The Student Room Group

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Jools
Who's in ?


ME
Me. I haven't joined a society for a while.
I would like to join if I may, please. I am thinking of this carrer and would like to have the chance to talk to other people with more knowledge than myself.
So, me!
Reply 4
Jools
Who's in ?


ill join :smile:
Reply 5
me, my first society
Reply 6
This society certainly has the most organised member list - does anyone else have links to member profiles?
Now we just need someone to ask a question :smile:
H&E
This society certainly has the most organised member list - does anyone else have links to member profiles?
Now we just need someone to ask a question :smile:

If you look at some of the other UKL subject "society" threads, it's often just a lot of people saying "I'll join", and not actually achieving anything bar another line in their signature. This can be a really useful network, especially since there's a lot of knowledge regarding careers which is passed down the line rather than told to everyone at college/university. Even if there's not so many questions put in the public forum, it's useful for people to PM whoever can be of most use to them.
Reply 8
I'll join Jools! (birthday buddy :tongue:)
Oh...you want me to pm my background (the bit that relates to the soc lol)?
Reply 9
This is my first society membership, so I am not sure how these things operate. I hope I am not barking up the wrong tree but here is my first contribution; aimed at Jools and others who are studying arts subjects (other than Law and Econ) who have been successfully admitted to intern at an I-Bank.

Did the issue of you having not studied a business degree arise during the interview process? If so, how did you handle this? During your internship, have you/are you finding that you are at a disadvantage to those that have studied economics in your class?
Reply 10
MentallyIll


Did the issue of you having not studied a business degree arise during the interview process? If so, how did you handle this? During your internship, have you/are you finding that you are at a disadvantage to those that have studied economics in your class?

They asked my why I was doing the subject I had chosen (comp sci)...so I told them why. I think I also talked about how certain skills may be useful in the industry (mathematical, numbers bit). I also pointed out how I'm planning on doing the comp sci w/ management program in the final yrs, not really a switch as such, just a few extra modules in management/biz. Of the 2 people who actually got it from my school, niether of us are doing econ...one is doing Nat Sci(chem) (probably at clare, camb)...and I'm doing Comp sci (probably at imperial). I don't know whether they asked her about her nat sci tho. The placement is in september, so we'll find out whether we're actually at any disadvantage, but i doubt it. I mean, there were people who tried from my school, planning on econ degrees at uni and it didn't really help them it seems ie they didn't get it, only us two. Obviously there will be people from other schools who are probably doing econ at university, on the placement.
MentallyIll
Did the issue of you having not studied a business degree arise during the interview process? If so, how did you handle this? During your internship, have you/are you finding that you are at a disadvantage to those that have studied economics in your class?

In a word, yes. There are lots of career paths where it doesn't really matter what your academic discipline is - for example marketing, law (provided you do a conversion course, obviously), consultancy to some extent... investment/finance is not one of them. And it's quite obvious why - when you have thousands of people applying for limited positions its easy to sift out those deceptively deemed as unqualified.

On this internship there's 44 of us. 41 do Economics/Maths or related, 1 does Law (specialising in M&A), 1 Historian who's going to do a Masters in Economics, and me, the Geographer. Those proportions definitely don't meet the application ratios. If you're not doing a relevant discipline then you're OK if you have a sound knowledge of the economic world - what's happening with the financial markets, and why. But it will put you at an initial disadvantage if you're up against thousands who's degrees are of some direct relevance to the job.

When I was applying for university I was just told to do whatever subject I find most interesting, and it won't make any difference regarding career opportunities since 80% of industries accept applicants from all disciplines. Little did I know that "I study Geography" would be mocked at on a daily basis by every other new person I met. My advice is if at 17/18 you think that a finance-related occupation is your cup of tea, then definitely go for Economics/Maths. If you're not sure then you'll be at a disadvantage which can be overcome if you push the right buttons.
Reply 12
Hmm, when i read the information "pack" that the IB sent, they stated on there that what degree we had picked was unimportant. Though come to think of it, myself and the other girl chosen are both doing sciences. Not sure if this had any bearing on their choice. I think a soon to be theology student applied, but other than that from what i gather mainly maths/science/engineering or business/econ ppl applied.
There's lots in IB, especially at the likes of UBS, doing Science disciplines such as Chemistry and Physics - "transferrable skills" such as strong numeracy and logic are evident. You're not however going to find many theologians and classicists who apply getting in.
Jools
In a word, yes. There are lots of career paths where it doesn't really matter what your academic discipline is - for example marketing, law (provided you do a conversion course, obviously), consultancy to some extent... investment/finance is not one of them. And it's quite obvious why - when you have thousands of people applying for limited positions its easy to sift out those deceptively deemed as unqualified.

On this internship there's 44 of us. 41 do Economics/Maths or related, 1 does Law (specialising in M&A), 1 Historian who's going to do a Masters in Economics, and me, the Geographer. Those proportions definitely don't meet the application ratios. If you're not doing a relevant discipline then you're OK if you have a sound knowledge of the economic world - what's happening with the financial markets, and why. But it will put you at an initial disadvantage if you're up against thousands who's degrees are of some direct relevance to the job.

When I was applying for university I was just told to do whatever subject I find most interesting, and it won't make any difference regarding career opportunities since 80% of industries accept applicants from all disciplines. Little did I know that "I study Geography" would be mocked at on a daily basis by every other new person I met. My advice is if at 17/18 you think that a finance-related occupation is your cup of tea, then definitely go for Economics/Maths. If you're not sure then you'll be at a disadvantage which can be overcome if you push the right buttons.


wow, only 3 from non-economics. That is depressing.

So Jools, how do you recommend that those who are not studying econ gain a good understanding of the industry. Were there any publications/texts that you found particularly helpful? Any useful advice?
MentallyIll
So Jools, how do you recommend that those who are not studying econ gain a good understanding of the industry. Were there any publications/texts that you found particularly helpful? Any useful advice?

It's not so much swotting up on publications as just following what's happening on a near daily basis... if FT doesn't take your fancy, then BBC Business Online, Bloomberg, CNBC etc.

The economic knowledge required for some parts is A-Level standard, for others about year 2 of an economics degree, but you're provided with material to catch up.
Given that my degree would be totaly unrelated to the career would this put me out of the running before I have even started? I ask because in the BMJ there has been a few features recently on what you can do if you do not want to have a medical career. I can't say for certain at the moment as I need to have more information on both careers, but the articles seemed to be saying that you will not be look down upon because you are not doing the career that the degree was for - is this really the case?
I would also like to know what I could do to enchance my application should I decide to go for it - what sort of things both inside and outside university should I be looking at? What would my chances of getting work placements be like with an unconventional background?
I suppose an option would be to contact someone who did a medicine degree and ask them but I do not know anybody like this - though might perhaps get to hear of them at university - any comments would be appriciated.
A lot of questions I know, but any help would be most welcome. :smile:
Medics are very employable outside that career path. But I can tell you now if you don't want to go into it, you'll hate 6 years of it at Oxford. It's possibly the most stressful, time-consuming degree in the university, with people motivated to work at it as they know what they'll get out of it 6 years down the line. About 10-15% drop out as they can't handle the pressure... sorry to tell it like it is, but if you definitely don't want to go into Medicine you're looking at 6 years of unnecessary pressure. There's possibly the option of changing course though - a friend of mine switched from Medicine to PPE after 5 weeks. 3 years later she became union president...
Reply 18
This'll be the first society I've joined. Investment and Finance seems pretty interesting, I'd love a job in that sector. I've just finished my AS exams, and I'll hopefully be applying to do maths at uni next year, grades permitting.
Jools
Medics are very employable outside that career path. But I can tell you now if you don't want to go into it, you'll hate 6 years of it at Oxford. It's possibly the most stressful, time-consuming degree in the university, with people motivated to work at it as they know what they'll get out of it 6 years down the line. About 10-15% drop out as they can't handle the pressure... sorry to tell it like it is, but if you definitely don't want to go into Medicine you're looking at 6 years of unnecessary pressure. There's possibly the option of changing course though - a friend of mine switched from Medicine to PPE after 5 weeks. 3 years later she became union president...

Thanks for that honest reply. Thing is I really like the sound of the degree, but not the career - at the moment - well I did then i found out more about it and started to have doubts. However that may change when i get there. I am reassured that I can do something else should I wish to. Thanks once again.
One more question - I am very interested in politics and am active in my local area - I hope to continue this at university - would this be a useful thing when it comes to applying for work placements/jobs?
Thanks

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