Moving to Europe from America
Alright guys, look, don't clown on me - I'm looking for some real advice. I'm an American citizen and I've always wanted to live in Europe ever since I studied abroad in London back in college. I have been to 20+ European countries all on different trips and have honestly wished I was european so many times. I was top of my class at a target and worked at a top BB in a top group in NYC but left IB for corporate so I have a solid overall resume.
I've weighted going back into IB but I wanted a break from NYC - I didn't love the city during my 4 years there but know I'd love living in Europe for my late 20s/early 30s. I don't want to recruit for London banks because I didn't like London that much, but I've loved my time in places like Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden etc.
Europeans, is this a poor career move just given the economic opportunity in America? Can I even recruit for IB/PE firms in a European country that isn't the UK if I only speak English? Or will I be required to speak German/Swedish/Danish etc?
Ignore title, currently an associate on the buyside in London. Unfortunately, for IB you will likely require local language skills (even in London languages matter a lot but ofcourse English is fine). Most coverage teams are run out of London (Nordics coverage for example is typically run out of london, with smaller deals going to local banks). PE is generally more flexible from a language perspective (typically PE firms will invest cross border - i.e. Danish/Swedish PE firms will buyout German/French companies etc) but you’re competing with local talent who have done 2 years at a top London bank and eventually move back to their home country in a buyside seat so even this is tough. Unfortunately, finance doesn’t provide a lot of opportunity for international mobility. You’d have far better mobility aiming for large corporates wherever you want to work - FWIW out of the countries you’ve listed Sweden and Germany will by far be the easiest with Switzerland & Denmark being the hardest given visa problems. I’d aim for FAANG/Large Corporates or strategy consulting (potentially get a European MBA which will help quite a bit) - this will be the easiest path.
RE economic opportunity, I’ll say that you’d be shocked at how much lower salaries are in Europe relative to the US. Despite that COL & quality of life IMO is much better, so it really depends if you want a stable (and I’ll say “happy”) life then Europe is definitely an amazing place to be. If you want the same progression & opportunities you have available to you in the US then Europe will not provide this for you, people are generally less ambitious and there is more of a focus on WLB & family life. Frankly, finance is just a much smaller field in Europe take Denmark for example, their are only really 3 investment banks there and virtually 0 US Banks, and the big 4 M&A teams actually (Sweden is more open). You’ll have much more luck doing something like strategic finance, corporate strategy, marketing etc at a startup or large corporate who are more open to internationals.
For me personally, I’m currently based in London and trying to move to Denmark but have had virtually 0 traction, but I have had some luck in recruiting for Sweden.
Let me know if you want to PM and I’ll come off anon.
No one has a happy life in Europe
cope
Post growth economies are a sight to behold truly
That’s certainly one way to dress up stagnancy, sure.
OP here, would love to chat and PM you.
Thanks for this writeup - very helpful and detailed. Makes sense that its easier to do a corporate finance job and move since there are more spots and less competition.
Sit illum recusandae ea eveniet. Nesciunt dolor recusandae aut perspiciatis. Impedit hic provident eligendi omnis.
Veniam id est qui cupiditate. Ut alias facere expedita deleniti minima voluptatem itaque. Est illum aliquid dolores totam sed illo possimus.
Aliquid in aliquid est quia est. Non et odio ipsam laboriosam. Ea magni sit provident esse. Eum nihil quidem veniam rerum facilis delectus sed. Impedit esse sapiente officiis. Et voluptatem laboriosam alias mollitia eaque ratione saepe.
Reiciendis ducimus et rerum. Et est aut nulla sit minima iure velit. Eum quos quia et fugit accusantium pariatur. Voluptas qui est nobis minima ullam. Eum iure aut sequi aut. Eum doloremque qui esse dolor iure voluptatem natus. Enim ullam vel et velit dignissimos.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...