Clueless

Bartronilic

Hi, I basically have no idea what job hunting for graduate programmes involves.

1) I want to do a masters in finance - but not just yet. How do i go about getting sponsored by a company. Do you have to work/prove yourself etc.

2) Everyone in my course ends up in the Big 4 doing accounting (:rolleyes:) which is something I never wanted to do, but since the economy has gone belly up I might have to apply for these as back up (not saying theyre bad jobs, theyre probably better than what I want to do but I just hate accounting). Would it take up too much time/effort filling out applications for those places?

3) Am I unlucky getting a degree during a recession? I'm going for IIB/(not Davys anymore)/AIB Cap Markets/Anglo Irish Cap Markets basically anywhere with Capital Markets/Investment Bank to the name. Are most of these places issuing Recruitment Freezes?

4) If lets say I want to work in USA, for rest of my life (my long term plan, I'm one of those Irish people who has no loyalty and wants to get up and move), is it worth doing a post grad in an American College?

Sorry if any of this seems uninformed or uneducated, we all have to start somewhere so I'd rather ask stupid questions here than at a job interview.

magooly

Bartronilic wrote: »

Would it take up too much time/effort filling out applications for those places?

If that is you attitude then yes.

You've missed the milk round for the Big 4 since that took place before your finals. Looks like you have a full year to get 'clued in'

Bartronilic

No you completely misunderstand, I'm not that uninformed. I wouldn't be making this thread if I had done my finals. :rolleyes: Just close this thread I don't need snarky people's help.

justfortherecor

Hey OP,

1) Doing a masters myself but didnt get company sponsorship. I know it is possible to receive sponsorship from some companies for more specialist routes i.e. that Masters in DCU on Investment Treasury or something.

2) If you want to work in Inv Banking, getting accounting qualifications is a very solid foundation from which to build your career on. If you check any of the bios of directors of Corp Finance teams (In Ireland, not so much in UK), more than likely they will have professional qualifications from PWC, E&Y etc. Being an expert in understanding financial statements is central to Investment Banking early on in the career, and there's not much better training in doing so than with one of the Big 4. Just remember though, that last year PWC took on something like 250 grads; you'd have to stand out from the crowd to make the jump to Inv Banking.

3) To an extent yes. I've recently been thrown into a messy situation by having my contract for a grad programme in london rescinded due to major cutbacks across the financial sector (I was just unlucky I guess, the bank i was due to work for focused their cutbacks in the particular area I was due to start in). There's still jobs out there though, but its just got even more competitive to land a grad programme spot.

4) I suppose it could be worth it, but just heed the usual advice. The quality of uni's available over there varies wildly and you should try and enter a renowned business school to heighten your chances of employment afterwards. Not 100% sure on the visa implications over there, so unsure of what your options would be in the US after.

Don't worry, it's natural to be a bit confused as to what you want to do in your final years in college and the current environment is not one that will help ease fears.
Just do a lot of research on the options available to you and see which one is best for you personally.

Good Luck