Lateral to London from different country AND sector????
Started working last month at a super small Scandinavian boutique focused on infra and energy. Great deal flow (punch way above their weight due to specialisation, often doing bigger deals than other top IBs in Scandinavia)
Want to get to London AND change to a different sector when timing is right, industrials or business services preferably.
Would also like to pinpoint that I would only move to London if it was for a good IB (BBs / EBs / top MMs) as it would otherwise not be worth it, Since I can probably get a good exit in Scandinavia
Any tips/general advice on this?
Little bit about myself:
- Graduated from top European target Mfin with meh grades but passing the cutoff
- Speak several relevant European languages fluently + English
To lateral into London from a Scandinavian boutique and switch sectors, here’s a strategic roadmap based on the most helpful WSO content:
Leverage Your Niche Experience:
Your current role in a specialized boutique with strong deal flow is a great asset. Highlight your exposure to significant deals and your ability to punch above your weight. This will help you stand out when targeting BBs, EBs, or top MMs in London.
Network Aggressively:
Position Yourself for Sector Transition:
Timing Your Move:
Target the Right Firms:
Consider a Strategic Exit:
Polish Your Application:
By combining your boutique experience, networking efforts, and sector-specific preparation, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for a lateral move to London.
Sources: International Student - Chance of getting an IBD internship in London?, Working Abroad - Regrets/Benefits, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/investment-banking-in-the-uk-an-overview?customgpt=1, Goldman Sachs IBD Industrials M&A Group London
My 2 cents: Your best move is to try to lateral to London within your industry first, and then try to change team once you are in London. But this will take considerable time. Someone correct me if I am wrong here...
@PaldBenis Thanks for the advice. Yeah as you say, this will take a lot of time where I will be working within a sector I dont see myself working in in the future. I am not really thinking banking too long term either. Is it really that hard to lateral to a bank in London unless you are a perfect fit in terms of industry experience? I researched through linkedin and found several people who did the move to London and changed teams. No luck getting replies yet so havent had the opportunity to hear how they did it, however, all of them seemed to come from "better" banks than where I am now. Is networking the key here or is it true than London doesnt really reward that as much as the US for example? I also dont want to spend double the time as an analyst just for prestige hunting.
In brief, these are my options:
Lateral to industrials team in Scandinavia, and then move to london as an Associate
Please feel free to point out if im thinking too much inside the box. optimally I would like to go straight to an industrials team in London after a year or two in my current job.
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