[flondon]

The interesting discourse here is why graduates find the big IBs/Consultancies so appealing, more so that joining a startup. In my opinion, this is due to the perception that a high flying blue-chip career gives - 99.9% of graduates would prefer to say ‘I work for Goldmans’ rather than ‘I’m going to work for an unknown technology startup around Shoreditch’ - this impresses grandma and the parents who have subbed the £30-40 university costs for their kids.

I think the counter to this is that within the UK, there is a dearth of success stories involving young tech entrepreneurs - the big one that sticks in my mind is the million-dollar-pixel guy, who as the name suggests made a million! (There are of course others, but I've not seen them as widely covered in the media)

Looking at the example of silicon valley, there are so many examples of tech entrepreneurs making it big at a young age - maybe once the London scene has a healthier number of well known (i.e. the Daily Mail writes about it) exits, the perception will improve and we will see a higher number of bright graduates preferring to join a startup.

[IsaacL]

I think impressing the other students is a big factor as well. It's alternately humorous and depressing to hear the way people talk about their mate who got an internship at Goldman/Deutschbank/wherever. I guess if you've been pushed all the way through 6th form to get into the most prestigious university you can, once you arrive at said uni you'll soon go looking for the next big shiny famous institution.

(That said, it seems the one employer that's even more impressive than an I-Bank is Google - but Google isn't a startup anymore. I wonder how many UK grads would happily join a company that might become the next Google?)

Anyway, I've long been a do-what-makes-you-happy-not-what-other-people-think-is-high-status kind of guy, but I think I'd still find it difficult working for a startup in London while encountering people who are my age, half as smart but earning twice as much. For that reason, my post-graduation plans involve me leaving the small, charming and damp island of my birth altogether... And taking an even bigger salary cut for the chance to live in the most exciting country on the planet, China.

[timthorn]

Don't know about IBs, but consultancies offer the chance to work across a real range of clients and industries, and in a variety of roles. The ability to do something fresh on a fairly regular basis but without changing employers is appealing to certain minds.

[mattmanser]

Haha, yeah, they'll be photocopying at a wide range of different companies. Reality check, ask people who have actually done this stuff, all the ones I knew the work was dull but partying continued like it was uni because they're with a bunch of other graduates.

Most large companies don't let the noobs anywhere near the clients. They're pyramids, the longer you stay the more interesting work you get to do. This competes with the better the job you can get elsewhere, which causes gradual attrition in the ranks. It's all about who can stick it out the longest.

Ground zero is very, very dull work. Like photocopying while being charged out at hundreds of pounds an hour.

Remember, these are graduates, they're totally useless in the real world at the start.

[timthorn]

I don't need to ask people what the work is like because I've first hand experience. I joined a top tier consultancy after several years in "proper" tech, and whilst I didn't come in as a grad, I've seen enough to know that at least here, photocopying roles are rare.

On the other hand, I've had a fantastic breadth of experiece - technical, commercial, in great teams and on my own. I work with really interesting and significant clients across sectors, and have the pleasure of seeing my contributions making a real difference. I have done work here that has quite literally resulted in lives being saved.

Not dull at all.