Best Strategy applying for jobs in another country

Background: I am a Canadian with some good experience, CFA Charterholder, about to finish a Masters of Finance.

What is the best way to apply for a job in London or the US? Is the only good option to go through a recruiter?

Everytime I get through an online job application and at the end it says "Are you legally able to work in the US?" or something along those lines, I have to check no because I don't have a working Visa and then I die a little on the inside

 

In my experience, for US firms, only applying online's not enough, you need to use your network & university career services (if u get US postings there). For UK firms, you can apply online, but I dunno what responses you'll get without a european university / work experience on ur resume.

 

The work visa is huge. Even international students in the US struggle to find jobs. Unless you have a really unique skill set, I don't see why employers should jump through hoops to bring you in the country while there are tons of able bodies right here. Maybe you can apply to US banks in Canada and then ask for an internal transfer after a couple years?

 

Click yes, and then bring up that you're international later. If they ask "Why didn't you say you were international on the online app?" (which I don't think they will - they rarely go back to check stuff), then say you made a mistake.

Disclaimer: I've never actually had to do this.

 

^ a) "In submitting my application, I declare that all of the information given herein is complete and true to the best of my knowledge and belief."

b) That just makes you sound like a fucking moron who doesn't know how to fill out a form.

 
whynot123:
^ a) "In submitting my application, I declare that all of the information given herein is complete and true to the best of my knowledge and belief."

b) That just makes you sound like a fucking moron who doesn't know how to fill out a form.

Sure. But with your method, one has no shot. With my method, you have at least the slightest chance.

 

Best bet is to look around the EU since you have EU status tehre in poland.

Getting visas and all that junk for the US is probably not worth the trouble.

The rest of the job finding could e hard, especially without experience. But hey , whats wrong with an IB in poland?? I love poland and would love to be working there instead of where I am!

Big 4 Accounting Guide to Getting Hired Contains interview questions, exactly how to answer, resume guide, how to make an impact and a guide to the firms and service lines.
 

Actually it doesn't have to be US but according to my information there are the most lucrative positions, lots of opportunities etc.

Second choice is London. I've been living in biggest business centre in Paris for 6 months and there is a lot of job too but french is a must and my french isn't very good, so London seems attractive.

In Poland I would say that there is no real IB business sensu stricto. There are some investment companies but they seem to be overloaded with people. Our stock exchange is developing very quickly and will be privatized soon so maybe this will change the situation and the need for people will be bigger.

I'm just trying to sell my knowledge/skills somewhere for better price.

I love Poland too, but this will not make you rich ;)

And what about Scandinavia? Is it possible to find a job speaking only English?

 

It is possible in scand i believe

But....

As entry level such as yourself it will be very difficult. And not to be the bearer of bad news, but it could be hard for a pole to get such a job there. Unfortunately they are somewhat looked down upon due to the impression that they are "taking" all the citizens jobs here. There are a lot of poles working there, but more in menial type labour intensive jobs. So there is a bit of backlash i think. Although who knows, it could be fine in the educated work arena, I sincerely hope this is the case.

I for one loves the Poles and Poland. I was just there in august during a holiday through some eastern euro countries, spent time at a polish friend of mine here in copenhagens family house. They were sooo nice. Went to a polish wedding, smashed plates, chased some girls (got nowhere), loved the whole experience!!

Big 4 Accounting Guide to Getting Hired Contains interview questions, exactly how to answer, resume guide, how to make an impact and a guide to the firms and service lines.
 

hahaha nice!

Poland is a beautiful country with a lot of good, funny people but the job market still falls behind the rest of Europe.

Maybe that's the price for one of most beautiful girls in the world.. ;)

 

Countries always have exceptions to normal VISA rules for those applicants that bring something special to the table (ie PhDs, atheltic talents, special finance skills). I believe PE firms usually hire someone with loads of connections to do the paperwork and guide it through the application process so their people gain this special VISA status if necessary.

As far as taxes, you will probably have to pay British taxes (which are higher than those in the US) and I think you can then deduct that from your US tax bill (the $80k exemption applies in the US also). So you won't be subject to a full double taxation at least.

I've got a friend who works PE in London for an American based firm. He says they get around UK taxes by claiming he is based in NY but doing projects there or some other BS.

PE is all about tax loopholes. As has been pointed out in this carried interest debate, most partners in PE firms pay lower tax rates then their housekeepers.

 

Hey Compbanker, I'm transferring to London from Boston, so I'm going through the process you are describing right now.

1) No, at least not in the United Kingdom. If you work for one of the good PE funds located in London (Bain, KKR, Blackstone, Summit, 3i, etc) they will hire an immigration law firm that will help you out.

2) I can't answer this question. The fund I work for is paying me a NET salary (meaning that they pay all my taxes on my behalf). I'm obligated to open an account in the Isle of Man, and there's where I'm being paid. Also, they have hired KPMG to do my taxes for me. If anyone else works in the UK: has anyone heard of this? Obviously this is great for me since I guess I'm circumventing a lot of taxes this way

3) If you get a Work Permit (processed by employer on your behalf) and you get an Entrance Clearance Visa (usually not required for US citizens), then your spouse can also apply for a work permit. Your immigration lawyers will help you.

The UK is much more friendly relative to the US in regards to working in the country. All you need is a good law firm on your side that has direct contact with immigration case workers. They will do everything for you, that's what happened in my case.

 

Thanks so much for the insight guys. VCmonkey, that is incredibly great news. I definitely wouldn't want to get caught up trying to deal with endless tax and immigration policies if I could avoid it.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Don't go the HR route. Approach people directly via linkedin. This worked best for me. Most recruiters don't give a damn about international applicants or are simply unable to understand your education or background, when it doesn't exactly resemble that of an applicant from within the US. At least that's my personal experience.

 

Stick to managers on down or focus on senior associates (2-5 years exp)? Would partners at Big 4 be off limits for now?

Suggestions to the rejection of "just apply on our website"? Career fair at my undergrad had a table for one Big 4 that wasn't even taking resumes, just telling students to apply online (although specifically school's career portal).

 

So I started off with the LinkedIn route and I did receive a response and at least a few people looking at my profile, which is a start. However, I received the neutral/rejection response "all our positions are posted on our website...let me know if you have any questions."

Even for a larger firm should I just hope for the best and reply with a "Thank you for ---- let's stay in touch" or keep pushing? I know the recruitment can be pretty independent for each office, so I'm approaching it in this sense by going for recruiters and managers.

 

Start recruiting after your return in 2013. You'll still have 4 months before the internship starts. Just make sure beforehand that you talk to the right people at the banks - you can find that out by talking to your career center, they usually have the addresses of the persons in charge.

If you have a solid background I think your odds are not bad. Most banks have loads of interns over the summer but, as everybody goes back to school in fall, interns are rare in fall. And banks always need interns. Good luck!

 

Thanks! I hope you're right and 4 months are enough time. Perhaps I could submit my application several weeks before returning to Europe and thereby gain a few additional weeks of recruiting.. Hope it works.. ;)

Is there anyone that did recruit with banks while he was studying abroad?

 

I'm studying abroad in Europe (but Im from Europe) and I applied to various firms (AM, IB boutique, Big 4) for when I return to my home country. I managed to get 3 interviews which will all take place in one week after myI return (around Christmas). So it is definitely possible.

Make sure to explain your situation, give them your new number infinite times (you don't want to know how often they phone me on my home countries number which I'm not using).

Good luck!

 

Going with what previous poster said. Talk to them over the phone, establish a personal connection. Way better than using email.

PS: a former colleague of mine scored is Analyst gig with a local firm in Frankfurt 1 month before starting. So its def. possible to quickly find something (if your stats are good). At my firm, we recruit interns 3-4 months before they start. I was recruited for my SA 1,5 months before it started.

 

To get started abroad you typically need a connection who could get you close to an FT or SA opportunity. London would be an option for you, as they're a major financial player and they speak English. Unless you're moving or going overseas for an extended period of time, why not try starting domestically.

 

There's no blanket answer for "Asia". Find out where there's headcount (linkedin, personal contacts..) and apply. This will take 3 days maximum.

As a caveat, without local language skills you'll have to go the extra mile to stand out in interviews against fully bilingual overseas returnees with relevant experience. Not impossible, but not a cakewalk.

 

Your best bet is going to Singapore since they do not require any Asia languages though having them is a plus. HK is highly unlikely as they require native speaker level mandarin and recommend Cantonese as well. When I interviewed for a MBB in China, had to do 3 out of my 4 cases in Chinese as well as a written Chinese test.

 

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