Last weekend I had a lovely time heading to London for a Not for Profit recruitment fair. I found it to be a bit lacking but I got a chance to talk to a few not for profit recruiting firms and they told me about the current job prospects (at least in the UK) and critiqued my resume (called a CV here). I am realizing that I probably won't be working in not for profit right away upon graduation - unless i find my dream job, but would rather gain more experience (and perhaps more money to pay off that little LOAN I have) working either in consulting or industry. And in business school terms, industry means anything outside the realm of finance, consulting, or non profit/public sector. Maybe public sector would be ok - pays a BIT more than non profit. Ok, I'm rambling now. But you can see where my mind is. On careers. Yes, 4 weeks into our program I'm already stressed about jobs. But they have trained us to be this way already. They say that the 'hidden' 7th course that actually gives us the most work is careers.
There have been a slew of networking and info nights. Nearly every evening the caterers are coming into our common area, setting up tables and getting the wine & olives & brownies out. I dont' go to as many events as others - most of them have actually been finance-based lately - although sometimes I sneak over for free food if I am studying in the MBA syndicate room. We have our own little room with a foos ball table (I think it has only been used twice and both times it was me), computers, printers, couches, a microwave & kettle and then cubicled study areas. I pretty much live in there. Today I was at school for 13 hours. By the end, there were 5 of us in the syndicate room just going mental and laughing at nothing. It is usually pretty productive though and I find it better to study there than at home (both for peer pressure to study harder as well as having the other people there to unwind with).
When I was in London I got a chance to visit my lovely friend Dave who I went to high school with. We had a belated Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with some of his friends and even had turkey (breasts) and pumpkin pie. Delicious. It was great to escape Cambridge for a few hours. I love it here and everything, but stepping away from it was a bit of a relief. It's like a little bubble from which you sometimes forget about the rest of the world. All consuming at times.
Tonight after classes I went to a JP Morgan recruiting session just to check out the investment banking prospects and was thoroughly put off. I think I was right to assume from the beginning that finance is not my thing. The guy presenting was a Cambridge Alum who came across as the biggest jerk of all time. Telling us about how JP Morgan is so work-life balanced compared to other firms because they only work about 11 hours a day. Also completely crapping upon a bunch of other firms that had recently been to recruit at our school. And this is the guy they send to convince people to work there? The scary thing was talking to some of my classmates afterward and hearing about how they thought he was great and how much they want to work for that company. Did we see the same presentation? Toward the end he was talking about positions as Fund Managers. I made a note to the friend sitting beside me and wrote that I think I found my dream job at JP Morgan - FUN MANAGER! From there we got the giggles and couldn't look at each other until the talk was done.
Rowing is still part of my life although it is tough because we are so terrible. I didn't realize how hard it would be for 8 new rowers to row in unison. I think it will be weeks before we get the hang of it (at very least). But for now our cox just screams her head off at us. I'm not a natural. That's all I'll say. My Olympic dreams are dashed. Such is life.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Diving into icy water
Things have been busy. I feel like a broken record already and it has only really been 4 weeks. Classes are tough (although the tons of team work actually helps me because I have 2 people in my team with finance backgrounds who can explain things to me) although I'm still really having a great time.
A typical day:
7am - wake up
8am - arrive at school to do readings for an hour in the MBA syndicate room- also make my tea or coffee so I can stay alert for the first class
9am - classes start - until 12:30 (there is a 20 minute tea break half-way through
12:30 - 2pm - lunch and usually a team meeting or else this is the only time to do running around while shops are open for regular business hours.
2 - 5:30pm - more classes with another break. the only day we dont' have a full day is Wednesday but that is the day we often have career workshops.
5:30 - 7:30 I usually stick around and read for a while until my stomach is about to consume itself.
7:30 - 10:30 - go back to my college to prepare dinner and then do internet! then i study some more!!
10:30 - 12 - if I am not doing work or talking on the phone I might go for a drink at my college pub.
12 - 1am - I actually usually clean my room up and prepare things for the next day - then I collapse! :)
The reading and assignment thing - I really read that much. I am so proud of myself! But at the same time, as assignments are starting to build up as well as my obligations as social officer increase (attending many social events- DARN), some readings may go un-read. but I guess that's all just part of it. The deputy director of our program came for drinks tonight. They all keep mentioning how important it is that we all go out and socialize this year. I was really impressed that we had a turnout of 35 people for pub night tonight considering we are in the middle of finance recruitment week and we all have readings coming out the wazoo - but our class has a real sense of team and hopefully it lasts for a while.
One really fun thing that happened tonight was that there was a pub quiz! We did terribly, mostly because my team was me, a Nigerian, a Kiwi, and a South African-born, British raised doctor who has been living in Antarctica for the last 2 years. And most of the questions were all about UK politics and entertainment. Luckily we still came third. But next time I might pick my team a little more carefully.
The weather has still been really nice. Although in the mornings, it's killer. SO COLD. And hopping on the bike and pedalling out is SO TOUGH those first few minutes before I warm up. But what a way to wake up in the morning!
A typical day:
7am - wake up
8am - arrive at school to do readings for an hour in the MBA syndicate room- also make my tea or coffee so I can stay alert for the first class
9am - classes start - until 12:30 (there is a 20 minute tea break half-way through
12:30 - 2pm - lunch and usually a team meeting or else this is the only time to do running around while shops are open for regular business hours.
2 - 5:30pm - more classes with another break. the only day we dont' have a full day is Wednesday but that is the day we often have career workshops.
5:30 - 7:30 I usually stick around and read for a while until my stomach is about to consume itself.
7:30 - 10:30 - go back to my college to prepare dinner and then do internet! then i study some more!!
10:30 - 12 - if I am not doing work or talking on the phone I might go for a drink at my college pub.
12 - 1am - I actually usually clean my room up and prepare things for the next day - then I collapse! :)
The reading and assignment thing - I really read that much. I am so proud of myself! But at the same time, as assignments are starting to build up as well as my obligations as social officer increase (attending many social events- DARN), some readings may go un-read. but I guess that's all just part of it. The deputy director of our program came for drinks tonight. They all keep mentioning how important it is that we all go out and socialize this year. I was really impressed that we had a turnout of 35 people for pub night tonight considering we are in the middle of finance recruitment week and we all have readings coming out the wazoo - but our class has a real sense of team and hopefully it lasts for a while.
One really fun thing that happened tonight was that there was a pub quiz! We did terribly, mostly because my team was me, a Nigerian, a Kiwi, and a South African-born, British raised doctor who has been living in Antarctica for the last 2 years. And most of the questions were all about UK politics and entertainment. Luckily we still came third. But next time I might pick my team a little more carefully.
The weather has still been really nice. Although in the mornings, it's killer. SO COLD. And hopping on the bike and pedalling out is SO TOUGH those first few minutes before I warm up. But what a way to wake up in the morning!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Net Present Value
Oy, this week has been hectic. Our 'real' classes began on Monday with finance and management strategy. The learning curve is pretty steep but I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack as far as understanding everything goes. Or so I hope! Considering that 30% of our class come from an Engineering background and 20% from Humanities - there are quite a few of us who are having the same problems bending our minds in new and interesting ways. And some are not as interesting as others (accounting). We have succumbed to entertaining ourselves with finance jokes. Very lame. But after a full day of lectures and even more hours of reading and case studies - almost anything is funny.
My fear coming into this program would be that I might not fit in with the class. That I might not have anything substantial to offer. I realize now that I was wrong. I think I fit in rather well. I think I have quite a bit to offer. I look around me and see people who I would totally be friends with outside the classroom. What a relief! And some of us open up we find out that we had the same sneaking fear.
There is so much to do here. Never mind the work - there is too much of that to even think about. But then there is rowing. That will be my exercise and my networking within my college. There is also something called the Cambridge Union which organizes major debates and speaker series. Incredible speaker series! You can buy a lifetime membership and have access to attend events like: Stephen Hawking!!! Muammar al-Gaddafi!!! Cambridge's own James Watson - hello DNA structure!! Then there is the Cambridge Business Society's events - so far I'm the only one running for social coordinator. Hmmm. What am I getting myself into!?!? But how do I say no to these things? You just can't. You only live once, right?
Things that I am hating about here: going shopping takes forever because they have all different products than I'm used to so I'm constantly trying to find the brands and things I like. Banking is ridiculous - it took them 3 weeks to send me my bank card. Everything is WAAY too expensive. I save money by making all my meals (including packing a lunch most days of the week) but sometimes you have no choice but to buy that 3pound sandwich.
One good thing - everyone knows how to pronounce my last name! Thank you Vanessa Paradis (known in Canada only as Johnny Depp's wife)! Joe le Taxi - her hit in the late 80's made her a huge name here and everyone knows her and the song! Now I do too. Pure cheese. But it's french cheese so it's not quite so bad. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p032PIKdp7A
My fear coming into this program would be that I might not fit in with the class. That I might not have anything substantial to offer. I realize now that I was wrong. I think I fit in rather well. I think I have quite a bit to offer. I look around me and see people who I would totally be friends with outside the classroom. What a relief! And some of us open up we find out that we had the same sneaking fear.
There is so much to do here. Never mind the work - there is too much of that to even think about. But then there is rowing. That will be my exercise and my networking within my college. There is also something called the Cambridge Union which organizes major debates and speaker series. Incredible speaker series! You can buy a lifetime membership and have access to attend events like: Stephen Hawking!!! Muammar al-Gaddafi!!! Cambridge's own James Watson - hello DNA structure!! Then there is the Cambridge Business Society's events - so far I'm the only one running for social coordinator. Hmmm. What am I getting myself into!?!? But how do I say no to these things? You just can't. You only live once, right?
Things that I am hating about here: going shopping takes forever because they have all different products than I'm used to so I'm constantly trying to find the brands and things I like. Banking is ridiculous - it took them 3 weeks to send me my bank card. Everything is WAAY too expensive. I save money by making all my meals (including packing a lunch most days of the week) but sometimes you have no choice but to buy that 3pound sandwich.
One good thing - everyone knows how to pronounce my last name! Thank you Vanessa Paradis (known in Canada only as Johnny Depp's wife)! Joe le Taxi - her hit in the late 80's made her a huge name here and everyone knows her and the song! Now I do too. Pure cheese. But it's french cheese so it's not quite so bad. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p032PIKdp7A
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