Expert: Sanjiv Desai Date: 2/18/2008 Subject: Moving to India
Question Sanjiv,
I am Parag Mehta, a graduate from University of California, Los Angeles and have been working in New York city as a financial analyst since the past 8 months. My core area of expertise is financial modeling, market research and valuation analysis.
I am planning to head back to India for good and intend to be there in the first week of march. I am looking at opportunities in the investment banking industry. I would like to know if you could provide me some leads with the search process out there.
I have a very good understanding of the headhunting agencies in US but with respect to India, my knowledge is limited. Can you give me some pointers as to the right people to connect and a headstart on my search.
Thanks a lot for your help
Answer Dear Parag,
Thank you for your question.
I think that the first few things that you should do are as follows:
- Get in touch with some of the major recruitment and search consultants in the country and let them know of your plans to relocate to India.
From your message I am not sure about your relative seniority in the industry but assuming that you are a young professional with a year or so experience, the firms that you can target are ABC Consultants, Omam Consultants, Manpower Inc India and Proactive Consultants. All these firms have a pretty good Banking & Financial Services Practices.
The firms that work at primarily the CXO level are my firm, Transearch India, Korn Ferry International, Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, Russell Reynolds - all the world's largest retained executive search firms which are now present in India.
- Secondly, you should try and actively network with your friends, batchmates, acquaintances and almost anyone you know in India to try and help you get in touch with companies directly where you are interested in working. This is one of the most effective ways in which to spread the word about your desire to relocate to India.
- Thirdly, you could also do some research about the investment banks that are present in India and for whom you would like to work and then try and directly get in touch with someone senior enough working there and introduce yourself. This method, although more difficult, also has a very good chance of success if you are actually able to get through to someone.
I hope this has been of some help and I wish you all the very best in your plans to come back to India.
