Language used in Interviews in Germany

Question

Hello there!

I am completely new in the process of inteviewing and I am asking myself this question: are the inteviews in Germany at Consulting companies like Accenture or Deloitte given in German or English? Especially the case studies. I am not german and also not a native english speaker so I would like to know in which langauge should I prepare the most, especially when it comes to business terms.

Thank you so much!

Sorina

Answer 1

Hi Sorina,

typically you will encounter both languages in an interview in Germany and you should be ready to do cases in both as well.

It is not uncommon that the main language spoken is German but for at least one (case) interview, the interviewer switches to English.

Let me know if you have further questions or want to discuss in more detail.

/Marvin

Answer 2

Hi Sorina,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

First of all, it depends on the strategy consulting company to which you have applied. While most strategy consulting companies require C1 language skills in German and will also hold the majority of the interviews in German, there might be exceptions.
As such, I would highly advise you to reach out to the recruiting teams of your target companies and inquire about the interview language. Either way, though, it will be helpful to practice in both German and English if you are applying in Germany.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 3

Your interview will be in German, with potentially one case or part of it in English. The same applies for pretty much all countries, you need to be able to speak the local language.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

Hi there,

As the others have indicated, my understanding is that interviews are mostly in German but there may also be English elements.

You should feel free to ask the interviewer for each company what their policy is (because it will be different).

Ultimately, I know it's not a great answer, but try to prepare for both languages. This will serve you well when you start the job as well!

Answer 5

Hi there,

For the German market specifically almost all firms expect german fluency. Best to check with HR before applying for a role.

There are also specialist roles that are not German specific but HR will be better able to direct you to them.

Best,
Cristian