Hi there,

Q: I'm currently considering moving back to Germany and am wondering what my job prospects would be?

It is difficult to comment without having a look at your full profile. On paper, you should be able to have a chance to interview based on the experiences you shared.

I am not sure about the exact situation in Germany right now but this is what I would recommend:

1. If the Big 4 is the most recent experience, or if the boutique has any offices in Germany, check if there is an option to move internally there.
2. Define the list of target companies. Even if the final target is MBB, I would recommend expanding the list to include as many companies as possible that could allow for the transition there after a few years, such as Strategy&, OW, RB and Kearney.
3. Connect with alumni of your school in Germany if any. Try to get a referral.

You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

With your background in both boutique and Big 4 consulting, focusing on strategy and customer experience, you're in a good spot for job hunting in Germany, even aiming for MBB. 

Hiring is still happening at MBB in DACH, yet at a slower pace, and even strong resumes are often shelved at the moment. However, despite the current job market being a bit slow, your profile looks good enough for MBB experienced hire positions. The benefit of this is that experienced hires often face less competition due to the specific demand for certain profiles compared to graduate hire generalists.

To improve your chances, especially with MBB, start reaching out via LinkedIn and your extended network. Talking to people inside your target firms can give you a clearer picture of the hiring situation and might even lead to a referral, which can be a big help in getting noticed and going through the screening.

In short, your prospects look good. Use your network, stay persistent, and keep your unique international experience front and center. 

Good luck with your job hunt!

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there,

the good thing about Germany is that most firms are hiring year round. As an experienced hire, you need to emphasize the kind of expertise you are bringing to the table (strategy and customer experience in your case from what it sounds like). 

Start networking with partners across various consulting firms who are active in the space that you have a lot of experience in based on your 5-year tenure. Since strategy and customer experience are rather “generic”, you should consider narrowing down your emphasis to the industry segments you have worked in before to make it more relevant. You might find advocates amongst the partners who want you on their teams and potentially provide you with referrals.

In general though, I agree that you should apply broadly across many consulting firms to maximize your chances.

Just one additional aspect you probably have considered but I'm mentioning anyway: 
The work-life-balance in consulting in Germany is just as bad (if not worse) as in the US. The big difference is that you have significantly higher consulting salaries in the US and you pay considerably less taxes on your income. So in Germany you would be working just as much but for a lot less take-home pay. That might not be such an exciting prospect after having done the consulting grind for 5 years already.

Best

(edited)

Hi there,

Do you have working rights? I.e. Citizenship of an EU country?

If so, high! If not, much much lower.

Ultimately, it does all come to persistence and hard work. The better your resume (i.e. professionally reviewed), the better your networking/referrals, and the more firms you apply to, the better the odds. It's that “simple”! (not easy, but simple).

Here's some reading to help:

How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks
 

Application Tracker – Keep Track With This Free Template

Germany is worse than the US right now.

Regarding your target firms… most likely would be similar to the companies you worked with, but doesn't hurt to apply to Top Strategy Consulting firms as well.