How business-focused was your MSc at Imperial College Business School?
The course was reasonably business-focused, with part of the course being taught with the MSc Finance class, and a few of the other classes focusing on more mining-specific business strategies, such as Management of Projects, Markets and Supplies, Strategic Management, and Metals and Energy Project Appraisal and Finance.
Both were lecture-taught, but the mining-specific courses also included several guest lecturers, a cash flow modeling workshop, and a fortnight-long role playing group exercise in funding options for different stages of a mining operation.
What was the highlight of the course?
Unquestionably the two-week excursion to South Africa, during which we visited several mining and energy operations, both on the surface and underground, an exploration site, several processing plants and the business offices of Sasol and Eskom in Johannesburg.
How was studying in London?
Hectic. My undergraduate degree was at a campus university, so commuting to Imperial, and being in the middle of London every day was a completely different experience. There isn’t the same community feel which you get on a campus, but being Imperial, and such an intensive course, there weren’t many opportunities to meet anyone outside the course anyway. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though; it was a fantastic learning experience.
Did you live at Imperial and did you have a good social life?
No, I lived at home for most of the course, although for part of the second term, when the commute, coursework and 9 to 5 classes got too much, I stayed in hotels nearby so that I could work more effectively.
With the price of over ground train fares, it actually worked out quite favorably to reduce my traveling, especially when breakfasts were included!
I didn’t have much time for a social life during that year, but as a class we went out quite a bit together, and I kept up a few of my activities. Most of that year was spent studying though, to be honest; especially as the entire course material was completely new to me.
Have you made a gamble by taking this course instead of a more general management Masters?
I don’t think so, the mining industry is really growing at the moment, with the ascent of China and India as young economic powers, and there’ll always be a demand for the industry. Civilization is built on the mining and energy industries, people tend to forget that, but everything we consume, use and own, has been touched by these industries, many times over.
I think that taking this course has probably been one of my best decisions to date.
What was your job hunting strategy?
I was actually recruited almost straight out of university, so I didn’t have an opportunity to decide on a post-Masters strategy per se.
However, throughout the previous summer and academic year I’d been scouring the graduate recruitment websites, registered to all the newsletters, and applied directly to any number of consulting companies and other companies of interest. I went to several recruitment fairs too, joined Imperial’s Consulting Society, which allowed me access to several recruitment lectures, and even looked at a few schemes which sent you abroad to teach English.
Looking for a job in the present economic environment is no piece of cake, I was very lucky to be approached by Insight Analysis and Consulting so soon after handing in my dissertation.
How do you see your current job in the wider scope of your career?
I’m actually in the extremely fortunate position of doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do for quite some time, and I intend to remain in the mining business. My current job is a stepping stone, which will give me experience and a skill set few other jobs could give me, but which I know will lead on to bigger and better things in the not too distant future.
Working for a start-up is also a very exciting and fulfilling experience. We’re really at the cutting edge of our field with the solutions we provide, and I really feel like I’m making advances which will impact the industry. It’s a fantastic experience.
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