Post MBA Experienced Hire - Too little too late?

Hi there,

Q: When would be the right time to apply, and what would be the best strategy to find success?

You have basically two options:

1. Apply now, ideally via referral to compensate for the lack of a standard MBA recruiting channel (I guess it is not possible for you to use it given you already graduated)
2. Work for a few years and apply as an experienced hire (meaning as someone with a few years of experience after an MBA)

Both could work and I helped candidates in both scenarios. If your goal is consulting I would personally go for 1) – don’t see reasons why you should wait. Please note that if you apply now you could join at the equivalent position you would have joined right after the MBA. 

You can find some tips on referrals here:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

In terms of how to prepare, you can find some tips below:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

Good luck! 

Francesco

Hey there - 

Definitely not too little too late, I have seen many candidates come in from industry 1-2 years after the MBA. One thing to be weary is that you will probably come in at the consultant level (potentially lose a year) 

Q1. When would be the right time to apply?

I would say apply now. There is not much point in waiting around as you already have your MBA and your school is part of the recruiting pipeline. The sooner you can make the switch the lesser you will lose time in your career. 

Q2. What would be the best strategy to find success?

1. Ensure you get a referral through your network at all the firms you are applying to 
2. Build a tight story around why you have chosen the pth you have chosen 
3. Use university resources and your network to practice casing as once you have the interviews then it is all about your performance there 

With regards to the application timelines, it is dependant on the office and the firm. Some do fixed interview times (3-4 times a year) and some have it rolling. So based on your target firms and timelines, you might need to think through that a bit deeper. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss strategy, very happy to support you. 

Hi there,

Francesco is exactly right.

My view is you may as well try now. If it doesn't work, you can try again in a few years. If it doesn't work out now, it won't be “wasted” as you can re-use your contacts and build off your case practice.

Network extensively and apply to a bunch of firms. give it a go now and see what happens!

“MBB is preferred but not the end all be all. ”

^thank you for saying this! Exactly the right attitude

Apply now through a referral to maximise odds at an interview

• If you work another year and apply then, you will get the same level of seniority and odds of getting in (but wasted a year) and 

Just be goal-oriented like you will have to be in a consulting role. If your goal is to become a consultant then you should take the steps that get you there the fastest. 
Depending on the geography you are applying in, there may be different deadlines and recruiting windows you need to factor in for exact timing. However, you will have more upside for what you are aiming to achieve if you started the process now rather than remain in your placeholder position for much longer.

Best of luck 

You can apply multiple times. You can apply now, and, if unsuccessful, move on with your career in the industry and try again as an experienced hire. 

So you should apply right away, unless you have a good reason not to do so (otherwise you lose one chance to get in).

So I never think that there's anything wrong with applying now and seeing what happens. If you get the role then that's great! And if you don't then you can do something else, build up your resume and then apply again. I wouldn't wait and do something which you're not fully bought into in the role that you can do something else. 

Good luck!