Timing of my applications: should I apply now or wait?

(I'm assuming you're an external hire)

You are not late. Recruiting is not a single global deadline. It is a rolling process that runs by office, region, and staffing needs. Some offices hire in October, others in December, others in February. The only real mistake is applying when you are not ready. Once you submit, you cannot “un-apply.” You either pass or burn your name for a cycle. So if you are still weak in live cases, wait a few weeks. That time can easily be the difference between rejection and an offer.

Reach out to recruiters. They will give you a clear answer. Half the time, the website deadlines are flexible anyway. What matters is that you apply with a strong application and good casing fundamentals. If you are still shaky, fix that now. Use Applications to tighten your materials and Ace the Case Interview to clean up your prep. If you want an end-to-end approach that covers both timing and process, the 360° Consulting Recruiting Course ties it all together.

If you're aiming for MBB or T2, it's usually best to apply when you're truly ready — especially if this is your first real shot. You want to put your best foot forward.

That said, recruiting doesn’t completely shut down in November/December, but it does slow down — many firms have filled most of their priority slots by then. If you're borderline ready, it’s totally fine to wait and aim for the next cycle (early next year). You’ll perform better and increase your chances of converting.

What you can do in the meantime is test the waters with a few boutiques or smaller firms — see how your case performance holds up in real interviews, and use that feedback to sharpen your game.

Reaching out to recruiters to ask about timelines never hurts and rarely looks bad on you.

Hope this helps and please upvote if you find it helpful.

Regards,

Kevin

This is a great question. And one where candidates often get bad advice.

Let’s clarify something right away:
In the DACH region, there are no strict recruiting cycles for MBB or Tier-2 firms. This isn’t like the US or UK, where there are fixed application windows tied to university terms. In Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, applications are rolling all year round.

That means one simple thing:
There’s zero reason to rush your application.

Here’s why that matters:
Submitting before you’re truly ready doesn’t “get you in earlier.” It just increases your chances of burning the opportunity. Once you’ve been rejected by an MBB office, you’re often locked out for 12–18 months.

So you’re far better off spending an extra 3–4 weeks sharpening your case performance and storytelling, than applying half-prepared now. The ROI on that time is massive.

To give you a sense of real timelines: Last year I had several mentees in DACH who applied in mid/late November and still received McKinsey and BCG interview invites before Christmas! Others applied in January and started interviews three weeks later.

The recruiting engine doesn’t stop in Q4. Firms are always hiring for rolling start dates.

Bottom line:
Apply when your skills are sharp enough to convert interviews, not just get them. MBB firms don’t reward speed. They reward READINESS.

Hope this helps!
Sidi

___________________

Dr. Sidi S. Koné

Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™

Hi there,

If you are an experienced hire (not following campus timeline), then usually it is on a rolling bases (not a cycle). Recruiting could be a bit slow in December, due to the holiday season (harder to get time slots from interviewers) instead of a specific cycle. 

In general, I would recommend taking the needed time to prepare well. It is better to be slower but sure, than rushing it with high risk. 

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

Recruiting does slow down toward the end of the year, but firms still run interviews in Nov/Dec depending on office and role. If you feel you’d benefit from a bit more prep, it’s usually better to apply when you’re ready rather than rushing. Timelines aren’t always uniform, so reaching out to HR/recruiters to check specifics for your target office is a good idea.

Hi, 

since your are specifically asking about DACH, my two cents from my time as part of BCG in DACH:

DACH is much less rigid from a recruiting POV and rather handling applications on a rolling basis. That means recruiting does not stop, rather there might be fewer interview slots / days in a certain month.

However, there is no harm in checking with the recruiters to understand firm specifics.

Best,
Lukas

I would apply early. 

Once you're in the process, you can ask to push the interviews until later. 

Indeed, if you apply late they might not even be considering additional applications or you might have to interview in the next cycle. Just try to make the most of the time that you have, push the interviews as much as possible and then go for it.

Best,
Cristian

Hey there :)

Most MBB and tier-2 firms still interview in November and December, though the volume can slow a bit. Submitting slightly later is usually fine if it gives you time to strengthen your cases. Reaching out to HR or recruiting teams is a good idea, they can clarify exact timelines and show your genuine interest.

You can reach out anytime if you want tips on timing strategy or polishing your prep!

best, Alessa :)

Sounds like you are an experienced hire. If so, recruiting is on a rolling basis. Sometimes, the process can be very fast, sometimes it can take quite a while. The worst case is if you get invited but then want to push the interview back. Sure you can do it, but maybe they only give you ~2-4 weeks more, what if that is not enough? 

To me the safest option is apply when you feel prepared.. that way you are optimizing for less things. 

Lastly, if you are an experienced hire, you might want to check out this article:

• 5 reasons why Experienced Hires fail the consulting interview

Assuming you are an experienced hire... it works on a rolling basis. So apply once you are close to being completely ready to interview.