Shruti Ram, Bangalore: It's the ultimate dream every person sitting for the CAT exam has – a lucrative job offer even before the course is complete. And the 2009 batch at IIM-Bangalore are one step closer to making that dream a reality. They have a shot at getting pre-placement offers from over 100 companies.

In a new record for the institute, all 249 students in the batch have been placed within in just four days. And what's more – nearly 40 per cent of them will be going abroad for their internships.

"This year if you see in the international placements there are more diversity than usual. Probably there are more number offers coming from Asia Pacific. I see a spot in Beijing, I don’t think we had got some company from Beijing before," says Chairperson, Placement, Sourav Mukherji.

While 28 percent of the batch has been picked by companies representing the marketing and general management sector, 19 per cent have gone to the investment banking space, and 16 per cent are headed to gain experience in financial services. And it's an enviable selection of companies that have taken their pick. With Lehman brothers picking 13, JP Morgan and Macquarie picking 11 each, and 10 headed to both Merrill Lynch and Barclays Capital. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, and a promise of a cool career after graduation.

Hot Jobs for Freshers tells you what the hottest picks are.

"I can say that a significant number of students will be getting good jobs in the end even if there are international volatilities," says Mukherji.

As more thousands of candidates queue up to sit for the CAT on Sunday, the numbers turned in by IIM-B's summer placement programme is a clear indication of the prize each of them is competing for. And it's evidence of what the fierce CAT fight's all about.