MBB ADP Preference in Great China Office

Hi there, 

Thanks for the context.

I'll take your questions one by one: 

1:  I know there are ADP summer programs in the US (no in GC). Will those summer programs in the US help upon interviewing GC offices? like skipping the first round interview? 

It depends. It will certainly improve your profile and increase your chances of passing screening, so in that sense, I would definitely pursue the program. 

2: What is the rough hire count in GC offices recently? Is it better to apply GC office directly or apply US offices and then transfer back after several years? AND 3: Will US background PhDs be favored or local PhDs, for GC office life science team.

I recommend you rather try to reflect on two questions. One - where do you want to be long term? And second - with which location do you have a stronger affiliation and thus a higher chance of passing screening?

4: Is networking important in GC offices? I know some previous PhDs in my programs who work in MBB in the US offices while I got nearly no connections to GC offices. 

I would definitely reach out to these people for a coffee chat. Sharing here a guide on how to approach these discussions: 

• • Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Best,
Cristian

hey!

For Greater China ADP, the rules are simple and you don’t need long explanations.

US ADP summer programs don’t let you skip interviews in GC. They help a little for credibility, but GC will still run its own full process. Hiring volume in GC is large but competitive, and it’s cleaner to apply directly to GC rather than join the US and transfer later, because transfers are slow and not guaranteed. US‑trained PhDs are valued, but local PhDs are equally strong; what matters most is language ability, communication style, and fit with the local teams. Networking matters less in GC than in the US. It helps, but it’s not required, and many candidates get interviews without connections.

If you want, I can help you plan your GC ADP strategy or think through life‑science positioning.

Best, Alessa

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, if you only use US consulting as a step to exit into the GC life sciences industry, have you tried applying directly to GC life sciences firms? Thus far, it is hard for me to really understand the case for consulting, especially US consulting, to be honest.
• Moreover, on the summer programs, a US internship will not skip an interview round, whether for a Great China office or anywhere else. Also, why would you even want to have fewer people to talk to and get lelss of an impression of your potential future office? However, the experience still helps your application, so I would advise you to do it if you can, and then apply to GC on its own track.
• Lastly, contrary to what other coaches have said, unfortunately, no one can seriously answer the question as to how much hiring demand there is in GC offices at the moment. However, you may very well reach out to the recruiting departments and/or current consultants, and have conversations with them to get a better feeling; this will also help you understand the questions about PhD programs and networking.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen