Question on behalf of all who are currently prepping

Hi there,

Love the question.

And, I really understand the discouragement - it's hard.

I completely agree with Florian here - the market is looking better.

All you have to do is look at online forums like this one, Fishbowl, etc. To see multiple posts of people getting offers. I have candidates routinely getting offers and interviews.

Firms ARE still hiring.

Remember, Deloitte is HALF A MILLION EMPLOYEES! That's wild. Its not possible for a city to have 0 immigration (even if shrinking). It's not possible for these firms to, world-wide, have 0 hiring.

So, hiring is still happening. Things are also looking a bit up this year.

You just have to separate yourself from the pack…it's not 2021 / 2022 anymore. The gold rush is over (when, frankly, far too many unqualified candidates were getting in).

Network better. Have a better resume. Select more optimal offices. Apply to more firms. Be better at casing/interviewing.

You CAN do this!

Edit: Evidence

McK offer | PrepLounge.com (1)

Mck Signing bonuses | PrepLounge.com (1)

Bain Round 1 interview | PrepLounge.com (1)

https://joinfishbowl.com/post_yege577awy

https://joinfishbowl.com/post_qvwgudf1dc

Hey there ?

I can only agree to what has already been said. The market is not in the best condition, and some firing is happening, but keep in mind that consulting oftentimes thrives in bad times (aka. restructuring, cost-cutting-program, strategic repositioning, etc.). And at least from what I am experiencing the conditions for hiring are getting better (at least in ASG).

Specifically in the entry and mid-level roles there is still need for talent. We are for example currently actively looking for young strategists, especially in ASG. Of course the demand depends on the region you are applying, but if you have the right qualification and offer a distinctive personality (your USP so to say) you should be able to land a job in any market condition and start your dream consulting career.

Hey there,

I think the hiring market is actually in a better place compared to last year, however,

• there are regional differences. Last year, the Middle East was hiring in full swing whereas other areas were frozen or significantly slowed down. This has shifted a bit yet on an aggregate level I see more demand and offers overall.
• given all the job cuts across the board in different industries I would not be surprised to see it going down again in consulting as well.
• at the moment it is more difficult to progress through the ranks and up-or-out is more enforced than over the last couple of years.

In short, depending on the region you are in, you should go for it, considering all the other factors of having a strong application (resume, referral, test prep, case prep, etc.).

All the best,

Florian

My candidates got 4 offers in the last two weeks for:

McK Dubai

Kearney Riyadh

Bain Milan 

Media Consultancy in Hamburg

I have candidates now in the final rounds with MBB for London, Zurich, Milan, Sydney, etc. 

In conclusion, yes, these firms are still hiring. 

And yes, they are doing it at a much slower pace than 2 years ago. 

The thing is that the extent to which they're hiring is beyond your control. The only thing you can control is how you approach the recruitment process and how good you become. 

Sharing here an article on how to develop an application strategy:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Don't be discouraged by hearsay.

Good luck!
Cristian

Hey,

I'd still prepare, but consider other roles that may require case interview skills, such as in-house consulting or e-commerce / fintech startups which employ many ex-consultants and use case interviews as part of their recruiting process.

Good luck!
Nick

Consulting firms are still hiring. And in some cases even expanding teams. 

I even have friends who were recently contacted to check if they wanted to return to consulting…