International Opportunities

Question

Does anyone have information on international work opportunities post MBA? I'm headed to Kellogg in the fall. My background is engineering and I was hoping to head into consulting or general management.

I currently have a work visa in the UK, where I worked for a year. It will expire before graduation. I'd like to work at any large, "cool" international city. Basically any metropolitan hub in Europe, a large city in Asia (especially Hong Kong), etc.

This seems like a cool lifestyle. Is it realistic? Would it hinder long term career potential? My girl has her MBA and undergrad in accounting. She's flexible and can land a solid accounting job in most places. Would some destinations make it harder for her to find work, too?

Info/opinions/rambling thoughts are appreciate.

3underscore · Answer

Your biggest restriction is languages. You may find that recruiting will be somewhat more based on your own legwork rather than campus based. Consulting opportunities will definitely exist in London. GM may be more restricted, especially in the UK as firms are starting to come to terms with MBAs still.

Firms like Samsung seem to be stepping up a lot in their recruiting.

Firms like Samsung seem to be stepping up a lot in their recruiting.

kaushalasp · Answer

never knew that...

Sailorette · Answer

Yep, it's likely that you will need to do a lot of work both with and outside of the career services office in order to go straight overseas after graduation. But it's certainly possible! One of my friends is interning with Deloitte consulting in HK this summer (mid-way through UCLA), just popped in to Taipei to visit me last weekend. Your best bet is to pursue an opportunity like that, and campaign for a full-time offer in the same office.

Regarding your girlfriend, there are plenty of opportunities in the accounting world overseas, depending on what her background is. Best bet is to get hired in the States by a Big 4, and put in for a transfer/rotation. That's what I'm on right now. If she's in tax, M&A, or already has IFRS audit experience she'll be pretty well-positioned for the overseas stint. If she's lacking in those, she should consider seeking that experience in the next two years while you're working on your degree.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about the rotation opportunities I'm familiar with, or about other employers who have large numbers of Asian expats.

2012MBAmaybe · Answer

Thanks Sailorette. Great information.

What about M/B/BCG for HK? Once they're interested in you the next step is determining if there's a location that works for both of you, right? I hear NYC/Chicago/San Fran/London are more difficult. Would a place like HK be more difficult as well? It sounds like it might be. Maybe a firm like Deloitte or a less known management consulting firm is the way to go.

Do you guys think Management Consulting in HK < in the US as far as resume building?

Sorry if the questions are goofy. Just curious.

Sailorette · Answer

Without Cantonese I think your chances at the MBB are much lower for a destination like Hong Kong. HK is in high demand within Asia, and plenty of people graduating from INSEAD's Singapore campus, the joint programs between HKUST & Stern, CEIBS, etc. are all gunning for those positions as well. Unless you have a strong background in an industry in demand in HK (supply chain, logistics, high tech, and financial services come to mind), or can pick up a difficult language like Cantonese in a short timeframe, the mid-tier firms might be the way to go for now.

It's a pretty significant investment for a company to send someone unproven overseas, but I hope you can find someone willing to do it!

As far as HK vs. the U.S. from a resume perspective, I think that entirely depends on your post-consulting goals. If you want to be in Asia for the long haul, starting over here is the way to do it. If you think you'll be back in the U.S. for your next position, you should consider what opportunities there are for those with consulting experience in Asia. If those opportunities don't overlap with where you think you'd like to go... either reconsider the move to Asia or accept that you might take a small hit from a career perspective to have a cool personal experience.

International Opportunities

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