Language Requirements For New Grad Recruiting for MBB/Big 4 Singapore & Dubai

Question

Note: I'm talking about New/Fresh Graduates, NOT experienced hires/lateral hires

I'm wondering if MBB Singapore and Big 4 Singapore (their Strategy divisions not Accounting) requires/"prefers" college graduates (aka BAs or ACs) who join to be fluent in Mandarin/Cantonese? I only know English and Hindi, and I also would need visa sponsorship for Singapore.

The same question goes for MBB Dubai/Saudi and Big 4 Dubai/Saudi regarding if they require/"prefer" college graduates (aka BAs or ACs) who join to be fluent in Arabic? Again, I only know English and Hindi, and I also would need visa sponsorship for the UAE/Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, I already applied and got rejected for MBB in the U.S back in August 2024, so I can't apply for MBB in other countries until this coming August 2024?

I assume Consulting in Hong Kong will be even more heavy on Mandarin/Cantonese.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Of course they're going to prefer people who speak the local language… (by the way Singapore's national language is Malay, not Chinese even if Chinese is widely spoken…make sure you know well the country/culture of the office you're applying to!)

Speaking Malay and/or speaking Arabic means you've lived there. Worked there. Have those items on your resume.

All things equal they will want to hire someone that “matches”, rather than a random applicant.

However, remember that all things are not equal! So, make sure you're networking extensively, building your resume up, and tweaking everything so that you match more with their office!

Again, if you see a pile of papers and everyone is the same but 1 person needs sponsorship AND doesn't speak the local language, who would you hire? Again, don't let this dissuade you, but you need to make sure you're overcoming this through effective networking etc.

Here's some more reading to help: How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks

Answer 2

Hi there,

Fluency in English is obviously the only real must for UAE and Singapore. I know quite a few people having worked in consulting in Singapore or Dubai who only spoke English and not the local language.

The specific requirements regarding significance of local language proficiency and possibility of visa sponsorship is best clarified with the local HR of the offices you are interested in, however. This might vary based on company and country.

Consulting firms are usually looking for the “best match” in terms of who to hire but they might only have capacity to sponsor x number of visas per year etc.

If you got rejected in the US in August of 2023, you will have a ban period of 12-18 months. If you decide to reapply, it will be best to confirm with their recruiters that you are cleared when the time comes.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Hi there,

Good comments already.

To provide my 2 cents:

For Singapore and UAE, local language is a plus but usually not mandatory
For HKG, Mandarin is almost a must, Cantonese a plus

Out of the 3, the UAE is definitely the “easiest” location to get into without local language requirements (also the fastest growing with the most opportunities and most attractive salaties btw.).

All the best,

Florian

Answer 4

Hi there!

Your intuition is right.

These languages are not mandatory, but speaking them does improve your value prop quite a bit if you're applying in a region where they are prevalent. Also, visa sponsorship further complicates the issue.

Your strongest chances of passing screening are to apply in the actual region where you're from / or where you studied.

Sharing with you a guide on how to think about the application process and design a strategy for it:

Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Good luck!
Cristian

Answer 5

Hey,

In Singapore / Middle East you can manage with just knowing English. I've got a friend who was born in Singapore but only speaks English.

A local language can benefit you in those geographies, but is not a must.

Hope this helps,
Nick