Elite Careers Strategy (ECS) is a London-based private careers advisory working with families internationally, for candidates aiming at corporate law, investment banking, private equity and consulting roles in London, New York and Hong Kong.
Why international candidates find this hard
- Unfamiliar processes. A UK training contract cycle (vacation schemes, the Watson Glaser test, video interviews, assessment centres) works differently from law recruitment in the US or Asia. Banks run separate timelines for each city.
- Early deadlines. Firms recruit well ahead of the start date. Learning the process in the final year often means missing the main window. Earlier choices matter too: see how A-level and university choices affect access to investment banking and corporate law.
- Positioning. Strong grades from abroad do not explain themselves. The application has to show why this candidate, this firm and this city.
- Distance. Parents supporting the process often cannot follow it from another time zone.
How ECS works with international families
- Every engagement begins with an online Private Diagnostic; a parent or sponsor is welcome.
- Led by Hassan Akram, with a written plan run against each target firm's recruitment calendar.
- Sessions are arranged across time zones.
- Intake is limited each year, by application only.
What ECS does not do
- No immigration or visa advice. Check each employer's sponsorship position and take qualified immigration advice where needed.
- No guaranteed offers; employers make hiring decisions. ECS's record: 106 documented outcomes and selection progressions across 53 candidate journeys (how we count outcomes).
Is a private adviser the right choice?
Not always. Private adviser or platform? sets out when free or platform support is enough.