Graduate recruitment: We ask the questions here

Banks are so desperate to hire high-calibre staff that in recent rounds of recruiting it was MBA students who were asking the questions before they decided on an employer. But the most fluid job market in more than a decade carries its own pitfalls for graduates - it's easier to land up in the wrong job and the wrong firm. Charles Piggott advises on how to stay on track

At the reception held for MBA students at the London headquarters of a prestigious US investment bank, bankers mingled with a crowd of 30 aspirants. “Have you accepted our offer?” was their hosts’ opening gambit. If they answered yes, the bankers gave a nod and rapidly moved on to the next recruit. Out of the 30, 15 had already accepted the bank’s offer. No-one missed the fact that the hosts hovered around the undecided MBAs in the hope of persuading them to accept.

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