Maybe here is a place I can vent?
Some self-into first:
24 yo Asian male turning 25 in April; International student in a French target; 3rd year of my study in Paris; Stay home for the 1st year due to covid, did an exchange and only have 1 internship at a transaction service firm doing valuation as of now.
Recent story:
So after my last internship ends in December 2022, I started looking for next one. At the time was going through a rough breakup with ex, lots of struggle, had to move, etc. But ends up finding an offer at a small PE boutique early Feb 2023. Few days after that, I got another apprenticeship offer from a small tech firm that wants to do in-house M&A. For you guys not in France or don't know what French apprenticeship is like, basically it's a 12-24 month contract in which you combine school and work and they paid your entire tuition and salary on top of that. The firm was not a finance firm but I still went for it for the money, as it will ease my family burden, and turned down the PE offer. Fast forward to few days ago, after cleaning up almost all the French administrative work and struggled with school bureaucrats, when I thought that I am finally about the sign the contract, they phoned me saying it was turned into an internship, because they think "the tuition is too much".
Since I am at my last year, so I lost the last chance to do an apprenticeship, and I also lost the chance to do another internship before the September intake as April intakes are mostly if not all closed. I want to work in M&A after graduation, and I was trying hard to pace my route towards it (Audit/ TS --> Small M&A boutique ---> Big M&A off-cycle --> fulltime). As I am graduating next July, I don't think I can still do SA, and I am threw back to step 1 of the route because I made that wrong decision.
This morning I found another apprenticeship is still open for April intake, excitedly cold call the hiring guy, he interrupt me before I ask if I can introduce myself by: Sorry we're looking for French natives". I have conversational French, and had been learning it very hard. I had not problem working with French term-sheet and attending meeting in French, but still there's a noticeably gap between my level and native level.
I feel very lost now, as for what should I do that will help my job search next year this time. Should I keep focus on learning French? Should I network harder? Should I work on modeling and technicals more? But I barely got interview.
That's all for now, feel free to roast me or encourage me or just share your experience of struggle. Anything you want.
Don't you have to do a masters in France anyway to be considered a real candidate?
Forgot to specify, I am doing a master, grand école. 1st was remote so I plan to stretch it to a 4 year instead of 3.
Okay, I get this was just a vent, and maybe you didn't get all the experience you wanted but do you actually know this will hold you back meaningfully? Or are you just spiralling a bit?
Big 4 audit doesn't seem that big of an ask for someone at a french target with TAS experience (although not 100% sure what french visa situation is like)...
Visa is not a things as I’m still on student residence permit. I did not consider audit, because firstly I’m not strong in accounting, and then I might need to work with French accounting terms, French GAAP, etc. For me it’s a lot to learn for an stepping stone experience. Don’t know if I’m aiming too high here but here are my reasonings.
Also why I’m upset might be because seeing everyone around you doing ahead of you and how many door are closed because I’m a foreign student.
A couple of things:
Thanks you deeply for those heartfelt words.
The current market economy is tough, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. Try to stick to something that allows you to cover expenses and tuition and when market conditions improve, network or apply to the desired positions. There's no point in sorrowing past decisions or events. Worst case scenario you'll need 1 or 2 additional years of work to get where you want to ultimately get, but eventually, you'll get there and that's what matters.
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