Currently located in the US, working as AN 1 at a boutique. I recently discovered that the visa process to work in UK takes under a month.
Wanted to get some insights on bankers that have been able to land an offer in UK from outside of the country. What was the process like and how difficult was finding a job?
Appreciate any advice in advance
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and advice for recruiting into UK IB as a foreigner:
Visa Process:
You're correct that the UK visa process can be relatively quick, often taking under a month. However, securing sponsorship from a bank is the critical step. Most large banks in the UK are familiar with sponsoring visas, especially for roles in investment banking, so this shouldn't be a major hurdle if you're a strong candidate.
Recruiting Challenges:
Recruiting Process:
Actionable Steps:
While the process can be competitive, your current experience and proactive approach can make a significant difference. Good luck!
Sources: Investment Banking in the UK - An Overview, FT recruiting timeline London, Q&A: Incoming IB analyst – international student, survived FT recruiting twice…, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/investment-banking-in-the-uk-an-overview?customgpt=1
Think as long as you are in the industry and a Tier 1 country, have good dealflow and experience, shouldn’t be too difficult. Networking element is less but still existent in the UK, so would still try to have a convo with someone.
Visa process is very straightforward (have gone through it twice). Background checks take a while (would say 5-8 weeks, depending on exp)
Good luck.
Appreciate the insight here.
As a follow up, did you apply directly or utilize headhunters and what worked best for you?
Networked my way in, actually. But that was because I came from a very non-target and had no prior experience in banking.
Getting in touch with HHs would be fruitful. Dartmouth Partners have mixed reviews, but I’ve had good exp with them, a friend had terrible exp.
Carpenter Faraday are great, really helped when I was switching firms.
Why tf would you leave the US to go the the UK??
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