Couple of years ago I posted a question https://www.quantnet.com/threads/phd-in-math-computer-science-in-europe-quant.1432/ on possibility of switching to quant finance having my background. Now I am in the process of finishing with writing of my PhD thesis, and the plan was to spend some six months after my defense doing the necessary reading for the interviews. The plan was further to apply for a UK Tier 1 visa sometime September 2011 (as I am a non-EU national), and to move to London to try to find a job.
During my undergrad I did some decent math, stats, PDEs, numerical analysis, as well as C++. MSc was done in Germany, in AI, while PhD in France is in topology/abstract algebra/math. logic. There were people in the past landing jobs in the City with nearly identical background to mine, but that was before 2008. People speak of fierce competition for entry-level jobs these days. As if it wasn't enough, UK government has decided to cancel the Tier 1 visa program, which in practice means that if you are a non-EU national, your prospective employer needs to go through the hurdle of Tier 2 sponsorship process. At the entry level, this practically ruins any chance of getting hired over a EU citizen.
Am I right? Is the situation any better in the rest of Europe? Any advice?
During my undergrad I did some decent math, stats, PDEs, numerical analysis, as well as C++. MSc was done in Germany, in AI, while PhD in France is in topology/abstract algebra/math. logic. There were people in the past landing jobs in the City with nearly identical background to mine, but that was before 2008. People speak of fierce competition for entry-level jobs these days. As if it wasn't enough, UK government has decided to cancel the Tier 1 visa program, which in practice means that if you are a non-EU national, your prospective employer needs to go through the hurdle of Tier 2 sponsorship process. At the entry level, this practically ruins any chance of getting hired over a EU citizen.
Am I right? Is the situation any better in the rest of Europe? Any advice?