English CV in Germany

Question

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding the application for consulting in Germany exclusively.

I polished up my CV with a lot of tips I found in the forum as well as specific sites, like "igotanoffer.com" and so on. I am quite satisfied with the result and also received a good amount of invitations for interviews from 2 MBBs, some Tier 2s, and others.
However, two Big4s and some consultancies I was really interested in gave me an instant rejection.

So I am wondering, do you think it might be a problem that my CV and cover letter are in English although I am applying in Germany?

I am German and would have no problem with writing a cover letter/ Anschreiben in German, but I just really like an English CV so much better than the classic German CV, which is my I write my cover letter in English also for consistency.

Any thoughts or experiences? Would you recommend sticking always with the German language when the job description is in German?

Best regards

Answer 1

Hi,

language should not be a problem. An MBB profile is fundamentally different from a Big 4 profile, so to me it makes sense that they did not invite you if you were successful in MBB. It would just be a waste of resources for Big4 to invite MBB-type candidates, since these candidates would usually appeal to a wide array of strategy/boutique firms which will offer much more attractive terms to the candidate. I for example also was rejected from all small consulting firm I applied to, but every large strategy firm invited me. I did not understand it at the time, but later on I became aware of the reasons.

Moreover, in the current situations, many firms have capped their intake, and this is highly individual and changes from month to month at the moment.

Cheers, Sidi

Answer 2

Dear A,

If you are applying to these firm in different countries than it's ok to have CV and Cover letter in English. If it's only Germany offices, then I would recommend you to make it in German.

Best,
André

Answer 3

Hi there,

Honestly, knowing the German workplace culture, I think this could be a reason you were dinged. Especially considering the job description was in German, you should have submitted a German CV.

Furthermore, you should have checked beforehand! Either through their website where they may have provided guidance, or with HR. It doesn't hurt to check as every firm is different!

Answer 4

Hello!

I don´t think it´s an issue with the language. Could be either of how attractive it looks (since the bar is very high in these companies) or that the channel is not the good one.

Do you have contacts in any of them who can refer?

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 5

Hi, I confirm it is not a problem to submit an application with CV and CL in English

Best,
Antonello

Answer 6

Hi there,

As you are the German speaker it is only a plus if your CV is in English.

It seems that they rejected you not because of the language of your CL and CV. But if the job description was in German, then you had to put German CV and CL.

All the best,

GB