Oliver Wyman Middle East App

Hi there,

This situation is quite common for Middle East offices, especially at firms like Oliver Wyman.

They often run rolling processes, even if a formal deadline is advertised. If they closed the portal early, it usually means they received enough strong applications and started filling interview slots already. So yes, timing likely played a role here.

Not hearing back yet could mean a few things:

• You’re on a waitlist / second wave of candidates
• They’ve prioritized earlier applicants first
• Or, in some cases, it can lead to a rejection later

It’s not necessarily a hard rejection yet, but it’s also not the strongest signal.

What you can do:

• Send a short, polite follow-up to recruiting to express continued interest
• If possible, try to leverage a referral or internal contact (this can still help at this stage)

For future applications, especially in the Middle East, it’s best to apply as early as possible — often within the first couple of weeks.

For now, don’t write it off yet, but start focusing on other processes in parallel.

Happy to help you think through next steps or positioning

Best
Evelina

Closing the portal two weeks early usually means the spots were filled on a rolling basis. You probably applied after they had already gone through most of the applications. That is a timing problem, not a rejection.

No news with a closed portal could mean they are still reviewing the last few or they are done for this cycle. You will not know unless you ask.

Send a two sentence email to recruiting this week. Ask if spots have been filled or if things are still being reviewed. Faster than waiting and hoping.

For next time: they move fast. Apply in the first two weeks.

I can't confirm specifically for OW but I'm hearing that a few other T1 consulting firms have paused hiring for now given the war. If you're in contact with a specific recruiter, reach out to them to see if this is the case with them too.

Salman is probably right here. That said, you can always check with the recruiter and anyone you networked with prior to applying.

And, remember, never worry / stress about 1 firm. Network with and apply to dozens upon dozens! 

The majority will reject you, so apply to lots and don't sweat one not responding.

hey there :)

this is very normal for OW ME. they do review on a rolling basis and often close the portal early once they have enough strong candidates in the pipeline, so it’s quite possible that interviews and assessments were already largely allocated by mid march. that said, no response yet doesn’t automatically mean a rejection, sometimes they keep candidates as backup.

given your strong profile, I’d still wait a bit but also focus energy on parallel applications. if you have a contact, a short polite follow up can help signal interest.

happy to chat more if you want to position yourself better for similar roles!

best,
Alessa :)

Hi,

it’s very unlikely they’re making decisions on a strict rolling basis. More likely, they waited to close the application window and now need time to review all candidates.

Given the current situation in the region, timelines might also be a bit slower as firms assess the context, but they won’t stop hiring as maintaining the pyramid is critical.

Not hearing back yet is not a rejection; I wouldn’t worry at this stage.

Best,
Franco

Consulting firms don't do silent / soft rejections by choice. 

If they want to reject it you, they just reject you. 

If they're silent, either something has gone wrong admin-wise OR, in most cases, it's just taking them very long. 

I suggest that, since this much time has passed, you check in directly with the recruiter. Send them a brief, polite email to inquire about your application.

Best,
Cristian

First off, congrats on the offer—that's the hardest part over. I know a year-and-a-half feels like an eternity when you're ready to hit the ground running, but here is the reality from the inside: nobody will care about this gap once you have that MBB brand on your resume. Firms defer because their current bench is too deep and they can’t staff the people they already have. They aren't judging what you do in the meantime; they just need you off the payroll until utilization picks up.

Since you can't work for a competitor, don't waste time trying to do "consulting-lite" work. You'll get plenty of that soon enough. Instead, focus on building a "spike" or operational experience that makes you more interesting to partners when staffing rolls around. Good options include:
* Joining an early-stage startup to see how a business actually breathes and handles chaos.
* Working for a non-profit or in a public sector role that gives you a specific industry lens.
* Pursuing a high-intensity personal project (like a marathon, a technical certification, or a language) that shows you haven't lost your drive.

The "back foot" fear is a common myth among high achievers. The firm will put you through the same intensive onboarding as everyone else, and within three months of hitting the floor, no one will be able to tell who started "on time" and who spent a year working in a different industry. This is likely the last time in your career you’ll have this much freedom with a guaranteed top-tier job waiting for you.

Enjoy the breathing room!