Graduate Analyst Programme – Executive Search (Berlin)
- Location: Berlin, Germany
- Working pattern: Full-time, office-based, five days per week
- Programme start date: 1 November 2026
- Offer deadline: All offers to be accepted and signed by 1 October 2026
- Programme length: 10 months
- Language requirement: Native-level or near-native professional German
- Work authorisation: Candidates who can work in Germany without sponsorship are strongly preferred
- Initial training: The company expects to fund a one-month stay in London for training before the successful candidate begins working with the Berlin office
The Company:
Our client is a rapidly growing international executive search and talent advisory firm. Its specialists partner with ambitious, technology-driven businesses to identify and appoint exceptional senior leaders.
Operating across North America, EMEA and APAC, the firm supports fast-scaling companies backed by leading venture capital and private equity investors, alongside established global organisations.
The Graduate Programme:
Our client is looking for an exceptionally ambitious, intellectually curious and commercially minded graduate to join its Berlin office as part of its Graduate Analyst Programme.
This is a structured, 10-month development programme designed to provide the research, commercial and relationship-building skills required to build a successful career in executive search.
Subject to successful completion of the programme and strong performance, Graduate Analysts will progress into an Associate position after 10 months.
This is a full-time, office-based opportunity requiring you to work on-site at the company’s Berlin office five days per week following the initial training period.
Understanding the Role:
This is an executive search position. It is not a data analyst or traditional data analysis role.
Executive search involves helping businesses identify, assess and appoint senior leaders. Much of your work will focus on:
- Researching companies, markets and senior candidate profiles.
- Mapping relevant organisations and leadership teams.
- Identifying executives who may be suitable for senior appointments.
- Reaching out to prospective candidates.
- Building professional relationships with senior individuals.
- Maintaining accurate candidate and market information.
- Supporting the wider team in delivering executive search assignments.
The role combines detailed research with communication, relationship building and commercial judgement. You must be comfortable proactively approaching people, not simply analysing information behind the scenes.
Previous executive search experience is not required. However, applicants are expected to have researched the industry and developed a clear understanding of what executive search involves before applying.
You should be able to explain why executive search interests you, why you would be suited to the work and why you want to build a long-term career within the industry.
What You’ll Do:
Research markets, companies and senior talent
- Develop a detailed understanding of different industries, businesses, investment markets and leadership structures.
- Research potential candidate profiles and assess their relevance to specific client assignments.
- Map target organisations and identify relevant senior executives and leadership teams.
- Analyse company information, career histories and market activity.
- Produce clear, accurate market maps and talent intelligence.
Identify and engage potential candidates
- Proactively identify potential candidates for senior leadership appointments.
- Support thoughtful and personalised outreach to senior professionals.
- Contact prospective candidates and help build strong candidate pipelines.
- Assist in assessing individuals against each client’s commercial, leadership and cultural requirements.
- Build and maintain professional relationships with high-calibre executives.
Support executive search delivery
- Work closely with Partners and other senior colleagues across live assignments.
- Contribute research insights and candidate updates during internal meetings.
- Support the development of research and candidate-engagement strategies.
- Recommend new companies, markets or candidate populations to explore.
- Manage competing priorities while maintaining momentum across multiple assignments.
- Take increasing ownership of execution work as your capability develops.
Maintain accurate information
- Keep candidate, company and market information accurate and up to date within internal systems.
- Produce organised and reliable research that enables senior colleagues to make informed decisions.
- Handle sensitive and confidential information with care, discretion and professionalism.
Develop your expertise
- Learn directly from experienced executive search professionals.
- Observe candidate conversations, client meetings and search-strategy discussions.
- Develop your commercial knowledge, research skills and professional communication.
- Build the confidence and judgement needed to progress into an Associate position.
Who We’re Looking For:
You could thrive in this programme if you are:
- Fluent in German: You have native-level or near-native professional German and can communicate confidently and credibly in a business environment. Having studied German without gaining this level of practical fluency will not be sufficient.
- Highly ambitious: You are motivated to build a successful career, progress quickly and be recognised for producing excellent work.
- Intellectually sharp: You absorb complex information quickly, identify patterns and enjoy making sense of unfamiliar businesses and markets.
- A fast learner: You can develop quickly, respond constructively to feedback and become effective with increasing independence.
- Genuinely interested in executive search: You understand what the profession involves and can clearly explain why it appeals to you.
- Commercially curious: You are interested in how businesses grow, compete, raise investment and build successful leadership teams.
- Research-driven: You enjoy investigating companies, industries and professional backgrounds to uncover relevant information.
- Confident communicating with people: You are comfortable reaching out to prospective candidates and building professional relationships.
- An excellent communicator: You express ideas clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, in German and English.
- Analytical and detail-focused: You can organise information effectively and take pride in producing accurate, high-quality work.
- Resilient: You remain positive and motivated when candidate approaches are unsuccessful or searches become challenging.
- Proactive: You look for answers, suggest solutions and take ownership rather than waiting to be directed.
- Collaborative: You contribute positively to a team and support colleagues when deadlines are tight.
- Accountable: You follow through on commitments and maintain consistently high standards.
Your Background:
You may be a final-year student or recent graduate from any academic discipline.
Previous experience in executive search, recruitment, research or another professional environment would be beneficial but is not essential.
It is fine if you have lived, studied or worked outside Germany. However, you must be able to demonstrate native-level or near-native German suitable for professional conversations, written communication and relationship building.
More importantly, you will demonstrate:
- Strong intellectual capability.
- Excellent research and communication skills.
- Native-level or near-native professional German.
- Strong professional English.
- Commercial awareness.
- Attention to detail.
- Confidence and professionalism.
- The ability to learn and develop quickly.
- A clear understanding of executive search.
- A genuine motivation to build a long-term career within the industry.
Applicants must be:
- Available to begin the programme on 1 November 2026.
- Able to accept and sign an offer by 1 October 2026, allowing sufficient time to manage any notice period or existing commitments.
- Willing and able to work on-site at the company’s Berlin office five days per week following the initial training period.
- Willing and able to undertake an expected one-month training period in London, subject to final confirmation of the arrangements.
- Able to communicate in German at a native or near-native professional level.
Candidates who already have the right to work in Germany without employer sponsorship are strongly preferred. As this is a critical hire, exceptional candidates who would require sponsorship may still be considered and should clearly state their work-authorisation position when applying. Sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.
Team Environment:
The successful candidate will join the Berlin office, which is currently Partner-heavy and offers significant exposure to senior colleagues and live client work.
This environment will suit someone who is highly capable, comfortable taking initiative and able to develop rapidly. The successful candidate will be expected to build strong execution skills and become an increasingly valuable contributor to the office.
Equal Opportunities:
Our client is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where people from all backgrounds are valued and respected.
Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and employment.
If you are fluent in German, ambitious, commercially curious and serious about building a successful career in executive search, apply now to be considered for the November 2026 intake in Berlin.