Recruiting in EMEA without country ties

Hi there, 

I understand the situation. It's tight indeed, but there are ways to navigate it. 

First, I would check if I were you whether France indeed only accepts Masters and above. I really doubt that. You could at least start with a 3-month internship which is then very likely to turn into a full-time offer.

Second, within Europe, you can still apply for office that you don't have an obvious connection to (e.g., UK) if you get a referral AND you carve a good story for why you want to be in that location. The latter you should make clear in your cover letter and your interactions with the recruiter. 

Third, branch out with your target area. Consider the Middle East for example, where offices such as Dubai are a LOT more flexible in taking people from various geographies. 

Lastly, just go for the office where you think you have the highest probability of getting in (perhaps the US if you studied there) and then consider moving to Europe in about 2 years when this will become an actual option. 

I would also recommend you go through the guide above to improve your chances of passing screening and eventually getting an offer:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

1) Do you think it's worth trying to get a referral in these countries, or would it not compensate for the lack of ties? 

It is worth trying to get a referral - a referral can just have a positive effect. Out of the countries you listed I would prioritize the Middle East if possible, they are the most open to foreigners.

2) I have also heard that MBB offices in Dubai are more open to foreign candidates. Does that also apply to undergraduates?

Yes, although you might find more opportunities in Saudi Arabia than in Dubai now.

You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

So, the #1 advice I have for you is to network. Double-check all of your assumptions with people on the ground.

These Qs are a great excuse to network.

For example, why not speak to a few people in the French offices just to check? From that call, the worst case scenario is you can get some ideas from them on other offices as well as other routes to take.

By the way, Morocco and Quebec could be 2 options for you in addition to UK/Nordics/UAE.

A referral IS connections. So your sentence “Do you think it's worth trying to get a referral in these countries, or would it not compensate for the lack of connections?” doesn't make any sense :)

Aim for a referral. Get the referral. Apply to the office(s) that showed the most interest in you.

Good luck!

1. You should apply

2. You should apply even if you don't have referrals

3. But nevertheless you should try to get referrals

4. While not having an obvious tie to a country will reduce chances of CV screening, it is not a mandatory requirement. Offices may decide to screen for connection with the country / motivation in the interview and not before that.

Hello,

This is a tricky situation. My advice would be as follows:

• Network: try to talk to some people in the French offices in the companies you are interested in. Show your interest, make connections, and double-check if the Master's is a requirement or just a nice-to-have
• Regarding country selection: it's always best to apply to countries where you have work authorization and speak the local language. Failing that, look for the ones that seem amenable to hiring foreigners (e.g., ME)
• Try to get referrals for the offices you want to apply to. It will depend on a case-by-case basis whether a referral will compensate for lack of ties, as you put it, but it is your best shot at overcoming those hurdles, so why not give it a go?

Best of luck!