I just got rejected from the final round interview as an experienced hire AC at Bain London. I can’t yet reapply to the other two MBBs. What should I do?

Question

For more info on me, I’m a qualified accountant at a Big 4 firm in their Strategy practice, focusing on M&A (non-CDD) work.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the rejection. Regarding your question:

Q: I can’t yet reapply to the other two MBBs. What should I do?

I assume you are still interested in a career in consulting. If that’s possible/interesting to you, I would recommend applying to Tier 2 companies (eg Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, Kearney, Strategy&), work there for 1-2 years, then apply again to MBB.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 2

Hi there,

Sorry to hear that. I would definitely recommend applying to a T2 firm.

I have had a great time at OW and worked on many similar types of projects as my friends at MBB firms. Feel free to message me if you’d like to have a free intro chat to strategize next steps.

Answer 3

Hi there,

Sorry to read that, I know how frustrating it is to get to the interview phase and get rejected.

Besides the suggestions above, make sure to understand what prevented you to get an offer and act upon it. Consider not only the case/fit portion but also your CV/CL depending on the stage you stopped in the other processes.

Best,

Mari

Answer 4

Hi there,

If you still want to transition to a top-tier strategic consulting firm. You’ve got two realistic paths:

Stay where you are and wait until you’re eligible to reapply to MBBs
Take a mid-step into a Tier 2 firm, gain strong consulting experience for 1–2 years, and reapply to MBB with a much stronger profile

Whichever path you take, don’t waste your past efforts. Get specific feedback from your previous MBB interviews and make sure you prep properly — ideally starting at least 2-3 month before your next process. Leverage your mistakes to build an edge.

Best

Alberto

Answer 5

I'm sorry to hear.

In short, you need to wait on these ones.

In the meantime, apply to other firms.

And spend some time reflecting on why the applications to MBBs in this round didn't work out. Get some expert support as well for a more informed view.

I hope it will all turn out much better next time!
Best,
Cristian

Answer 6

I'd definitely recommend casting the net a bit wider and seeing if you can land a place at a good Tier 2. It's common to lateral across to MBB later, if that's something you want to do in future.