Verabrede dich zum Casen über das Meeting-Board, nimm an Diskussionen in unserem Consulting Q&A teil und finde gleichgesinnte Interview-Partner:innen, um dich auszutauschen und gemeinsam zu üben!
Zurück zur Übersicht

USA MBB Fulltime Applications 2026

Hi all, I’m planning to apply for MBB and Tier 2 consulting full-time roles for 2026 in the US. I'm an international candidate with around 1 year of full-time experience at another consulting firm. I’m currently based overseas, so most of my networking has been through LinkedIn.

Does anyone know the best way to secure interviews as an international applicant?
Is the process primarily referral-based?

5
200+
7
Schreibe die erste Antwort!
Bisher hat niemand auf diese Frage reagiert.
Beste Antwort
Hagen
Coach
am 3. Juli 2025
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

  • First of all, and contrary to what other coaches have said, referrals for US candidates are absolutely vital. In fact, I would go beyond that and strongly advise you to actually network with consultants at your target consulting firms and offices. In recent years, when US consulting hiring was slim, my coachees have repeatedly proven that proper networking pays off, resulting in offers, unlike the many who didn't network.
  • Moreover, if you can’t land interviews in the US directly, joining a consulting firm in your local country and transferring later is a realistic and well-trodden path.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Jeroen
Coach
am 2. Juli 2025
Ex-Netherlands Recruitment Lead OW | 5+ years of coaching experience | Great Price/Value | Free Intro Calls

Great question. Networking in your case is definitely key to ensure that your profile is considered by the recruitment teams. 

Depending on your actual degree (i.e., familiarity of US recruiters with your school and home market competitiveness), another option might be to focus on landing an offer in hour home market and transferring to a US offer once you’ve been with the firm for sufficient time. I have actually worked a lot with the inverse of this profile too (i.e., people with American degrees trying to land European jobs) and very happy to share learnings from this during a one-on-one.

Mihir
Coach
bearbeitet am 2. Juli 2025
McKinsey Associate Partner and interviewer | Bulletproof MBB prep

Hey,

I wouldn't say the process is 'primarily' referral-based, but referrals can help with securing an interview.

Regardless of whether or not you get a referral, your CV and online assessment performance both need to be impressive, and so do your case and fit interviews.

My advice would be to speak with recruiters and consultants at the firms/offices you are interested in. Try to understand the current hiring situation. Through this networking, you may find someone who is also willing to refer you.

If this doesn't work out - as another coach has mentioned, you could join a local office and then seek to move globally. It will take time to achieve this, and international mobility among top firms is less ubiquitous than it once was.

Best of luck, and happy to take a look at your application if helpful.

Alessa
Coach
am 4. Juli 2025
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | xRB | >400 coachings | feel free to schedule an intro call for free

Hey there :)

For MBB US full-time 2026, as an international candidate, networking helps a lot but referrals aren’t always required. The key is a strong, tailored resume with US-based office preferences, and applying early, usually by July/August 2025. Highlight your current consulting experience clearly, and show impact. Some offices do sponsor, but you’ll need to check each one.

Keep up your LinkedIn outreach, try to connect with associates or consultants (not just recruiters), and ask for insights, not directly for referrals. That often leads to a referral naturally if they’re impressed.

Let me know if you want feedback on your resume or networking message!

Best,
Alessa :)

am 3. Juli 2025
#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Hi there,

That's a tough one to pull off, but it's definitely possible.

What you'll need to bank on are strong referrals. These will compensate for the fact that you are not applying directly from the US. So start as early as possible to try and get them. 

If you can obtain some work experience in the US in the meantime or demonstrate geographical or professional connections with the US, that would also be beneficial.

Best,
Cristian

Ähnliche Fragen
Consulting
Which US Consulting firms sponsor international applicants?
am 28. Aug. 2024
USA
6
5,3k
114
6 Antworten
5,3k Aufrufe
Consulting
What Mckinsey offices have the biggest focus on healthcare cases?
am 30. Aug. 2024
USA
4
1,9k
74
4 Antworten
1,9k Aufrufe
Consulting
Pre-health to Life Science Consulting
am 1. Sept. 2024
USA
5
1,7k
76
5 Antworten
1,7k Aufrufe
Consulting
BCG ADC response time after R1
am 8. Sept. 2024
USA
4
1,8k
80
4 Antworten
1,8k Aufrufe
Mehr anzeigen