The hours are long, remuneration is down and the organisations are intensely hierarchical. Some MBA students appear to be voting with their feet and walking away from a potential career in investment banking. From private equity to technology, and consulting to investment banking, the best MBA candidates are aggressively courted on campus.

The frenetic annual recruiting season - which typically takes place through January and February - is now out of the way, and students at the leading business schools in Europe will be starting internships or full time roles in just a few months.