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Sebastian Ferfers, graduate of the Utrecht School of Economics, regularly participates in Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� Career Coffees and Career Events. His story offers inspiration, but also a warning to ambitious students: “I had to learn the hard way, and I want to help students understand the realities of the jobs they aspire to.”

A lot of new alumni focus on getting that ‘perfect’ first job. But in my experience, they need to be more open to opportunities they might not have considered

“I have always been extremely driven. I wanted to make it big in the corporate world and make lots of money. High grades, top-notch internships, all the right student committees: as a student I did everything I could to get into this competitive field. I also took every opportunity to network. And it worked. Before long I was in London, working in investment management.”

HOW TO GET THE PERFECT JOB

At UU’s Career Events and Career Coffees, German-born Sebastian tells Dutch and international students about how he got the job of his dreams. “The students who come to these events are usually highly ambitious. A lot like me when I was in their position, really. They are eager to find out how they can get a great job in a competitive field and kick-start their career. A lot of them are very focused on their grades and on getting that ‘perfect’ first job. But in my experience, they need to be more open to opportunities they might not have considered. Things that come along organically. I tell them to go out and socialise with professors or people in their desired field. Get involved with activities, events, volunteer work, and meet as many people as you can. You never know what these connections may bring you. The cliché is true: it’s about who you know.”

ESCAPING THE RAT RACE

But he also explains what happened a few years later. “Once I was in London, making the big bucks and working 80 hours a week, I started questioning it all. I thought financial services was about being of use to the community, but that wasn’t really the case. I found myself thinking: what am I doing here? The world of financial services is a notorious rat race. And once you are in, it is incredibly difficult to leave. You have invested so much time and effort to get there in the first place, and the bonus structure is designed to keep you looking six months ahead. Besides, you work so much that your social circle is entirely made up of co-workers and others in the industry. In my case, the decision was made for me when burnout hit. I had no choice but to go with the flow.”

If I could do it again, I would take it a little easier, enjoy things more

“LOOK BEYOND YOUR CAREER”

Sebastian’s story is often an eye-opener for students. “Looking back, I think I worked too hard from the start, even at university. If I could do it again, I would take it a little easier, enjoy things more. I was so driven, because I knew that I wanted to get into a competitive field. In hindsight I think I would have gotten just as far if I had taken it down a notch. That’s what I want to give back now. Your career is not the be-all and end-all. There are other things that matter too. I had to learn that the hard way.”

“KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT”

“I am not telling students about my experience to scare them away from financial services or high-powered aspirations. Not at all. I just want to help them get a realistic idea of what they can expect when they get there. It’s great if you can handle it, but it’s not for everyone. As it turns out, it just wasn’t for me. After London I ended up in a great place: I have a successful job, am part of a wonderful community, and run a charity on the side (cycling4climate). But I took a big detour to get here. If I had received more information when I was still a student, I might have decided to go a different route from the start. It makes me feel good to pass on these valuable insights to UU’s student community.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“I always say to other alumni: knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were starting out? This is useful information for students! Why not share it with them? It only takes a few hours of your time, and you might meet really interesting people in the process.”