Millenials increasingly want to work abroad.
Here’s an example from the mailbag:
Hey Andrew,
I will be graduating December 2015 and I was wondering if you had any advice on getting hired internationally. I have been searching for international accounting jobs and I’m not sure what is a “good” job.
Should I look to get hired through a firm that has international offices?
Is it common for a staff accountant to work international immediately, or do I need some experience first?
Thanks in advance for you help and guidance.
Jack
Firms have been responding to the increased interest from millennials working abroad.
All of the Big 4 and many of the top 25 firms have the option.
Some firms even require that you’ve spent time abroad if you want to be a Partner.
That was the case at PwC.
But you want to do something that’s a bit non-traditional.
That requires a non-traditional answer.
First thing I would try
While many people travel abroad at some point in their career, few do it at the beginning of their career.
If I were in your shoes, I would plan a vacation to your country or countries of interest. Let’s say: France and Germany.
I’d make a vacation out of it! Especially if you’ve never been, it would be nice to check it out and make sure you won’t be crazy homesick in a few months.
Before your trip, I would reach out to 20+ accounting firms or large private companies.
I would stick to larger companies as they will be able to afford some of the costs of hiring an international person (visa, etc).
It also helps if you have a Masters Degree and a CPA license.
When companies in the EU, in particular, hire an international person rather than a domestic citizen, they have to show reasons for doing so.
If you are highly educated and have a relevant and rare license (like the CPA), it helps!
The process for finding these companies is the same as what I lay out in this video:
Once you have your list of 20+ companies, send an email to specific people, not job postings with your resume, cover letter, and the dates you will be in town.
I would send an email to at least 3 people per company something like this one:
Subject: Appropriate Person
Hello [FIRST NAME],
I’m writing in hopes of finding the appropriate person who handles new hire recruiting? I also wrote to Other Contact 1 and Other Contact 2 in that pursuit. If it makes sense to talk, does how your calendar look?
I am currently a student from [INSERT NAME] and will be graduating in [INSERT GRAD MONTH AND YEAR]. I have attached my resume and cover letter for your to review. I am eager to discuss the opportunities with [INSERT COMPANY NAME]. I will be in [COUNTRY] on [INSERT DATES] and would love to get together for a cup of coffee. After I graduate, I will be moving to [COUNTRY] and looking for a full-time position.
If you are the appropriate person to speak with, what does your calendar look like?
If not, who do you recommend I talk to?
Best regards,
[INSERT FIRST & LAST NAME]
Mobile: [INSERT NUMBER]
Email: [INSERT EMAIL]
[Attach Cover Letter & Resume in separate PDFs]
This will hopefully allow you to have a quick phone interview before you go, and set up an in-person meeting when you arrive.
The most important thing is to keep following up until you get a response.
Do not stop.
Literally.
If you have to follow up 6 or 7 times, DO IT!
It doesn’t take them but a few minutes to say: bugger off!
But if you didn’t follow up that 5th time, and that was the time for you meet them, YUCK!
Keep following using the tracking spreadsheet in my course “How to Get Any Accounting Job 3 Months or Less“.
Second route
The other option is to wait a few years.
All major accounting firms have international opportunities.
You can have the opportunity as early as the Senior Associate level (2-3 years after being hired) but it’s much more likely you will go as a manager (5-6 years after being hired).
If I were in your shoes, I would try option one and if it doesn’t work, don’t give up on your dream!
Work at one of the larger firms and find out how to get over there in 2-4 years as a Senior!
If I am in your shoes graduating in 6 months, I wold be exploring both routes and see which works out. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
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