How would an Australian be perceived in the US buy-side?
HI there,
I'm an Australian, currently completing an economics major (still contemplating whether to add a philosophy/finance minor) with a 3.2/4.0 (~83 average mark across all my subjects) at a target school (University of Sydney) in Australia.
I've done some extracirriculars volunteering for charities, represented state chess & captained state basketball, going to bump up my extracirriculars next semester taking up some leadership roles and maybe even starting up an investment club in my university. As much as I know this isn't a massive deciding factor, I've taken it upon myself to read investment books & blogs as well as managed a virtual share portfolio in my last year of high school.
I'd like to break into the buy-side eventually. more specifically of a value-investing nature, and yes I know, this will take hard work, good grades, networking and perseverance.
My question is, I'm curious as to how it would look for an Australian trying to break into the buy-side, more specifically of a value investing nature, be perceived in the eyes of those in the investment management industry in the US?
Straight out of university?
You have low understanding of US business and culture (watching US sitcoms doesn't count), having to arrange and sponsor your Visa is a hassle and you're likely, like most Australians, a loud-mouthed lout who will constantly complain about the quality of American coffee and turn into a surly belligerent who sprinkles the c-word everywhere when slightly intoxicated. Presumably you also have zero US network for sourcing deals.
Could be different after you have a few years of professional experience under your belt.
Not straight out of university .. Let's say a few years at a BB and or a top AM over here in Australia. Don't think Visa is a hassle imo, don't drink coffee and about the c-word part, I am Australian after all.
Not straight out of university .. Let's say a few years at a BB and or a top AM over here in Australia. Don't think Visa is a hassle imo, don't drink coffee and about the c-word part, I am Australian after all.
"Loud-mouthed lout" says the American.
But some valid points; US business culture and Aus business culture is fundamentally different given that the US have free-standing ability to fire you with little recourse.
US Culture is also different to australia's, far more dramatic, appearance-based etc. Basically take an aussie and inject him with "positivity" books. Case in point; US characters in movies to my surprise, most of the time aren't caricatures of their role for the effect of cinema, most americans are actually like that.
Jumping to unwarranted conclusions so soon?
I've fired people in Australia and in the US. In a professional context at least, there's not much difference, except much greater fear of an unhappy ex-employee getting litigious in the US.
I admittedly know very little about Australian culture outside of what I've read on the internet and a few interactions I've had with Aussies in bars, but this is by far my favorite part. I think it's hilarious.
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