How long does BCG Italy recruiting usually take after application?

Wait a bit longer.

They can take up to a month. 

It moves at different speeds depending on the application cycle and what the firm is prioritising at that moment. 

And as always, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify as much as possible. You might find this guide useful:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian 

It's completely normal to feel a bit antsy after applying, especially with a referral in hand. One week is actually very short in the grand scheme of consulting recruiting, particularly for specific regional offices like BCG Italy and for intern tracks.

The reality is that even with a referral, your application still goes into a central system for initial screening. Offices often "batch" applications, especially for intern or visiting associate roles, meaning they wait until they have a critical mass of qualified candidates before initiating the next steps (like inviting for an online test or scheduling interviews). This process can easily take 2-4 weeks, or even longer, before you hear back for the next stage. It's not uncommon for offices to have specific recruiting windows or cycles that aren't always transparent to external candidates. Current market dynamics and project pipeline can also subtly influence hiring pace, but that's largely invisible from the outside.

My advice is to absolutely hold off on a follow-up for now. Doing so after only one week risks coming across as impatient, which isn't the impression you want to make. Keep preparing for potential case interviews and mental math, and if you haven't heard anything after a full three weeks, a very polite, brief check-in with the recruiter (if you have their contact) would be appropriate. Otherwise, trust the process and keep your options open.

Hope this helps give you some peace of mind!

One week is completely normal. Do not worry yet.

After you submit through a referral link, HR screens applications in batches, not one by one. This usually takes one to three weeks. Having a referral is a good sign, it means someone internally flagged you. But it does not speed up the admin side of things.

Typical BCG Italy timeline:

• Week 1 to 3: HR screening. You will only have the automated confirmation. That is normal.
• Week 3 to 5: If shortlisted, invite for BCG Online Case plus a potential HR call.
• Week 5 to 8: First round, typically two case interviews.
• Week 8 to 10: Final round with Partners.

End to end, roughly two to three months. BCG Italy recruits in cycles, so things slow down around August and December holidays.

On following up. Wait until the two week mark. Then send a short note to your referrer asking if they have any visibility. Do not email HR directly. Let your internal contact do the nudging. That is the whole point of having a referral.

Use this waiting time to prep. BCG Italy is no different in rigor from any other BCG office. Do not let the wait become dead time.

Hi there, 

One week is still very short. You should easily expect up to 1-1.5 months. After which, you can reach out to HR for a friendly follow-up.

Hi there,

You can expect it to take anywhere from a week or two to even a couple of months in some cases.

I would not follow up yet... give it at least 2 weeks. Remember that following up isn't really going to change anything... it's an illusion of control. If you email too soon, you risk becoming annoying and you “waste” a future reminder.

Make sure you are not sitting around waiting but rather case prepping during this time! Please also make sure you are networking with and applying to lots of other firms in order to maximize your recruiting chances.

If you want to be ready when that invite comes, check out my 360 Degree Consulting Recruiting Course... it covers the entire journey.

Good luck!