B P Agrawal, chairman of ABC Consultants Pvt Ltd, the oldest and the largest professional executive search and selection firm in the country says, ``The hottest job in the country now is a marketing executive of a top fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company.''

The requirement for the job is an MBA degree from any of the Indian Institutes of Management and a couple of years of MNC experience, preferably in a FMCG company.

There is a great demand for information technology professionals too. Those vying for IT professionals include software companies both at home and abroad. But there is an acute scarcity of the required skills in India, says Agrawal.

The influx of MNCs since liberalisation had raisedthe salary levels, says Agrawal. MNCs take in less people and the salary is calculated in dollars which turns out to be higher than that of Indian companies in the long run.

MNCs want young, well qualified, computer literate and articulate professionals, having experience in MNC. They always go for the best professionals in the market.

The strengths of MNCs are: Deep pockets, a very good brand image, and strong systems. MNCs can take a knock due to their strength and manoeuvre people according to their efficiency.

Explains Agrawal, ``The MNCs believe in the system and not on an individual. They are ready to pay if they get a good guy. On the other hand a good guy likes to have a good boss, rewards for performance and promotions-the work culture at MNCs is conducive for their growth and also provides a platform for good future opportunities.''

Agrawal has a list of do's and dont's for the the younger generation. Choose your profession before leaving school, learn computers early, put enoughemphasis on the English language, both spoken and written he says. Being a bookworm does not help, what is needed is total awareness and the ability to mix with people, he adds.

``Today there is a shortage of people, with plenty of jobs available in the management cadre. So consultants like us have to dig out the performers from corporate rank and file. Head-hunting is done on an industry basis. The key performers in every industry are first short-listed then a head-hunt is carried out,'' points out Agrawal.

Body-shopping has ruined some IT companies and boosted others feels Agrawal. However, this is very popular with the US companies. But in India head-hunting by FMCG companies is the order of the day, he says.

``We do not charge anything from the candidate, but levy a flat rate of 30 per cent commission on CTC (cost-to-the-company) to the company,'' reveals the chairman of ABC Consultants Pvt Ltd.

The CTC is the total cost of the package given by the company to its employee in a year. Out of 30 percent, ABC takes one-third of the amount when the company signs an agreement with it. The next one-third is taken when ABC gives the short-list of the probable candidates to the company and the last one-third is charged when the selected candidate joins the company.

A normal package offered by ABC's clients on an average amounts to Rs 15 lakh per annum. There is no upper limit. The company had recently created a record of sorts by recruiting a Mexican at Usha Martin's Jamshedpur plant, who had been flown all the way from Mexico.

ABC has a market share of over 80 per cent in the country and has completed placement jobs of over 3,000 professionals including more than 50 top management appointments in 1996-97. The company has 25 offices worldwide.