What can I do when I'm not even given a chance to go to interviews?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from BCG!

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

• First of all, it's excellent that BCG has moved forward with your application. Howeger, it's crucial to recognize that this does not mean that your application - which should also include a strong referral - may not be any issue.
• Moreover, without knowing to how many firms you have applied, there's value in widening your scope. I would highly advise you to consider other major and boutique consulting firms as well. They often offer great opportunities for growth and can be a stepping stone to larger firms in the future.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

the fact that you have been invited to the BCG interview round is definitely an indicator that your application documents are strong. Since MBB and Tier 2 companies typically look for candidates with the same general profiles and credentials, you should not have issues passing the CV screening stage at these other firms either. 

Many firms also have an online analytics/aptitude test that candidates have to pass in order to get invited to the first round interviews. You didn't mention any such tests in your description so I don't know if you took any of those with the companies you have applied to. A rejection could also be based on a poor test result, despite a strong CV.

To generally increase your chances of making it to the interview round, you should

• network with consultants/partners at the various companies to ideally secure an internal referral before submitting your application
• make sure that you are adhering to the respective application windows that each company (or even office) might have
• clarify with recruiters or through networking whether the company is actually hiring in your desired office/region or if they might have a hiring freeze in place

Don't give up yet! Best of luck

Hi there,

You're treating a probability equation like it's binary.

BCG said yes, therefore all is well?

But, what if your “true” odds are 10% for all of these applications?

While the odds could be 40%?

Here's what you can do:

1. Double-check your RESUME - it worked for one firm…doesn't mean it's as good as it should be
2. Network a ton
3. Apply to offices/roles that make sense
4. Apply to 40+ firms
5. Hire a coach

Here's some reading to help: How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks

Hi there,

Great that you’ve got a BCG interview, but I do not agree with the assertion that your CV & CL are not part of the problem. Beyond the CV & CL, there is really only networking and the rest of the application package (e.g. data inputs) and the online aptitude test (which you should have a sense for your performance). So that only leaves 2 things: (i) the CL& CV or (ii) networking, but networking along won’t get you an interview and its very possible (even likely) to get an interview with a kick-ass CV&CL and no networking.

My sense is that your CL & CV are ok and someone at BCG felt that ‘on the line was in’, but others have been more ruthless. I would strongly recommend getting an independent review of your application package. The CV & CL are hard to craft independently, even harder to make work together and really hard to work to support you personal narrative.  

Hope that helps. Let me know if I can support by reviewing your docs.

Cheers,

Brad

Sorry to hear about the situation. I can imagine it's frustrating. 

First of all, don't assume that just because you passed screening with BCG, the CV and CL are fine. It could also be an exception. 

I would get a review of the application documents before I submit more. 

Then, make sure that you do some networking before applying to understand the state of recruitment within that office and, ideally, get a referral. That will significantly increase your chances of passing screening. 

Sharing with you here a guide you might find useful in terms of how to build a diversified application strategy:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Hi there!

Congratulations to your interview at BCG. However, I see your point that you want to have a backup plan. 

I would suggest that you get some objective input from other people especially about your CV. The CV is the first document that a recruiter is looking at which is why this one should be reflect all your experiences/education in a structured and understandable way. In the CL you can explain your experience in a more detailed and informative way. 

Good luck!

Hi there,

Q: I'm sure it isn't a CV/CL problem as if that was the issue BCG wouldn't have proceeded with my application. So what can I do?

If BCG called you and the others all rejected you, it doesn’t necessarily mean your CV is fine. I would double-check check your CV is fine with someone who worked in consulting to be sure.

Besides improving the CV/Cover, you might want to look for referrals. You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

Double check your CV with another consultant or coach to make sure both your CV and general profile match with consulting firms.

Once you have really discarded this, there are two main things you can do to improve your chances to access interviews:

• Network a lot
• Improve your profile with more experience or initiatives

Happy to keep talking about this in private, just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

The fact that you passed BCG screening process means that your CV is not terrible, but does not mean it is optimized in order to maximize your chances to get an interview.

I would actually argue that if you passed BCG screening only, but not other firms (assuming you also applied to T2, Big 4, etc.) is a strong indicator that you need to improve your CV (or / and network with other firms).