Last year, HLL paid Rs 5.15 lakh to entry-level managers as the cost to the company, which includes the salary. The number of managers recruited at the entry-level this year - ie 38 managers - is more or less the same as in the previous years. The cost to the company includes salary, housing, transport, and other perquisites.

According to HLL's HR head Prem Kamath: "The total cost to the company last year, over that of 1999 (Rs 3.14 lakh), was extraordinarily high - a 64 per cent jump - as the company had aligned the salary of entry level managers to confirmation levels. Now we do not treat our entry-level managers as trainees."

The four main qualities which the company observes while recruiting managers are: analytical ability, creativity, leadership qualities and knowledge about the socio-economic environment.

"We want our managers to be realistic, so that they can travel in rural areas - HLL derives 50 per cent of its sales from rural markets - with ease. We always look out for such qualities in entry-level managers," Mr Kamath said.