Breaking into US firms from overseas
I'm currently studying business & management in Korea. It's one of the top universities here in my country, but since not many would know it in the US, I'm wondering if there would be any disadvantage for me in the application process. I've heard that getting a work permit is quite difficult in the US and that therefore US firms are not especially keen on hiring international students, especially if they're from outside the US. I'd like to know how true this is. I have 3.6+ GPA and will probably make it 3.7~8 GPA until I graduate.
Now I'd like to know whether I'd have a reasonable chance at getting an internship in BB firms in the US. Further, assuming that I've done an internship at a boutique IB firm or at one of the top management consulting firms (MBB), would there still be any disadvantage for me in the actual hiring process?
My questions are quite blunt, but I guess what I'm curious about is that ceteris paribus, would the fact that I'm studying at a foreign university make it any harder for me to break into a US IB firm?
The Visa is the biggest issue. Try getting a place in Asia and then move internally at your company to the US
I know one person who worked in BB HK as analyst got transferred to NYC as IB associate. However, he went to school in US.
Might be sensible to apply to a top 1-year MFin program in the States, especially with a STEM classification (like MIT Sloan). You should have a good chance of getting a job in the States after graduation (this is my plan, come from a much smaller country).
If you don't have a US citizenship or green card, you simply won't be able to work in the US. Even with that aside, unless you have some family connections here, I don't see much reason as to why BB/EBs in the US would recruit a student in Korea. If working in the US is what you really want, your only option would be to first recruit for HK/SG offices and then lateral later on. I've seen some Chinese kids come to US for masters in finance or statistics to try out for IBD recruiting, but none of them were really successful due to the short time frame (1 year) and language problems, etc.
Foreign Analyst getting into Wall Street (Originally Posted: 11/04/2015)
Hi there,
I am currently a M&A analyst (2nd year) at a tiny boutique here in Brazil, got a degree in both Business Administration and Accounting from one of the most prestigious, finance focused and high-level schools here in my country (It's called IBMEC Business School).
As a intern and analyst, I've reached almost 4 years of experience in investment banking types of activities, from fundraising, valuation modeling, project finance, pitchbook creation, coldcalling, etc. In the many projects I've worked in during this period, I've come across with some very interesting recent M&A deals in the Food and Beverages industry.
After this being said, let's get to the point. My personal dream in life is to get a job in Wall Street. As a foreign citizen, I'd like to know from you guys what are the best tipa of advice to get a job in a BB investment bank.
I've been wondering if applying to a local unit of JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley or even some brazilian BBs such as BTG Pactual or Itaú BBA then try to move over to the US (while inside the company) would help. Is it possible to get in after like you become an associate elsewhere? I am 24 yro, should I bother that I am getting too old?
What are the best alternatives since I did not take college in one of the target schools. What are the odds for a foreign analyst at a BB?
Thank you very much!
I hate to break it to you but your school is a for-profit school, you would have no shot at Wall Street. I suggest getting an MBA from semi or target schools (in the US) and not from for-profits.
Thanks for your prompt reply.
I had suspected something like that would reveal to be true. What do you say about the ideal age to get into a MBA? Am I old enough, is it about time? (I'm 24)
In Brazil, people commonly start a MBA course when they are 30+.
I just would like to know if maybe it is possible to get transfered from an outside of the US IB unit to NY.
Thanks once again!
What's the best way for a foreigner to work at a US HF? (Originally Posted: 04/15/2018)
Hi everyone!
I have just created an account in hopes that I find someone who can answer a few questions for me.
I'd like to explain my current situation and what my goal is, as well as what I have planned to do to reach my goal. Maybe someone can give me advise, wether or not I am on the right way, or give me advise on what else I should do. My goal is to become a research analyst at a hedge fund and work my way up to become a hedge fund portfolio manager some day.
So I'm 24yo and I am an undergrad business administration student who is about to finish his studies. I live in a town in northern germany called Bremen. So right now I am doing an internship at a local bank, where I work in the portfolio management department and I am waiting for the result of my bachelor thesis. I am also trading forex for myself on the side. As soon as I get the result and finish the internship I will graduate, so that I will have the bachelor's degree by the end of this semester in summer. I thought of attending a master in finance program here in germany at the EBS University, meanwhile attend the CFA I&II and maybe even the CAIA. A professor told me that both would be beneficial or at least would'nt harm my opportunities. So that when I am finished with the master, age 26, I'll have a MSc Finance and the CAIA already plus CFA I&II (assuming that I will pass the exams, Level III would be in summer 2020, a few months after my graduation)
I would try to get a job in Frankfurt for example, starting as a sell-side research analyst to gain some experience, because I have read everywhere that HFs don't hire people straight out of universities.
But considering that the hedge fund industry is pretty much non existent in germany (compared to the US) I want to move to the United States and live and work in New York. But to be honest I have no idea, of how I could do this. I just hope that I can gain some practical experience here, as mentioned above, build a network and and apply for a job at a hedge fund and see how it works out. Or maybe I could try to find one of the few HFs in germany and apply for a job there? Or how am I supposed to make the jump to the US, especially to a hedge fund?
So my plan in a nutshell:
Who can give me some advise on how to make the jump to work at a US hedge fund?
Regards Frank
Hi frankw93, check out these links:
Calling relevant professionals! @JHG1992" Petar-Mostarac @lkc49"
Hope that helps.
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