Is Russia-based Big4 experience a dealbreaker for US firms?
I’m currently a Senior Associate on a manager track at one of the ex-Big4 firms in the RU/CIS region, about 1-1.5 years away from Manager. I’ve spent my entire career in Big4.
Over the past few months, I’ve been considering relocating to the US (where I’m authorized to work without any sponsorship in the future). I've been applying to Big4 and MBB firms for Senior Associate and even Associate-level roles, but haven't received a single interview invitation, despite having a solid background in strategy & operations across multiple industries and leading Russian companies. I am mostly targeting roles that closely align with my skills and experience.
So now I’m trying to understand what may be holding me back. Is my Russia-based career the main obstacle here? I understand that US industry specifics and professional norms differ from what Im used to, but it's hard to believe the gap is so wide that my skills don't transfer at all, especially when I'm already open to stepping down a level.
I’d appreciate any insights from people who have gone through a similar transition or have experience hiring for consulting roles in the US. Thank you in advance.