Is it necessary knowing German to work in MBB's offices in Zurich?

For MBB Zurich, German is not officially mandatory, but it strongly increases your chances. Here’s how it typically works:

• Client-facing roles (which most MBB roles are) require consultants who can speak the local language, especially for public sector, SME clients, or deeply local topics.
• Zurich office staffing is Switzerland- and DACH-wide, and most clients will be German-speaking. So even if you’re brilliant, your staffing potential shrinks significantly if you don’t speak German — which may make you a riskier hire.

However, there are exceptions, and you still have a concrete shot if:

1. You have outstanding academics (top of class at Bocconi + acceptance to the HSG DD program is already impressive).
2. You bring a unique profile or experience (e.g., international, tech background, languages like French or Italian if they align with some clients).
3. You’re flexible with cross-staffing — for example, working on international or Middle East–based projects initially.
4. You’re actively learning German and make that clear. Firms love to see initiative and long-term commitment to the region.

In short: Yes, you still have a shot — but it will be very competitive. If Zurich is your dream office, start learning German now and make that part of your story in the cover letter and interviews.

Let me know if you want help positioning your profile or messaging for Zurich.

Hi,

definitely possible to break into the Zürich office without German. 

Source: some of my consultants at BCG from the Zürich office did not speak German. However, they all spoke at least one other language spoken in Switzerland (French, Italian). So assuming you speak Italian you should.

Reach out if you want to chat more.

Best,

Lukas

Speaking from experience, I know that some of the T2s are also typically less strict with language requirements.

Feel free to reach out if it’d be helpful to chat!

Hello Alessio,

Languages requirements may vary from office to office and even among MBB in a certain region.

 These requirements are found in the career webpage of that region, make sure to take a look into MBB websites and see which one accepts the languages that you speak.

Best of luck!

Mari

Tough to say. 

German is indeed a problem. 

If I were you, I'd do some market research to understand what firms I'd want to target, and in what part of Switzerland (different offices might insist on different languages). Then reach out to the recruiters from these firms and have a quick chat with them to confirm the criteria. 

I know for a fact that some of them are more lax than others, so the earlier you figure that out, the better.

Best,
Cristian