Should I apply to jobs at UBS & CS or I don't stand a chance?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Dear all,

I have read a ton of information and learned a lot from you already. However I was wondering that maybe there are members here who work for UBS & CS and could give me some insights. I am not afraid to receive a reality shock so feel free to be as direct as you can.

Quick question: Would UBS, CS, and other financial companies consider someone without previous banking experience?

My background:

- 43 years old

- Languages: Spanish, Italian, and English. Just started learning German.

- BSc in Electrical Engineering from an the best Argentinian university

- MBA (full-time) from an US business school (ranked top five in the world)

- Started my career working as an Engineer but since after the MBA I have been working as a freelance consultant for small and medium-sized companies in areas such as business development, project finance, M&A, and strategy.

- Citizenships: Argentinian, German, Italian;

The logical path would be to apply for management consulting companies, but I tasted the poison and I don't want to stay 80% of the time travelling and away from home.

I thought about applying for a wealth management position since I am very well versed investments and capital markets, know LATAM very well, and I am a good seller, but I am afraid that the banks might think I am too old to start in this career and build a book of clients.

So, which areas in the main Swiss banks would consider someone without experience in banking but with good skills in finance? I excluded M&A and investment banking in general because I don't speak German and I am too old to start in it. Am I correct to do so? I was wondering whether there are other non-IT, English speaking areas in these banks. What do you think?

Am I just too old for a job in Zürich? I have been reading the forum here and it seems that ageism is very strong in Switzerland.

Do you have any suggestions where should I start?

I really would appreciate if you could share your experiences. Thanks in advance!

2
CV seems to have the right stuff.

Should have a decent chance.

Perhaps apply as a contractor is quickest.

With an EE background may have a shot in IT.

Can you program? Java? SQL? etc..

Look here: Jobserve.com

Good luck!

3
Hey, I appreciate your answer, but as I mentioned, I don't work in IT. I am considering a front or back office position. Thanks anyway!

4
Here are a few ideas on searching for a job in Switzerland:

1) The Swiss job service, RAV, may be able to assist you with:

a. Discussions about the job market and suggestions about how to go about a job search.

b. Access to jobagent.ch, a good job search spider. (RAV can normally provide an access code at no-charge).

c. Job search strategy and possibly German language courses.

2) These two links are to lists of Swiss job boards:

https://www.ag.ch/media/kanton_aarga...lenboersen.pdf

https://www.biz.erz.be.ch/biz_erz/de...m_Internet.pdf

3) In addition to jobagent.ch mentioned above, these job search engines are particularly good, imho:

https://www.indeed.ch/

https://jobsuchmaschine.ch/de/

4) This website has jobs in English:

https://jobs.nzz.ch/search?nzzexe_se...nnels%5B%5D=12

Good luck with your job search!

5
UBS are hiring IT like crazy, not sure about the other branches. CS want German speakers where you will be, even if the top boss spricht fast kein Deutsch . Thought about Julius Baer? I know a English/Spanish that is a LatAM client advisor there, refuses to learn German despite his wife being such.

6
Curious as to which US business school you attended in the US... Is it Harvard or Stanford?

If so, with your diverse background and education, you should definitely contact UBS, CS and JB (Julius Baer). My sense is that JB may give you more latitude should you aspire to go into Wealth Management in an Advisory capacity.

Good luck to you!

7
You are right to forget investment banking for the reasons you state.

You are not too old for a job as a relationship manager/client advisor, but you are too old to come in with no experience and expect to be trained and given a book of clients to develop. There is just too much cost pressure to take a punt on an older, unknown quantity (and it is very much the case for younger people too). The only way you could do it is if you present a business case that shows how you could realistically build your own client book of CHF 100m within 3 years in the market you are working for, be that a LatAm desk, Italy or Spain (looking at your language profile). If you have that kind of network, but not concentrated in one geography, one of the smaller banks may be more flexible in terms of markets covered or the size of your book.

If you don’t have the ability to build a book like that, the other option based on your history is a project manager role. Both the front office and back office have roles there, but on the front side you would have to demonstrate either previous banking experience and knowledge from your consulting days or how your experience is directly transferable. For the back office roles it would still help, but is less important.

8
No offense, but have you actually ever been at a RAV? They don't give career advice to MBAs, they hardly have an insight into the banking world and generally don't care about anyone who does not have a right to get benefits which they could cut in some way or another. They are not promoting Switzerland as a job market for foreign high potentials, not their role... last time I was there did my advisor comment that I was the only one that week coming to him wearing a suit... it was bizarre for him when I told him that I normally wear one in work related meetings. Sending the OP there might be some fun prank, but surely wont help him...

To the OP:

- its not a secret that changing your career at 43 completely is not easy. Wanting to change country and not being able to speak the local language on top wont make it easier.

- I believe you will have a better chance at the less known banks. They might be more flexible than the big ones where some AI system weeds out CVs long before the HR trainee gets to see them...

- I know there are several private banks in Zurich alone focusing on the Iberian and Latam market. They'd be a better fit.

- I don't think you should trash consulting. Yes, there are the big fours which will give you the hotel room lifestyle. Yes, most IT people call themselves for some reason consultant... but there is more. Having an engineering background and an MBA on top makes you a great candidate for the second tier companies. Not Mc Kinsey, but the types that support larger national companies instead of the top MNCs. While everyone just talks about banking and pharma do most people forget that the vast majority of jobs in CH are in niche technology companies. Often some "secret" market leaders in that specific thing they are doing. A lot of them are great in tech, but lack modern business and finance know how... because all the talent is sucked up by the banking sector. If you look around will you find consultancies offering very interesting jobs with way less travelling.

9
CS has presence in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland (in Belinzona, Ticino). Since you speak Italian, you could try your luck there.