International Mobility at Oxford

The career-services team at Oxford University's Saïd School of Business helped 90% of the 228 full-time MBA students seeking a job in 2005 to gain employment within three months after graduation. This marks a 7% improvement from 2004.

Showing international mobility, two-thirds of Oxford MBA students found jobs outside their native countries. While only 10% to 13% of Saïd students are from Britain, 58% of graduates work in Europe. Despite a high interest in working in the U.S., students have had a difficult time getting American jobs since 2001, because of changes to visa requirements (see BW Online, 3/17/05, "The Student Visa 'Crapshoot'").

Simon Tankard has helmed career services at the school for the past 10 years. He has cultivated a small team of professionals who have worked through "boom and bust" business cycles while supporting a growing number of students. Tankard earned his MBA in 1995 from The Warwick Business School. He worked at South African Breweries in South Africa and was ultimately head of human resources at Anglovaal Group.

He recently spoke with BusinessWeek Online project assistant Janie Ho. Here are edited excerpts from their conversation:

How's the job market looking for Saïd grads this year?
The market is much improved from 2005, which was better than 2004. Consultants and investment banks are looking to hire larger numbers, which bodes well for the Class of 2006 (see BW Online, 12/30/05, "A Heady Job Market for MBAs").

What kinds of companies recruit at Saïd?
McKinsey & Co., accounting for 5% of all MBAs hired from Oxford, has been our single largest recruiter year after year. We're developing stronger ties with leading firms across all sectors, including companies such as L'Oreal (LORLY ), Johnson & Johnson, (JNJ ), Macquarie (MIC ), Accenture (ACN ), and PRTM Management Consultants. Employers find our entrepreneurial spirit attractive.

We've worked to build relationships across many sectors. Firms such as RWE; the German public utility and electric power company BAA, which owns and operates seven airports in the U.K.; Hines, an international real estate firm; and Novartis (NVS ) have been recruiting Saïd MBAs this year.

How do you set Saïd MBAs apart from those at other B-schools when you speak to recruiters?
We differentiate our MBAs by ensuring that they come through one of the most rigorous admissions processes, combining excellent academics with leadership capability and a global mindset. Diversity is part of our long-term vision and is reflected in our...

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