M&A Jobs - Focus on Asian Markets

The rapid growth in M&A in Asia is creating a boom insome Asian experience who also can get these
M&A jobs. M&A is picking up nicely in North Americapositions.
too. However, in the initial stages of the rebound, someHow to get in the door
fresh recruits may find it difficult to compete with moreA referral in the Asian market is the ticket. Tap your
experienced candidates. The press is full of reports ofcontacts - e.g. your Chinese friend from college whose
investment Bankers being hired back by formeruncle heads corporate banking for XYZ Bank in Hong
employers and competitors. If you find yourself beingKong...
elbowed out of domestic M&A jobs, why not spend aGain Asian experience at home: Standard Chartered
summer, or longer, gaining global M&A experience inand HSBC are known to have deep reach into Asia
Asia?and routinely transfer staff around the globe. Today, all
Asia is getting most of the credit for the 39 percentof the bulge bracket banks have major presences in
increase in merger and acquisition deal flow in the firstAsia and regularly do office transfers.
quarter of 2010 versus the same period a year ago.Who`s Hiring?
During this time, M&A activity increased 20 percent inEveryone! Here is just a snapshot of recent
Asia, according to the IntraLinks Deal Flow Indicator.announcements.
Over the same period, North American and LatinCitiGroup: It is widely reported that CitiGroup is looking
America were up four and two percent, respectively.to hire 200 new recruits in Singapore, as well as staff
Most of the Asian deal activity has come from energy,in Hong Kong, China, India and other Asian markets
mining and utilities. Telecoms and media also areBank of America is seeking to hire 30 people in
heating up. There is lots of M&A work to go around.corporate banking in Japan. BusinessWeek reports
There are two ways to work the Asian M&A jobsthat these are senior and junior lending and cash
play.management positions.
Relocate to AsiaHSBC is hiring 300 people in Hong Kong in wealth
Vast opportunity is in front of you, if you are willing tomanagement.
move to Asia. There are many junior positions to beNomura plans to hire 15% to 20% more people in its
filled in large investment banks. Ongoing expansion inglobal banking business as part of its plans to become
M&A boutique banks and advisory services is anothera top M&A advisor, according to
growth market. Local specialists are valued and part ofBulge Bracket Shuffle
almost every deal.One way to find where the M&A job opportunities are
Market Your Asian Assets at Homeis to monitor senior-level hires. Based on the number of
The second way to participate in the Asian boom is tosenior hires reported by the Financial Times in
be an Asian specialist located in the Western market.Investment Banks in India, it is evident that there will be
These positions are often filled by those with Asiana lot of hiring in the ranks in India.
experience, typically a native of one of the AsianTap on many doors in Asia. Most major investment
countries with fluency in one or two foreign languages.banks are adding M&A staff to respond to the
However, there are many Western bankers withgrowing market demand.