Yaxuan Zhu

Why did you choose to study your programme and why specifically at Imperial College Business School?
Imperial College Business School's world-class education, global reputation, location and fantastic Careers service attracted me the most. Besides the high quality education, it offers plenty of opportunities to interact with London’s professionals. The powerful network has helped prepare me for success anywhere in the world.

Imperial's unique MSc Finance & Accounting was the optimal choice for me because it has a highly practical focus and flexible approach. This enabled me to choose the electives that I am really passionate about and develop a deep understanding about the finance world.

What advice would you give to a prospective student considering studying the same programme as you?

1. Be prepared to think about your career. Don’t only focus on the knowledge in the books. Try to think how you can apply it to your job interviews and career development.
2. The programme is very intensive. There is no review week. Exams come straight after teaching, so review during learning is very necessary.
3. Use Imperial College Business School Careers. The team not only provides CV and covering letter feedback, mock interview and assessment centre, but also summarises the latest recruitment information. I was very impressed that Careers even prepared an updated a list of companies that sponsor T2 visa. I could not have found a job without the team’s help. There are also a lot of company presentations and employer events. Take chances to network.

How did you find living in London?
London is an amazing city to live. A global business capital, a city full of history, energy and creativity, a place I will never forget!

What was the Business School community like?
The Business School is like a small world. Teachers and students are from different countries and backgrounds. I really like interacting with people and transcending geographic and cultural boundaries. I was very impressed by the professional and approachable professors and smart and hardworking students. It is the people that make Imperial great.

What was a typical day the Business School like?
Imperial’s programmes go beyond the traditional Master's. They are very practical and similar to MBA programmes. Life at Imperial is a combination of attending lectures, doing group work and networking. Except for the lectures, you can decide your own timetable to do whatever you like. Imperial never runs out of group work and networking events, keeping me busy all the year.

What do you enjoy most about your work and what are the main challenges that you face?
I enjoy working with clients on a daily basis and liaising closely with various teams. The client-focused environment offers me an invaluable insight into a wide range of companies and industries.

The main challenge is the steep learning curve. I had to learn a large amount of industry knowledge within a short space of time and keep good balance between work and ACA study.

In what way is remaining connected to your alumni network important to you?
I always feel that I am part of Imperial even after graduation. I can easily find ways to stay connected with the global network. The online Alumni account allows me to find and contact classmates. The Alumni Visitor Centre allows me to use facilities on campus. I have also attended events, such as Alumni Weekend and alumni reunion not only in the UK but also all over the world. I am still learning a lot from the experience and constructive advice of other alumni. Imperial’s powerful alumni network of 180,000+ across the globe is definitely a lifelong valuable asset for me.

Have you taken advantage of any of the lifelong learning opportunities offered to you as an alumni benefit?
Imperial offers a range of benefits for its alumni, such as evening classes, discounts for training events and access to Central Library services. These resources and information are very helpful for my future development.