In the wake of the global financial meltdown, India's top business school graduates are most eager to work in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, according to Nielsen, which reported the results of its Campus Track B-School Survey on Monday.

Management Consulting (35% of respondents), Software/IT Consulting (23% of respondents), Foreign Banks, and Retailing (both 22% of respondents) rounded out the top five most popular sectors among students. 

"Preferences seem to have shifted in favor of large business conglomerates and the IT sector as a consequence of the current global financial turmoil.  In particular, students are opting for FMCG companies over the financial sector," Vatsala Pant, Associate Director, Nielsen, noted.  "Considering the current financial job market, the security offered by the FMCG industry has become a major attraction for graduates."

Students also cited McKinsey & Co, Google, HUL, Accenture, and P&G as "dream companies" where they'd most like to work. 

More than one-quarter of respondents (27%) named Indian business mogul Ratan Tata as their most admired corporate role model.

As part of its ninth annual "Campus Track B-School Survey," Nielsen surveyed 1,311 soon-to-be graduates at India's top 40 management institutes. 

View the press release.

Read coverage of Nielsen's findings in the Business Standard and The Times of India.