Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University - Career (3) - Nairaland
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| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by yemivictor: 11:10pm On Jul 11, 2011 |
Na wa o! banking no good! banking no good!! yet, OP, you were able to save enough to sponsor your self to the UK for a masters degree. Hmmn! i know many guys who would kill for that spot. That said, must you go to the UK if i might ask? Have u considered Dubai? Heard there are some great foreign universities there. Hope i've not succeeded in confounding you the more? But hey! you're young, driven and seem to know what you want out of life. That's a good recipe already! Best of luck! |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by DisGuy: 12:39am On Jul 12, 2011 |
okpara ugo: Na Wa o, I heard in Delta you ask for cold water someone comes along to offer you Sapele Water! |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by blacksta(m): 2:21am On Jul 12, 2011 |
Southbank is definitely not known for engineering but when it comes to law and Information technology it stands shoulder to shoulder with many top schools in the u.k. I did my BSC in computer science at South bank and With this degree i am the Oga of many that went to the so called red brick universities and i earn a very good wage with my bsc from south bank. Anyway it is not about school one attended but the most important factor is the drive of the individual, you must refuse to take No for answer. I would not close the opportunity to still be an engineer as you hate banking - so what do you have to lose. I would suggest you assess where your industry is heading most importantly where you want to be Have an open mind about the kind of advise you get from NL. I can assure you many would jump at the opportunity to further their career prospect abroad. I would recommend you asses unversities in the U.k by discipline rather than global ratings. A place like Brunnel university is well known for engineering but may be terrible at finance or similar. For me South bank + my Commercial experience has definitely opened many doors All the best |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by Dokai: 9:30am On Jul 12, 2011 |
Life generally is a risk and the choices we make affect our future. I am in a similar situation but have not fully decided yet. One thing for sure is that no knowledge is wasted but just make sure u have money on ground to take care of urself for a while in case the job does not come immediately you finish ur program. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by violent(m): 11:28am On Jul 12, 2011 |
@Poster If you take this decision, i can assure you, more likely than not, you WILL regret it!. . .this is NOT a time to take up Masters in the UK, but if you are bent on doing so, any school outside Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, LSE is a NO NO!!!! The facts are there; the unemployment rate in the UK is staggering and employers can afford to make choices, and trust me, the chances are badly stacked up against you if you have a Masters from any school outside of the ones above. . .even Manchester or UCL is a NO NO!!! First, you won't have a visa to work in the UK after graduation, that puts you behind thousands of other students from the EU. Second, you don't have astonishing A level grades, that puts you miles behind hundreds of thousands of other students who do Third, you have a 2:2 degree from NIGERIA, that places you in the 2506909th position Fourth, you don't have an outstanding-wow-me-the-Bleep experience in engineering, and to make matters worse, you will be having masters from a Uni no one gives a toss about?. . . .that puts you in the erhm. . .what position now? To give a clearer picture, and if the rumored statistics are anything to go by, for every single job advertised, there are 120 people applying, and among those 120, you have british citizens (so they dont need a visa) with outstanding A level results, graduated top of their class in engineering and already had numerous impressive internships under their belts, why do you suppose an employer would choose you over them?. . .hell, you can't even speak better English than them, and chances are they are far younger than you! I'd advise that you look into opportunities in IT consulting, I know that's what i'd be doing if i were you!. . .there are several small companies in Nigeria who thirst for these services, truth is that they may not know it themselves. . . .it's up to you to identify technology lapses in certain sectors and come up with outstanding solutions, Health is an example of a sector that could do with such services! |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by kolexy(m): 4:00pm On Jul 12, 2011 |
Bros, Why would you leave ur job to study in that crumbling economy. Try getting an oil job, even if it is in an oil servicing company service if you want to pursue a career in the oil industry. Or you seek admission in a school that is better regarded, Herriott-Watt etc. Otherwise PLEASE boda mi, do not LEAVE ya job to that back yard school. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by yemivictor: 9:46pm On Jul 12, 2011 |
Dis Guy: My broda! LNGKMD!!!!  I thought it was only the females in Nigeria that were parading this craze, for pete's sake!!! If u neva marry u neva achieve for Naija!  |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by blacksta(m): 3:54pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
kolexy: Some people are funny sha - with their use of wordsl - If the UK economy is crumbling what word would you use for Nigerian's economy |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by blacklion(m): 4:22pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
blacksta: The issue is what are the odds of a Nigerian immigrant getting a professional job in that crumbling economy with a degree from LSBU as opposed to what he could do by maintaining his current job in Nigeria and investing his nest egg in a business i.e. is cleaning toilet in London with masters' degree worth it? |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by debosky(m): 4:29pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
blacksta: You dey mind them? These same people will be queueing up at the UK embassy tomorrow to try and join those in the crumbling economy.  @ topic I think the issue comes down to the level of risk you can tolerate. In my opinion, there are a number of risks as follows: 1. Attending LSB presents a higher risk in terms of getting jobs compared to other better recognised schools in this field. 2. Going to the UK at the present time presents a higher risk in terms of getting a job post graduation compared to your steady (albeit cyclical) bank job. 3. Delaying your move back into engineering any further presents a risk that you may not be able to do so at a later date due to age and family commitments. 4. Quitting and spending all that money presents a risk that even after the masters you might end up no better or even worse off than you currently are. People are simply giving you opinions and information - that's all this comes down to. All you can do is try to weigh up these risks and make a decision with the guidance of the Almighty. I wish you the best. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by blacklion(m): 4:36pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
debosky: Crumbling economy is relative as compared to educational/professional opportunities in North America, Middle East, Australasia etc. As several posters have already noted, Britain no longer really has much manufacturing industry and is now primarily a financial services and trading economy. Or even as compared to a job with a blue chip in naija earning armed robber salary To each his own. As you rightly pointed out, OP should do the risk/benefit calculus and decide based on his personal circumstances/aspirations. But he should not be single-minded about it as per LSBU and UK is some kind of eldorado. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by gunpoint(m): 4:44pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
I've read so much advice my brain is now leaking from overload. . . But seriously that's some very sound stuff I've read so far, and I'm digesting it all. P.S: Did I mention the fact that I got my present banking job off Nlnd? Yeah, way back in 2007, so if you guys got me into this, ya'll better get me the hell out! |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by 702: 5:21pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
@OP: does ur bank give room for self development? can u get approval for study leave, just to play safe? |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by gunpoint(m): 6:02pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
Naaa. . Most banks don't give study leaves, if they did all bankers will jump @ it and leave 2mrw morning and they know it. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by debosky(m): 7:25pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
Let me share a friend's experience - it may help you in making your decision. We were classmates in school in Nigeria and both studied engineering - he graduated with a 2:2. He decided he wanted to work for a bit before embarking on a Masters. After searching, applications and what not, he ended up working at a bank in Nigeria. After working there for a number of years (not marketing - oil trading financing), he decided to embark on a Masters degree and resigned from his job. He was aiming at specialist universities like Cranfield in the UK but was unsuccessful in gaining admission. He ultimately decided to study at University of Salford in Manchester (a university in the LSB bracket in terms of employment statistics), studying Gas Engineering and Management. As he was finishing, he applied for jobs in the UK but was unsuccessful. He decided to return to Nigeria soon after graduation. He had a few contacts in the O&G industry and they promised to help, but ultimately nothing was forthcoming for a couple of months. He had kept in touch with his previous boss and had a really good relationship. He eventually got taken back at a time there was a near total embargo on hiring at the bank. Within a year he got a promotion. He's not satisfied with the banking job and is still looking out for something engineering, but the good relationship he built up and maintained helped him at least land on his feet and pay the bills while seeking out other opportunities. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by tunnytox(m): 7:39pm On Jul 13, 2011 |
debosky: Salford University? Never! that's where he got it wrong having a 2:2 will definitely prevent one from getting admission to best Universities |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by DisGuy: 12:23am On Jul 14, 2011 |
tunnytox: but with 2:2 and zero engineering experience there are very little options, still dont understand the craze for the oil industry though If you've missed the boat from the beginning better option will be other engineering courses with varied career option and perhaps SAP |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by jackpot(f): 11:37am On Jul 14, 2011 |
To hell with banking jobs. Hehehe |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by bossman4: 1:53pm On Jul 14, 2011 |
@ Poster, I have been following this link hoping to learn from it because I am in a similar situation but with little variations. One of the difference would be that I am married but you are not. If there is anytime to take the risk, then it is now! I admit that you need a good school but with determination and preparedness for the time you will need to sort yourself out after the course, you will get a better prospect and life. One of the opportunities I will regret was not using up the opportunity I got when I first joined banking to study abroad. Now I am married and it is more difficult taking such risk because you will factor in your wife and children. If you wish, you can send me a mail on buzzmanlinks@yahoo.com. Let us compare notes. I still maintain the time you can take such risk is now or you are condemn to banking for life or till they get tired of you. One Luv Man. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by ultim: 5:16pm On Jul 14, 2011 |
folks im in a similar dilemma. I have put up ma car for sale and due to leave in coupl of months, u guys would have seen ma thread for the sale on this forum. I am not going to the UK but to Italy to study International Law. Henry Thoreu once said, what the first philosopher said, such will the last repeat. Sampling opinion is good. but the rule of thumb is yourself. What options do you have vis a vis your career pursuit? there are so many questions that can only be answered by you and you alone? I am no that young, early thirties but I chose to postpone marriage this year for this course. If I continue, there will not be space here. It is you, you and you. good luck |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by JJay1(m): 2:15am On Jul 15, 2011 |
If you must take postgraduate degree abroad, you'll be silly to go for LSBU. Surely u can do better than that. You mentoned that you will visit the University later in the year to assess the school but I can assure you that your visit would speed up your wrong decision-making. Why? Because tha fact that you had not visited other schools quality you will automatically be mesmerised by South Bank Uni considering that most of the things you have seen arent available in the best of Naija universities. If more than 100 people have contributed to this post and more than 95% are telling you not to attent LSBU then tahts enough warning. trust me when I say you are better off attending UI than the likes of South Bank, London Metropolitan, Middlesex etc. Even multinational companies in Nigeria are very reluctant in taking graduates of thos kind of schools Secondly, for an engineering graduate who had been in bankin for that long, you will be shooting yourself in the foot for choosing to study for postgraduate in Petrleum Engineering. (The fact that LSBU even give you an admission in Pet Engineering should make you run miles away from them). Even with top rated uni you will struggle to get a job in Petroleum Engineering as they have a silent code of not taking more than 2 year graduates as Fresh intakes in Engineering. However you can make loads of money in associated Oil and Gas careers such as System Applications (SAP or PeopleSoft or JDEdwards), Supply chain Management, Engineering/Capital Project Analyst and even make more money. I have worked in Upstream Oil and Gas for alomost a decade and know for a fact that most companies do NOT take more than 25 year old graduates as fresh intakes in engineering You say you dont want to be a small fry yet you are considering South Bank. Imm 95% certain you will regret going there but you dont hav IN e to take my word for it Someone said earlier that some QAA rating is better than the University League table and I laugh at such ignorance. it is a welll known fact in the UK academia that very poor schools like South bank and td their peers commission some obscure rating organisations to give them good rating because they know they are rubbish and wont meet the standardised required standards or respectable rating bodies DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND DONT CHOOSE A WRONG COURSE. ALWAYS SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THE INDUSTRY YOU ARE INTERESTED BEFORE MAKING A DECISION AND NOT SOMEONE TRAPPED IN THE YOKE OF SUBSTANDARD COLLEGES LOOKING FOR ASSOCIATES REMEMBER YOU SAID YOU DONT WANNA BE A SMALL FRY |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by Finecat(m): 1:11pm On Jul 15, 2011 |
It's funny how all this bankers are suddenly tired of their jobs, few years ago during the era of Akingbola and Madam Ibru bankers used to make fun of people going overseas. They thought everything began and ended with a banking job in Nigeria. Especially those bankers that worked in banks like Intercontinental, Oceanic, PHB etc. I guess all the bonuses and loans access has dried up in banks. I remember one intercontinental banker saying "I wonder why Nigerian go abroad when there is goldmine in Nigerian banks". He lost his job in 2009, and began queuing for Visa at the foreign embassies in Lagos. I have always known that most bankers would end up in a bind they are put into by fraudulent and fake financial strengths declared by the ex banking CEOs. Nigerian graduate are intellectually lazy, I've always wondered why an engineering graduate or a medical doctor would want to make a career in Banking?? I'm willing to bet you that, if the banks in Nigeria were still buoyant and giving out huge loan facilities and bonuses like they did pre-2009 None of these born again engineers will be here hyperventilating about mistakes of going into banking. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by AjanleKoko: 1:21pm On Jul 15, 2011 |
Finecat: That's a bit harsh jare. But you have a point. Don't blame the engineers, it's tough to find a reasonable engineering job in NIgeria. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by jackpot(f): 3:14pm On Jul 15, 2011 |
I remember immediately after our graduation, my friend told me about a young guy, fresh graduate that turned down First Bank's offer of starting salary of 280k. I was wondering, 'is that possible'? But here am I saying it's very very possible. Now, I detest banking. Modern form of slavery. Hehehe |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by gunpoint(m): 12:56pm On Jul 16, 2011 |
@finecat; wish life was as easy as been resolute about what you want to do to get bills paid but it isn't and if banking pays the bills that's what you do. I graduated in 2004 but took 3years till 2007 to decide to go into banking so as Ajelekoko said, life in the real world is hard for us engineers. Your tone might be made out to be frank but its also harsh and doesn't address the realities of everyday life in a mad country like Nigeria, if I was your brother or son and had been sitting at home for 3years post graduation and got an offer from a bank with a salary of 200k plus(at least on paper) you would seriously ask me to turn it down after doing just that to other such offers for 3years? Come on man, get real! @boss-man; omo I 4 don marry to oh but know I would only be transferring my fear of what I might have done otherwise to a wife and kids. . @house; lots of your advice hit at the quality of LSBU so I have been in contact with Robert Gordon University(RGU) for the same course and the response so far from the admissions person seems favorable, is that a better bet then? |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by carnal: 1:44pm On Jul 16, 2011 |
since u still insist on goin overseas then RGU is ok then, carri goo |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by violent(m): 5:48pm On Jul 16, 2011 |
@gunpoint: I understand how frustrating it must be working in a job that is not intellectually stimulating, but i'd tell you what's more frustrating---spending all your saved up capital for a Masters degree and being unemployed after your Masters degree. You must think about your immediate plans after your Masters, i.e. either to work in the UK or to return to Naija. If the former, i can tell you with a lot of certainty that unless you are as lucky as the guy who won 3 million pounds 4 times in a row on a poker night, it might be a lot easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than you getting a job in the UK. I'm sure you know that upon completion of your Masters, you will have only 3 months to find an employer who will be willing to sponsor you for a visa, if you don't, you will be required to leave the UK as Post study work visa has now been cancelled!. . . . again, unless you are that guy mentioned above, this is highly unlikely!!!!. . . If the latter, then the situation might be more displeasing!. . . .Unless you have someone who will be paying your bills in the UK, you are likely to be coming back, broke!. . .you will need an immediate job upon arrival in Nigeria, which as you and I know, is not available----not minding the fact that several people have the same degree you have and you don't even have sufficient experience to back it up!. . . .It's a lot more frustrating being in Nigeria with a Masters degree from UK and without job, in the end, you might find yourself going back to the bank you ran away for---hopefully by then it won't be too late. This is an advise I would give to you----HOLD on to your job for now, and think about creating a NICHE for yourself where everyone will need your service, that's how people like Seun Osewa became secretly wealthy! Of course, I know that regardless of this advise, more likely than not, you will still come to the UK anyway, as it seems from your replies that you have already made up your mind. . . .but just so you could have something to ponder on in another one or two years, i have left this post here! |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by bossman4: 9:50pm On Jul 16, 2011 |
@Finecat. I was constraint in replying your post but I have to in other to explain that life is more than running without break and direction. I am fortunate to work in a bank that has no problem and my position is not anyway threatened where I work. There is what they called purpose and part of what Abraham Maslow called Self actualisation and fulfillment in his theory of motivation. Like someone said, it doesnt take recession to decide if you want to challenge your intellect and move forward in your career. Even if I leave, my plan is not to stay for long abroad. There are many things I want to do, not for myself alone but for this country. @gunpoint, I will also advice your try other countries. The challenges with UK''s economy is enormous. I have a current offer of MBA in RGU but their MBA is not highly rated so I might not take it up. I still repeat, plan your moves well and be focused. It could be challenging but you will have reasons to laugh. We pray this country with get better so that people will not lock up their potentials and dreams in exchange for money. God bless Nigeria |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by Finecat(m): 2:27pm On Jul 18, 2011 |
boss-man: That is a big pile of Nonsense. Nigerian Bankers are very shallow in their thoughts. Like i said before if the banking in Nigeria had stayed the way it was in 2007/2008, would you guys still be thinking of your engineering degrees or leaving your banking job? This behavior is very peculiar to black men, instant gratification. And this is why Nigeria and Nigerians are so backwards, we don't think of tomorrow or how can i use my training for innovation never known before? I have a lot of respect for Engineers or doctors that had the opportunity to work in a bank during the bubble but declined and seek another avenues to pursue their calling or training, be it in Nigeria or overseas. But an engineer working in a bank as a customer service Rep coming here in 2011 to hyperventilate is just looking for the next cool spot to chill. |
| Re: Giving Up Banking For London South Bank University by bossman4: 7:03pm On Jul 18, 2011 |
@Finecat, I am not an engineer but honestly I don’t get your drift. Are there not many people that left for school abroad before the pre 2007/2008 that you are talking about and either stay or come back to work in Nigeria? One of those people is my ex boss. I was to leave the same year if not for an agreement between my wife and myself to stay till later date. I am not holding brief for bankers but to generalise that all bankers are shallow is totally laughable. I don’t know if you are based in Nigeria but is it all bank that are sacking people? Is it wrong for people to decide to re chart a new course even if they missed it for some years? Someone asked for suggestions and all you can bring to the table is how far you read his mind for him. If you have tried working at the bank and it did not work, well, there is no sin in trying till eternity. One of the best ways to grown intellectually is to aspire for more education. If seeking for knowledge makes me shallow, then I will rather be shallow than dwell on myopic views. Thank you. |
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