Oxbridge 2011 applicants

Alums, Any idea about how career changing non european oxbridge grads. are faring in the job market this year?

Thanks for the response. Although as a prospective career changer looking to enter Investment banking / VC/ PE in London, I am more inclined about situation in the UK job market for non EU nationals, since understandably there is no match for a developed financial market like London's except for maybe NY or Hong Kong.

@Anasthaesium,

Apologies, not a current alum, but currently working with Career Services quite a bit in my current capacity. Unfortunately, I do not have current statistics either on banking or investment professions at my fingertips. While I would have to get more insights on your career objectives beyond VC/PE/IB, I agree with your focus and think it's the right approach. Given your proximity to London, and to your point its role in financial markets, you certainly have an advantage with networking. Certainly do not limit your perspective or scope, but I think as was mentioned earlier, if you are diligent, you should find success.

At either school, I would recommend leveraging the college and university networks as well as the business school networks just given the breadth and depth - you are paying for the entire university, you might as well leverage it your advantage. Also, make it a point to have frequent informal informational interviews with peer alums in your focus area (you would be amazed how productive a few coffees in Canary Wharf can be!). Also, not sure about Cambridge, but I know Oxford is working with its alums and career center to develop more structured pre-MBA internship support, which can be extremely helpful as you pursue post-grad full-time opportunities.

Based on your profile there at left, it says you are interested in entrepreneurship and finance. To those ends, I would recommend you take a look at the additional opportunities located around the schools. I know that given the strength of the science/medical program at Oxford, there are quite a few venture capital and private equity firms located right in and around Oxford which focus on commercializing new technologies and discoveries - it makes for very exciting work and can often lead to full-time positions. On a final note, I would review the curriculum at each school, in addition to the extra-curricular opportunities, I know Oxford has a term-length Entrepreneurship Project as a required class where you conceptualize a business idea, assess feasibility and then present to venture capital investors. This can give you additional credibility as you discuss positions with alumni and other potential employers.

I hope this proves helpful, and of course, you are more than welcome to PM me, cheers!