I do not speak a second language fluently: does this remove my chance of getting a management consultancy job in the UK (I am otherwise an intelligent well qualified person)?

No, it does not: in the UK, we speak English - thus only one language is required.

thank you. Therefore, would you recommend me to continue to put in my effort to make achievements at my current work rather than spend time to increase my language skills?

Yes, certainly. A good track record and impressive achievements on your CV will help you stand out more than being mediocre at talking a language in a country that does not use that language.

I guess it depends.If you join an outfit that does primarily UK work, then you don't need a 2nd language. But if you join a firm and, say, have to do a lot of work in Germany, then being fluent in German is definitely a good thing. I myself have found it very useful to be able to converse in the local lingo.Am assuming that you do not have UK work experience. Be careful as such. In the UK, they look down / look suspiciously on ANY work experience outside of the UK. It's essentially the well-known "British (or English to be exact) Snobbery" at play.

I think one of the reasons we look down on work experience gained outside the UK (as well as qualifications) is because so many foreigners lie, thinking that they can exaggerate because we don't know anything about the qualifications systems or institutions in their country, let alone even being able to translate it so that we can understand it. They say that their "diploma" or whatever is equivalent to a "Masters". They claim that the polytechnic they went to is "a leading university". They say that their four years as a regional manager was four years as a "managing director". At least you know where you stand when somebody comes to you saying they have a 2:1 in geography from Brighton. The list goes on.

You're absolutely right. Even some 'leading' asian institution like National University of Singapore/Indian Institutes of Management are relatively less-known in the west(save INSEAD, Singapore). They are the best in the region though. Yeah. I presume outside UK second language is desirable.

[quote]I think one of the reasons we look down on work experience gained outside the UK (as well as qualifications) is because so many foreigners lie, thinking that they can exaggerate because we don't know anything about the qualifications systems or institutions in their country, let alone even being able to translate it so that we can understand it. They say that their "diploma" or whatever is equivalent to a "Masters". They claim that the polytechnic they went to is "a leading university". They say that their four years as a regional manager was four years as a "managing director". At least you know where you stand when somebody comes to you saying they have a 2:1 in geography from Brighton. The list goes on.[/quote]BEP,I myself (and numerous others I am sure) have personally come across the same bloody snobbery.The "interesting" thing is..... I myself have a top qualification from a top Russell Group uni, but it seems as though..... it's viewed as "being lesser" simply because I am not British/English.The same thing with work experience. I have come across this so many times. It's as though..... heading group strategy elsewhere makes you merely at the strategy manager level in the UK. On the flip side, I have personally interviewed a number of UK candidates.... who have been.... abysmal at best.The gist is.... it cuts both ways. 'Degrees' from the likes of Germany and Italy take years, so they laugh at the 3-year UK degree.But while we're talking about unis, what really peeved me was.... it's as though me getting a UK degree was somehow "lesser" compared to a UK person getting a UK degree. It pisses me off till today!

Why do you think that you getting a UK degree was somehow "lesser" compared to a UK person getting a UK degree? I can understand a non-UK degree being considered lesser, but this would level the playing field...

I don't think so. It never crossed my mind.But..... I have had the misfortune of experiencing this in the UK (in interviews, in the workplace, etc.).

[quote]I do not speak a second language fluently: does this remove my chance of getting a management consultancy job in the UK (I am otherwise an intelligent well qualified person)?[/quote]if you want to pull successfully - over and over again - master additional languages and their nuances.

you should get a consultant right away eventhough you are intelligent but you need a consultant to help you with that because "no man is an island.

wow

I think second languages should be a must nowadays - when I interview UK grads that say they have been traveling for half a year to Auz to have an experience abroad it's clear it has been a boozing and surfing trip - or when they say "good french" on CV and you ask questions in french all you get back is embarassed mumbling. Let's face it, these gap years are very different from european erasmus students that give exams in a foreign language: that's really a stretch and opens your mind. Similarly for degrees: french or italian engineers graduate when they are 24 and technically strong, whereas 21 year old UK graduates can be quick with excel or ppt, good at presenting, but obviously have very little content. However that works for consulting - most of the times, so who cares!

Not so sure about that. I'd rather they just had excellent English (and I mean excellent English, not excellent so-called "international {read "pidgin"} english"). A second language is handy, but only if you actually use it. No point being an expert in Chinese if you're gonna work in Germany.

Very soon we will have people stating fluency in 'Scottish' on their CVs..

Awright mars, gonnae no dae that? Any Mair takin the pee outa the Sco-ish an wull come doon thaer an deep fry yae, ya baard

That was pretty good Coolio.Something tells me you have a bit of Scottish in you

Camster,I'd be interested to know and would appreciate if you could name and shane where you believe you have experienced this?I am in the business but recruit frequently for my firm and whilst I agree with BEP that I am suspicious of foreign instituitions which I don't know much about (though that wouldn't in stop me putting someone through, who in all other areas is equal, as for me that is the acid test - for experienced hires anyway), the thought of a foreign person in a UK instituition which I know well would not for me or those I know doing a similar role cause any issues.I also think that stating that it is 'English to be exact' snobbery (I'm not English but wonder how you can freely label an entire people and yourself claim discrimination based on statehood?) and makes me wonder if you just weren't good enough?