Should I reach out to BCG recruiter

Question

Hey All,

I recently interviewed on January 23rd for the first round of two for BCG experienced hire associate role. Right after the interview I received an offer at EY (non-consulting) which has a deadline of this upcoming Monday for my decision. The interview for BCG process would be for a role that would start around March/April. Should I reach out to the recruiter and how should I proceed?

Answer 1

Yes, you should reach out. This is a legitimate and common situation, and handling it transparently is viewed positively.

A few principles to keep in mind:

recruiters are used to candidates managing competing deadlines
you are not asking for a favor, you are sharing relevant information
clarity and professionalism matter more than pressure

How to proceed:

email the recruiter as soon as possible
explain that you have received another offer with a fixed deadline
reiterate that BCG is your top choice (only say this if it is true)
ask whether they can share an updated timeline or next steps

Keep the tone factual and calm. Do not demand acceleration, and do not frame it as an ultimatum. Something along the lines of: you want to make an informed decision and would value guidance on timing.

Two important cautions:

do not wait until the last minute
do not hide the offer or try to use it aggressively as leverage

Even if BCG cannot speed things up, you lose nothing by reaching out, and in many cases they will at least give you clarity on where you stand in the process.

This is standard experienced-hire behavior and will not hurt your candidacy if done professionally.