Is there a limit to the number of positions you can apply for at consulting firms?

Question

Hello, just curious if anyone knows if consulting firms have caps on the number of applications you can apply to within a given time period. The reason I'm asking is because at the firms I'm looking at, they have a handful of groups I'd be interested in applying to (e.g. EY-Parthenon has their Software Strategy Group as well as their Commercial Strategy Group, which have separate applications).

My goal is not to submit as many apps as possible, but to apply to a few positions I am interested in, just because I know these positions are competitive and I want to give myself the best chance to at least land an interview.

Separately, if there is a cap and you reach it, can you keep applying if you don't get any interviews? For example, if a firm suggests no more than 2 applications within 6 months, and you don't get first round interviews for either, would that cap still apply?

Haven't been able to get in touch with recruiters about this, so any insight would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

hey there :)

great question and very common. yes, most consulting firms do have an informal or formal cap, usually one application per recruiting cycle or up to two within six to twelve months, even if the roles are in different groups. this typically still applies if you do not get interviews, because applications are tracked centrally and multiple submissions can sometimes hurt rather than help. the strongest approach is usually to apply to the one role that fits you best and tailor it very well, and if you are genuinely interested in multiple groups it is better to clarify that via networking or a recruiter once you are in the process. happy to help you think through which option makes most sense and feel free to reach out anytime.

best,
Alessa :)

Answer 2

Hi there,

Policies vary by firm, but in general most consulting firms discourage multiple parallel applications for very similar roles in the same timeframe. That said, for EY Parthenon specifically, it is common and acceptable to apply to multiple distinct groups, such as Software Strategy and Commercial Strategy, as long as the roles are genuinely different and your profile fits each one.

If firms do have informal caps, they usually apply within a recruiting cycle rather than resetting based on interview outcomes, meaning not getting interviews does not automatically remove the cap. In practice though, recruiters often consolidate applications internally, and applying broadly within the same firm rarely increases interview chances unless each application is well targeted.

The best approach is to apply selectively to clearly differentiated roles and tailor your application to each, rather than mass applying. If you later want to apply again in a new cycle, that is typically fine.

Best,
Evelina