanu said:

“You are on your own. But once you learn the art of networking once, you can get any job.”

MBA is not a parachute.
It is a launchpad.

Post-MBA Salaries: The Real Picture

Consulting often anchors the median.

But outside consulting:

• UK Product roles: £90K- £140K
• Europe (non-UK): ~€90K- €110K
• India: ₹50- 80 Lakhs range
• Some PM roles pay more than consulting

But here’s the key:

First-year ROI is tight. You will likely “scrape by” initially. Real ROI emerges in 3-5 years. And taxes matter.

Singapore and Dubai accelerate recovery. The UK, the US, and Europe have heavier tax burdens. Geography is strategy.

Favorite Classes & Real Transformation

Negotiation.
Blue Ocean Strategy.
Decision Making.

But more than classes?

The cohort.

Different industries.
Different nationalities.
Different perspectives.

Shantanu shared something profound:

At INSEAD, you realize that A does not always lead to B. Sometimes it leads to C. And neither is wrong. That perspective shift, that’s the transformation.

What INSEAD Really Looks For

Four pillars consistently emerged:

1. Academics
2. Leadership
3. Global mindset
4. Ability to contribute

And above all: Authenticity.

Not tailoring personality for the school.
Not fabricating values.

Just being you.

Because writing six essays with a fake persona?
Impossible to sustain.

Final Thought: Is It Worth It?

If you want:

• A global network for life
• Geographic flexibility
• Intellectual density
• Career optionality

Then yes.

If you are 100% certain you will remain in India forever, and your goals are purely domestic, then local programs might make more financial sense.

This is likely your last degree. Choose it with intention.

The Honest Closing Note

The job market is not perfect.

But it is improving.

Europe is competitive.

Consulting remains strong.

The product requires initiative.

ROI takes patience.

And INSEAD?
Still transformational, if you use it right.

If you’d also like to be among applicants who secure admits and scholarships from top business schools, let’s review your profile in detail and map out a clear path forward. Book a 1:1 profile evaluation session with us for absolutely Free. 

Stay focused, be authentic, and let your unique story shine through with MBA&Beyond.