Hi guys:
Would anyone happen to know how American B-schools place into finance/investment jobs in London? Assuming it's a T7 school, and the other attributes of the candidate are at least average of the pool. I don't have a UK work Visa, but given my nationality, it might still be easier for me to get a UK work Visa than a US H1B, that's why I'm thinking to recruit in the UK post MBA. Any feedbacks would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
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I'm sure some other people on this forum will be able to better answer your question - I'll just tell you what I know/saw.
I got my MBA from Sloan in 2010. During my first year I was in the finance track and also went on the Finance trek to London with some classmates. This was of course just post-2008 meltdown... Then in my second year I got access to the job postings database for 2nd year MBAs over at LBS (a friend of mine was at LBS and we swapped passwords). So I got to see what was available at both schools. Obviously the London branch of X Bank was recruiting primarily in London - and the NYC branches were recruiting at Sloan. A person would have needed a network in London (before business school) if he wanted to land a role in London after b-school - that's the way it looked to me for the most part. There were a couple of kids I knew who got offers in London though - they were all EU citizens and I think they got the offer because it was less of a Visa hassle (both wanted to be in NYC).
If you need Visa sponsorship you are already fighting an uphill battle and I highly suggest you go to a school in the same country where you want to work. I've heard rumors that the UK is no longer extending a work Visa to MBA graduates (who were attending UK schools) - but I haven't confirmed.
If you're able to get into a top 7 school in the US, you should be able to get into LBS which is where you need to be to find a job in London post-MBA.
I second the above comment.
If your ultimate goal is London I would suggest going to LBS, Cambridge Judge, or Oxford Said. Americans schools will probably end up costing more anyways. A few of the M7 may have 'brand recognition', but you'd still have to do a fair amount of networking to land a job in London. It's not impossible but it would be way easier if you looked into the above mentioned schools. Also, what do you want to go into? Some fields might be closed off in London to just UK schools just because there aren't that many positions available and they already have three great schools in the vicinity.
Absolutely possible, but you will need to network hard.
People do it, but it's a pain. My non-english friend recruited for London IB out of Kellogg. He got an offer, but he had to do 1-2 day long trips to London for coffee chats and then interviews.
From target US MBA to IBD associate in London (Originally Posted: 06/22/2015)
Hello Everyone!
I have no finance background and 5 years of experience that has absolutely nothing to do with finance.
I have been accepted to target MBA's in the US in the past but couldn't attend. I will reapply in the future and given that my my applications haven't changed much, I'm quite confident I will be accepted again.
We all know in the US it is not uncommon for people to take the non-finance -> target MBA -> IBD Associate path.
My question is: Is such a path into IBD also common in the UK?
Have you heard of people starting as associates in the UK after an MBA with no previous finance experience?
BTW: so there's no confusion I am legally able to work in the UK so no Visa issues.
Thanks guys! your help is really appreciated.
Why not just apply to LBS?
Of course it's an option, but LBS doesn't have the same international pedigree as the top US MBA's do. Of course whether I do my MBA in the UK or in the US depends on what the answer to the above question is. I'm trying to find out how common it is for people to get associate jobs in London post-MBA with no finance experience. You wouldn't happen to know would you?
It should be really easy (based on my experience with S&T and all my friends doing London IB recruiting).
If you want to do investment banking in London I would seriously consider looking at LBS like suggested above. You have no previous finance experience so I imagine the jump to the UK will be very difficult. You have no more to offer to them than LBS, Oxford, or Cambridge MBA graduate. If you're concerned about people thinking about what school you went to, I want to reassure that LBS is highly regarded in Europe- the LBS pedigree is huge in Europe/Asia. FT has it ranked at #2, right behind HBS. If you want your US friends to recognize a brand name I suggest looking at Cambridge Judge or Oxford Said. Honestly, I think you would be at a huge disadvantage if you don't look into a top UK MBA if you truly want to work in London.
I see this quite a bit, where folks tend to confuse pedigree with recruiting.
What matters is this: are the recruiters for the jobs you want coming to the b-school you're attending?
And if you want to work in banking (or anything really) in the UK post-MBA, then LBS should be your priority.
London Banks recruiting at US MBA campuses? (Originally Posted: 06/22/2015)
Hi again everyone,
Does anyone know how extensively UK banks recruit at target US MBA campuses for associate positions, if at all?
Recruiting at US schools for international banks isn't common practice. But, that said, a lot of schools do organize UK / Europe "treks" through the IB / Finance clubs. A lot of folks at the top programs want to head across the pond so it's definitely something students look to organize for themselves. They're far more intense than the treks put on by tech or startup student groups so FYI. But if you're looking to work at a UK bank, then those treks are invaluable. Go have a chat with the clubs at the schools you're interested in to make sure they do that. If they don't, that might be ok - gives you a chance to leave your stamp on the school and implement something new!
Bhavik
US Schools to London IB (Originally Posted: 02/17/2011)
I have two family friends at BB's (think MS, GS, Citi). After undergrad, I want to work for one in London. Please prioritize these schools by which would look best when applying for an overseas position.
University of Michigan (Ross) University of Virginia (McIntyre) University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) University of California, Berkeley (Haas - if accepted soph year) University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Cornell University (Dyson School, Applied Economics and Management) University of Southern California (Marshall) University of California, Los Angeles (Business Econ) University of Texas
Any.
The one you would be happiest at. Get into them first, your decision will probably be made for you.
but now it becomes subjective: personally I'd say
if you get high grades at any of those places you'll be in an okay spot... but certainly go to Wharton if possible (assuming you want to be in IBD)
Thanks for everyone's input! I will take it all into consideration when offers are released.
US Target ----> Banking in London? (Originally Posted: 07/30/2007)
I am at a target in the US (think Northwestern, Michigan, NYU) and am considering an offer from a BB in nyc. Can anyone shed some light on my chances of getting into banking in London (or how I would go about doing this)? We only get recruited for US jobs and I feel as though applying online for the London jobs will prove to be fruitless. Should I contact the recruiters over there? How receptive are they to US candidates (i.e. are they only looking for people graduating from European schools)? Thanks.
Seriously I would recommend you take the offer from the BB IN NYC. There are tonnes of schools that are on par with the US target schools all over Europe and all these guys are heading straight into analyst roles in London. Once you get a grounding in NYC you can put in a transfer request to go work in London.This way is alot easier as the bank will get your visa and everything sorted for you.Best of luck
HR will rarely take the effort to try to interview an American who studied in the US and lives in the US for a job in London. If they want an American, they'll hire the ones that are already in Europe, either studying abroad or doing a degree. However, they will look at EU citizens who go to US universities because they don't need a visa.
always make it known (later obviously,and if you're good) that you would like to go abroad. I went to school with a girl who interned at Barclays in NY, and then asked if she could go to London instead after she got the offer. It worked out.
Thanks everyone.
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