Do Oxbridge grads get a negative reputation in the workplace?

[hungarianharlot]

I was having a conversation at work the other day which somewhat surprised me. A few colleagues and I were talking about universities and where their kids were going to apply. DS is going to apply for history at Oxford.

I’m new to the workplace but the company sometimes has graduates from Oxford or Cambridge.

Colleagues said that those who went to Oxbridge were much less likely to want to get stuck in with the “boring” jobs and more likely to feel “entitled” to the more interesting work or for other people to assist them. Another said she finds them more likely to ask lots of questions rather than just getting things done. Is this fair?

Honestly, it wasn’t a particularly positive sentiment.

@CatkinToadflax because they tell you within minutes of meeting them. My colleagues and volunteers wouldn’t have a clue what school I went to (sink London comp) but they know where dh went because he manages to shoehorn it into conversations, also seems to work out who else is public school educated at 100 paces … does bug me a bit though the old boys balls are quite fun and I enjoy the game of being elusive about my school (I don’t sound London like these days)

I don't think so (and hope not because I have a DC at Oxbridge!). I've had a long career in an industry with a fair proportion of Oxbridge grads, I think if it ever comes up where someone went to uni the presumption would be the opposite actually - that they will be academic and hard-working if they went there, rather than entitled!

Don't want to sound all 'the youth of today' - and I think it's a very good thing that young grads aren't being forced into working horrendous hours like those who were entering certain areas anymore - BUT, I have heard others complain that this generation (wherever they went to uni!) can be quite rigid and over sensitive at times. You can't really be on a massive starting salary in a law firm and still expect to leave on the dot of 5pm each day!

@raffiaruffle It’s not well publicised, unless you know where to look, but the big name law firms don’t keep around 20% of their trainees on. The ones who aren’t the right fit don’t get a job beyond the training period. So I suspect having your own ideas about working practices and working hours are noted!

I think it’s worth being careful about generalising from a few workplace experiences. Graduates from any university will have different personalities and working styles, and asking questions or wanting more challenging work isn’t necessarily a sign of entitlement. Equally, I can understand why colleagues might form that impression if they’ve had repeated experiences with particular individuals. I’d be more interested in how someone actually performs and works with their team than where they studied. Has anyone here actually managed or worked closely with Oxbridge graduates and noticed a consistent pattern?

Ridiculous indeed.

I’ve worked with Oxbridge people who I only discovered were there when asked where they studied
and plenty on here have said similar.

Plank on shoulder comes to mind.

I went to Cambridge. I don't mention it, and when people have asked directly, I've said "I went to college in Cambridge" and no-one asks any further, assuming I mean a FE college or something.

@MyDadIsTheGreatest Why do you think they assume that? Should they ask you in depth questions regarding your subject and life in your college? Or do they move the conversation on to avoid such elaboration? I do the latter!