USA MBB Fulltime Applications 2026

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.

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.

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

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

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 :)