Grateful for any tips on consultancies in Zurich or Geneva that do not require hires to have local language fluency (ie English only). It looks like this rules out all the obvious big names, so I'd really appreciate any insider knowledge / steer on firms I might have overlooked in my research. Currently working in strategy consulting, but would be willing to consider other options.Many thanks.

Actually it becomes even more of a requirement when you look at the smaller names as they tend to serve locally even more. Your best bet would be to try to do an international transfer within a UK firm - should they have a Swiss branch.My personal perspective is that the Swiss hiring market is absolutely ferocious in its requirements. I personally have found no local players willing to accept fluency in English only...

+1

I lived and worked in Switzerland for 2 years. I speak fluent French and passable German but never had to use them in the work environment. There are some big global players in Switz - Nestle, ABB, UBS, CS, etc. and their business language is English.if you want to integrate outside of the workplace then (depending on where you live) French and German are a must. Note however, the Swiss speak various dialects of Swiss German (Hoch Deutsch is only used in some formal scenarios and when writing) and this is very different from the German you are taught in Schools.Deloitte in Zurich may take you on as they work with both smaller local companies and the big players. I was offered a job in IT strategy there a few years ago (I was working for another consultancy) but turned them down as I decided to move back to the UK.

I echo what you say except that as, an expat, you'll invariably tend to mingle with other expats and the common lanuage will always be English.As for the Swiss, they like to stick to their own kind (not judging here, just stating) and those who are worth befriending sure will speak English well enough...