"An overwhelming 95 per cent of India's leading business school graduates are willing to forego hefty pay packets for the sake of a job profile of their preference and 79 per cent of these most sought-after students are keen on working offshore right at the start of their career," industry body's Business Barometre Survey said.

The survey was conducted on 271 students from Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Institute of Management Technology in Ghaziabad, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Symbiosis Institute of International Business in Pune, Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar, ICFAI Business School, Birla Institute of Management Technology and Institute of Agri Business.

While maximum students preferred work profile and growth opportunities, only five per cent of them opted for fat salaries, the survey said.

Factors that influenced students to choose better pay were desire for better standard of living, family expectations and responsibilities, to pay off education loan, investment in entrepreneurship.

Developed economies with better working conditions, good living standards and promising growth potential lure India's talent pool as 79 per cent of MBAs wish to work abroad, Assocham President Anil K Agrawal said.