FAQs

We accept applications year round for consultant positions. However, there may be deadlines for Interns, entry-level positions for recent graduates, and MBA candidates.

We usually do not accept unsolicited applications for Services positions, but ask applicants to refer to a specific vacancy.

The best and fastest way to apply is to use our online application form in the job opportunities section. It allows the attachment of all relevant documents. However, since we are in the middle of the roll-out of a new international applicants' database, some offices are not linked to the online application form, yet. These offices will be happy to receive your application via e-mail or regular mail addressed to the respective recruiting contact.

While our hiring criteria are virtually identical worldwide, there are some minor differences in the application procedures in the different offices. However, all offices will respond to your application within two weeks. If your written application meets our criteria, we will contact you to arrange a date for an interview, and will provide you with more information about the further screening procedure.

If you are applying for a position as a Junior Consultant or Consultant, you should contact us about 4 to 9 months before you finish your studies. Interns and Summer Associates have a shorter lead time of approximately 3 months. If you are applying for a position as a Senior Consultant or Project Manager, the lead time depends on your period of notice. The latter also applies to positions with our Services departments.

If you have not yet completed your university studies, you can get to know us by joining us as an Intern. Upon completion of your studies, you may be offered a position as a Junior Consultant. If you have already obtained a Ph.D. degree, you may be able to join our firm at the Consultant level. If you are currently working on an MBA degree, you can participate in our Summer Associate program. Upon completion of your MBA degree at a top-notch business school, we may offer you a position as a Senior Consultant or even Project Manager. Of course, we also hire non-MBAs as Senior Consultants and Project Managers, provided they have several years of relevant consulting or industry experience.

To become a consultant with us, you must have good analytical and conceptual abilities, creativity, team spirit, and strong communication skills. Your university major is of secondary importance only, but your scores should be well above average. Initial work experience and international exposure are further requirements.

We are especially on the lookout for people who are at ease in a challenging international and entrepreneurial environment. There is thus no single ideal profile.

Applicants interested in a position in one of our Services departments will find the required profile in the relevant job ad.

The answer is a clear NO. About 50% of our consultants hold a degree in a field other than business. They often find that their different approach helps our project teams deliver creative ideas and viable solutions.

Of course, all consultants need to have a certain understanding of basic business principles. We thus provide our colleagues from non-business backgrounds with special training via business seminars.

Our salaries consist of a fixed salary and a bonus. We prefer not to cite specific figures. One thing is certain, though: our salaries are definitely competitive.

You will start off with a two-week Kick-Off event at a select European location. At this event, you will learn about the internal infrastructure that is designed to support you in your future consulting work with us: our Services. Most importantly, you will learn about our company culture and our methodologies at the Kick-Off, and you will be trained in key consulting issues. Finally, you will establish an international Berger network that will be of great value to you in your job.

However, the learning process does not stop when the Kick-Off ends. You will immediately be assigned to a project, where you will begin your on-the-job training.

Two thirds of our projects are conducted across national borders and are staffed through our Central Staffing service with people from our international Competence Centers, so your chances of working on projects in other countries are excellent. Furthermore, our International Staff Exchange Program (ISEP) offers you the opportunity to work in one of our international offices for twelve months or more within the context of an international assignment.

As a consultant, after you have been with the company for about two years, you and your mentor can negotiate a sabbatical.

We do not have a specific program in place for our Services. However, you will find that your mentor will be happy to reward your hard work by helping you find an individual solution for any request you may have.

Consultant performance is evaluated regularly in order to ensure consistency and objectivity. Upon completion of each project, we carry out a project evaluation, which also includes a "bottom-up" assessment of the Project Manager. In addition, we have semi-annual company-wide evaluations to assess your performance. At the end of each year, you and your mentor will agree on objectives for the following year, and coordinate your personal development measures.

Evaluation of the performance of our Services employees may vary from country to country. In general, you will have one evaluation round each year with your boss and mentor. You will also receive feedback on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

As a consultant, you will regularly discuss your individual career development plans with your mentor. These discussions cover the focus of future projects, possibilities for enrollment in an MBA or Ph.D. program, and the seminars you need to attend, as well as any other issues you may wish to address.

Our comprehensive seminar program provides the foundation on which you can further develop your personal and professional skills. For example, we offer seminars that focus on strategy, organization, financial analysis, and interpersonal skill development and communication. These seminars are presented by our own consultant trainers or by highly qualified external experts (e.g. from INSEAD). The seminars are attended by consultants from around the globe, and thus also present a great networking opportunity.

Career development for our Services staff does not involve such a clearly structured hierarchy as that for our consultants - but it is equally important. As a member of our Services, you will discuss with your mentor at least once each year what your next career step could be, additional responsibilities, new tasks, seminars you should attend, etc.

With 39 offices in 27 countries, the company has successful operations in all major international markets. In 2009, it generated more than EUR 616 million in revenues with 2,000 employees.

This number varies from office to office, and from one Competence Center to the next. The average female employment rate among our consultants is 17%; in some Competence Centers, this figure is as high as 30%. We would like to take this opportunity to invite all women to apply!

As far as our Services are concerned, the ratio is quite different: approx. 70% of our Services staff worldwide is female.

As strategy consultants, we provide consulting services to top managers of industry and service enterprises in all issues of business management - from strategic orientation and restructuring to introducing new organizational structures and business processes. We have also dealt extensively with the strategic implications of information technology since 1992. Multimedia and e-commerce projects are a focal point of our consulting work. Our Competence Center structure mirrors our extensive functional and industry expertise.

We have been addressing the strategic implications of information technology for more than a decade. One focus of our project work is multimedia/e-commerce consulting. However, when it comes to detailed implementation of an IT strategy, we leave it to the IT specialists we cooperate with.

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants is one of the largest strategy consultancies in the world. We offer our clients individual approaches and deliver customized concepts. Our consulting approach is very pragmatic. In line with our motto "creative strategies that work", we prefer to offer a feasible 80% solution over a theoretical 100% solution. At Roland Berger, you will find flexible structures and lots of room to maneuver. We want your entrepreneurial spirit. This focus was cultivated by the company's founder, who is still active in the company today.

We do not have set rules for this. Typically, you will be with the client for four days and have one office day (Friday). This day is mainly used for team meetings.

One thing is certain: strategy consulting is very work-intensive. Nevertheless, we know that you cannot work creatively and efficiently for an unlimited period of time, and our projects are organized accordingly. As a result, our consultants typically find that an average of 55 hours per week allows them to deliver "creative strategies that work". Weekend work is not on the agenda, and exceptions are very rare.

We have set up the Roland Berger Academic Network, which also includes our Ph.D. program and our internal MBA program. This network consists of 15 European business schools whose representatives meet regularly. We use the network to combine theory and practice and drive our own product innovation. At the same time, we sponsor various institutes, such as the "Roland Berger Chair for E-Business and Information Technology" at INSEAD.

If you have a question we haven't answered here,our HR Advisors  will be happy to help you. Just send us an E-mail!