MBB offer signed but no start date

it is quite normal. A few points from experience:

1. Offer letters without a start date are common
MBB often issue “evergreen” offers, especially when start timing depends on staffing demand, visa cycles, or cohort balancing. A verbal window (e.g., Q2 2026) is standard at this stage.

2. Verbal confirmation is typical pre-staffing
HR usually confirms a quarter, not a specific date, until closer to onboarding. Exact dates are often locked only 6-10 weeks before start.

3. Written confirmation comes later
You should expect a written start date eventually, but not immediately after signing. It usually arrives with onboarding instructions, relocation info, or pre-employment checks.

it has to come within Q1.

4. HR silence is frustrating but not a red flag
Unfortunately common. Recruiters manage many candidates and only re-engage once timing is actionable. Silence does not mean risk to the offer.

What you should do now

• Send one clean follow-up (not multiple) asking for confirmation of the expected quarter in writing
• Then wait. Reaching out too frequently will not accelerate the process
• Plan your life assuming Q2 2026, with flexibility

Congrats on the offer. I understand the uncertainty is stressful, but this situation isn't as unusual as it might seem.

On whether it's common for MBB offers to exclude start dates, yes it happens. Some offices issue offer letters first and confirm start dates later based on class sizes, project needs, and training schedules. It's not ideal, but it's not a red flag either.

On expecting written confirmation, that's completely reasonable. You signed a contract and you need to plan your life. Wanting the start date in writing is fair.

Here's what I'd suggest:

Give it one more follow-up. Keep it polite but clear. Something like: "Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my start date. I understand it's planned for Q2 2026, but I'd appreciate written confirmation so I can plan accordingly. Please let me know if there's any update."

If you still hear nothing after a week, try a different channel. Reach out to your buddy or mentor if you've been assigned one. Or contact a different HR person at the office.

Don't panic yet. HR teams at MBB are often stretched thin, especially during busy recruiting periods. Slow responses don't mean something is wrong with your offer.

Keep records of all communication. If HR verbally confirmed Q2 2026, note the date and who said it. This protects you if there's any confusion later.

In the meantime, plan loosely around Q2 2026 but don't make irreversible commitments until you have it in writing.

You have a signed offer. That's the hard part. The start date confirmation will come. Just keep following up professionally until you get it.

Hi there,

Yes, this situation is actually quite common at MBB, especially in the current market. For many offices, offer letters are intentionally written without a fixed start date, with timing communicated verbally and confirmed later once staffing and headcount planning are finalized. A Q2 2026 start window rather than a specific date is not unusual.

It’s also reasonable to expect written confirmation at some point, but that typically comes much closer to the start date rather than immediately after signing. HR teams often manage start dates in batches and may not lock them in until a few months out.

The lack of response so far is frustrating, but it doesn’t usually signal a problem with your offer. Your safest course is to continue following up periodically in a polite, non-urgent way and avoid making irreversible plans until the date is confirmed in writing.

Best,
Evelina

This is a stressful but incredibly common scenario, especially for hires coming in 12 to 18 months out from signing. Congratulations on the offer, but it completely makes sense why the lack of written confirmation is making you anxious.

The short answer is yes, it is standard practice for MBB offer letters to exclude the specific start date. The signed document locks in the commitment of the firm to hire you, but the start date is considered an operational detail, not a legal one. When you are hired this far in advance, the Q2 2026 date is often a best-guess projection based on existing headcount models and internal recruiting cadence, not a firm business need 18 months from now. They secure the top talent first, and then the Staffing teams manage the deployment timeline later.

The silence from HR is frustrating but also predictable. Because the date is still soft, they genuinely have nothing concrete to put in writing, and leadership will not approve firming up 2026 dates. Your file is likely sitting in a queue waiting for the operational teams to get closer to the cycle. Continuing to press HR every few weeks won't speed up the internal process; you’ll likely just receive a canned response saying "we will confirm closer to the date."

Your offer is secure. You should expect formal, written confirmation, along with onboarding instructions, approximately four to six months before your anticipated start month. Until then, treat Q2 2026 as the working target, relax, and redirect your energy toward maintaining the positive relationship you built during recruiting.

All the best.

Yes, the offers don't always include a start date. 

I know it might be annoying, but also believe them that they're doing their best. I also wanted to start earlier (Jan instead of March) but they explained that there are very few projects in Jan and I would be 'on the beach' i.e., unstaffed if I started then. 

And they were right. I fortunately started in March and went on a project, but then I noticed in the coming years how Jan was one of the dry periods of the year. 

So push for a date if you have a preference, but perhaps don't push too much if they have a reason for it. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

It's definitely has happened where offer excludes start dates as discussions continue on when best you should be onboarded. You've already got the offer and MBB rarely rescinds offers. I suggest be patient and reach out again in 1-2 weeks to follow up.

Yes, this is normal. And yes, you may only get written confirmation after signing.

Look, they are not trying to trick you. They don't have a start date yet. If they mention Q2, they expect to be Q2 unless things really go ashtray and they need to postpone a few more months. I don't expect this to happen, only in more extreme circumstances.

hey there :)

It’s actually quite common at MBB for offer letters, especially for future hires, to not include an exact start date and rely on verbal guidance. That said, it’s completely reasonable to ask HR for written confirmation, many candidates do, and it helps with planning. Since you’ve followed up a few times, I’d give it one more polite nudge referencing your need for clarity, but otherwise this is standard and not a red flag.

best,
Alessa :)