Foreign sounding name cold emailing?
Hey everybody,
I've been cold emailing bankers in the US and haven't gotten any responses so far, and I suspect it might be due to people thinking I don't have work authorization in the US. I'm a US citizen, but I go to a target undergrad in Europe and have a foreign name. My cold emails are pretty good, I've had them looked at by several friends who've gotten offers, and several older bankers as well.
Can anyone share some insights as to whether this might actually be a problem, and if so, how I could indicate my citizenship in my cold emails/resume near the top of my resume? I have my citizenship indicated at the very bottom of my resume, but it's not easy to pick out.
Thanks in advance!
The US is a diverse nation, I don't think people would be offended by just the name. Especially given your effort and credentials.
You could test a shortened name, just to see if that makes a difference.
Also, use a US based address and phone number, i.e. cell phone. Be ready to book & fly if the need comes up.
Indicate everywhere that only your degree is abroad, not your entire life. It needs to be visible that your other schools and your geographic focus is in the US.
This is false and a little naive to be honest. Currently on the job and when dozens of students are reaching out daily (especially in the height of recruitment) you pick the ones you think have the best shot at making it to get on a call. I know for a fact that myself and many others would 95% disregard an email from an EU sounding name coming from an EU university.
However, I have had similar situations where the student indicated their citizenship and interest in NY firms or listed their dual citizenship at the top of their resume which made me do a double look. This might offend some people but it is what it is when you're seeing so many students reaching out daily and have extremely minimal time - the little things matter whether they're controllable or not.
Just a few of our US citizens who work in our team in the US:
Muller, Eriksson, Hasenkamp, Berger, Koch, Baumgartner, Schmidt
Some even studied in Europe to learn another language/connect with their ancestry. They have been in the US for several generations.
OP isn't in need of a visa sponsorship as an international student, he is a US citizens who goes to a target in Europe. If he says he is American and has an American address, there won't be that many hurdles. I don't know if it's just our firm, but we also hire people from abroad, not just the US.
Given that US banks never recruit outside American schools, you absolutely must find a creative way to make you American citizenship prominent on your CV (preferably close to the top; might be risky but maybe perhaps indicate your American citizenship right next to the location of your uni or something), else possible auto-dings. A mere name shouldn't be a problem for coldmails if there isn't a very obvious sign of your non-American education in your email communication
Agree with this. Put it under your name in bold to make it painfully obvious.
Have you ever seen other kids from foreign college other than Canadian ones pull it off? Asking because I’m in a similar situation
I've seen one from a well-known European school, so theoretically possible but pretty unlikely
If you don’t mind could you tell me which bank he/she got into?
I haven't really to be honest, no one in my uni recruits in the USA. I couldn't answer your question well anyways as I'm in Europe
Guessing it's a combination of name and really also the European school. I think that's a bigger impediment. It's really not common to go EU school -> US even if you're a citizen, so despite being a target you're essentially a non-target for the US who people assume have insurmountable visa issues. Foreign name is just the icing on the cake
Are you totally set on the US, it seems like London will be the path of least resistance here and you can transfer over after a year or two
I'd throw it under education if you want to move it up. Work Authorization: US Citizen
There are a lot of US citizens who study in London. Also many in other EU nations, just not as many.
The UK alone has almost 20,000 US citizens as students in the UK.
https://erudera.com/statistics/uk/uk-international-student-statistics/
Yep but a very small number from each UK target school goes to banking jobs in NY. You don't get much credit for going to Bocconi or other EU targets simply because the path to US internships/FT jobs is very small given vast majority of students aren't eligible for a visa. It's a good school people just see it and assume visa issues
Change the copy used in the email. "Hi I am an American living in X doing Y at the moment, and XXXXXX"
XXX Street, YY City, ZZ State, USA | +1 (XXX)YYY-ZZZZ | US Citizen
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