How do prospective MBA graduate employees select their careers in the digitally VUCA world? Developing a fuzzy AHP-based index

Purpose A review of the literature suggests that there is a dearth of studies studying factors impacting career choices in the digital world. The limited knowledge related to the factors impacting career choices led to difficulty in attracting and retaining talent on the one hand and indecisiveness among potential employees on the other. To date, no index has tried to identify, synthesize and give relative weightage to the criteria impacting the career choices of a potential employee. This study aims to fill the above gap by creating a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-based index of the relevant criteria that MBA students (potential employees) weigh while making career choices. Design/methodology/approach Basis literature review, a conceptual framework of factors impacting career choices was created, and specific parameters were identified. Moreover, focus group discussions and interviews were conducted to refine and modify the identified factors. Respondent preferences were collected, and fuzzy AHP was used to assign relative weights to the factors impacting career choices. Findings The results suggest that potential employees (male) rate job security, national organization and compensation as the top three important factors determining their career choices. Whereas potential employees (female) rated national organization, growth rate of the industry and designation as the top three parameters impacting their career choices. The high emphasis on job security could be due to the great layoffs that have occurred in recent times due to the absorption of artificial intelligence and other digitization processes at the workplace. Furthermore, it was interesting to note that the ranking of job factors differed significantly across genders. Originality/value This relative weightage of the index can guide employers, students and business school administrators in addressing these criteria more meticulously. Furthermore, organizations may use this knowledge and index to align their employer branding strategies to attract students during campus recruitment, thus strengthening talent management practices.