MBB Application with no work experience

Decent*

I'm going to be far more blunt than the other people here - you don't stand a chance. Sorry.

If you have done nothing for 2 years and are "decent" in terms of GPA/extracurriculars, there is no chance the top 3 consulting firms in the world are going to give your resume a chance above all the other incredibly impressive people out there.

Take this as a lesson! Get a job elsewhere. Work your way up. Start a business and grow it. Build your network. You can absolutely do this and get in if you put your mind to it...just not today.

Hello,

It depends on what you mean with "no work experience"

• If it means that you haven't even done an internship during your study it may be difficult to land an offer, but still feasible as long as you have 1) a very solid GPA, 2) international exposure (this is relevant especially in Europe) and 3) other extra-curricular activities that prove your leadership and teamwork skills.
• If it means that that your experience is limited to one or two internships, then you are perfectly on target for consulting recruiting and you shouldn't worry at all.

I spent 10 years in BCG and I'd say that at least 25-30% of the consulting recruits have work experience limited to a couple of internships during their university years. These type of candidates are usually hired as "visiting associate", that is a sort of intern position that usually lasts 6 months and eventually most of them are promoted to associate (or business analyst as McKinsey calls them).

Hope it helps.

Franco

Not impossible but even if you graduated from a target school, you will be competing against your peers with stronger grades and competitive work experience. If you have already graduated then, it might be worthwhile Turing to get some work experience ASAP!

Hey there,

give it a shot! However, as mentioned earlier it will be extremly difficult. Why not gain some relevant work experience in an industry position first? Or in a smaller consulting firm?

Best

Torben

Hey there,

This really depends on the country but might be very difficult. For some countries, this is a no go since you need a mix of

• strong academic performance (GPA, prestigious school, etc.)
• strong work experience (internships, good companies, etc.)
• international exposure (lives, studied, or worked abroad, etc.)
• extracurriculars (volunteering, captain of some team, etc.)

I would clarify with HR before applying and IF you apply, network and score a referral before sending the application.

Cheers,

Florian

Indeed, this probably depends on the market. In Europe, joining MBB directly out of University is the norm. Especially if you have strong extra curricular activities that should make up for lack on internships.

Hi there,

I think you should provide more information:

• If you mean you graduate without work experience and then worked from 2019 till now, then you should share your current job
• If you mean you graduate in 2019 without work experience and been unemployed for 2 years, why is that the case? Unless you have a very solid reason (eg health issues) it will be extremely difficult to land an MBB invitation with a 2-year gap

Best,

Francesco

Honestly, a 2 year gap in a resume immediately after graduating will require a lot of explanation. If you had valid reasons for that and did something productive with your time (e.g.,building a startup) then networking should get you an interview. You will have to have graduated from a target school with a high GPA. 

Best,

Udayan

Hello there!

I would agree with Ian in this situation. Being unemployed for 2 years since graduation - is a bad, bad sign. It decreases your chances to almost zero. 

To see if you have enough skills - start looking for a job in T2, T3. Probably you will get an interview there. 

High above-average marks is a good thing, but it will never provide you with a 100% job guarantee.

Good luck!
GB