International Student Applying to Consulting Firms in Foreign Regions

Hi there,

1) How can I stand out as an foreign applicant in getting past the application stage, landing an interview and potentially being selected. 

Ideally, you should have a great CV, Cover Letter and a referral. You can find more at the link below: 

▶ How to Get a Consulting Interview Invitation

2) Are there any other countries or regions (other then a the ones mentioned) where  laws on foreign workers are a bit more flexible? 

Besides Qatar, you could also check the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East; in the past, they have hired a lot of foreigners.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

Currently, I believe the only area where you could have a chance is the Middle East (not just Doha, but also Dubai, Saudi, etc).

Other countries usually do not hire foreign nationals as far as I am aware unless you have strong ties to a specific country (e.g., studied there, or worked there before for a considerable amount of time). Additionally, you would almost always be required to speak the local language due to local clients you might be engaged with.

However, keep in mind that also the Middle East sees a slowdown in hiring at the moment.

As regards the application, there is no difference across countries:

1. Network to score referrals and get insights into hiring demand
2. Prep for recruitment tests
3. Prep for cases and fit interviews

Cheers,

Florian

Hi,

This is a common question for students who are applying to countries they dont reside in or wish to work in.

1. How can I stand out as an foreign applicant to better my chances in getting past the application stage, landing an interview and potentially being selected. 

• At MBB level, there is a minimum quality that your application needs to be. I.e. you need a strong application to get into MBB, regardless of location → plenty of great resources already out there on what makes a good application
• I raise the point above as there are a few grammatical errors in your post above, the post might be written in an rush but if English is not your native language then extra care must be placed into crafting a strong and soundproof application
• Next, having a strong story around ties or interest to the location is important
• Lastly, being able to speak the local language is a significant advantage in many markets (e.g. Europe incl countries like Sweden, SEA, Japan, China, etc)
   

2. Are there any other countries or regions (other then a the ones mentioned) where  laws on foreign workers are a bit more flexible ? 

• Southeast Asia can be another place to consider, but outside of Singapore

All the best!

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, why do you not apply to consulting firms in your home county, if that seems to be impossible in South Africa? I can tell you that while you might technically be able to apply in other foreign countries, you would still have a disadvantage compared to local applicants.
• Moreover, to enhance your chances, focus on networking. Reach out to alumni from your university who are currently working in consulting in your target countries or any contacts you made at career events.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen