What is the onboarding/first few weeks at BCG like?

Hi,

Congrats and welcome to consulting :)

Most of the time, you will start with ~2 weeks of onboarding. They will teach you the basics of the firm as well as train you on some core skills. 

After that, you get put to work :) Depending on business, you will be staffed on your first project, or you might be asked to support a proposal.

Typically, your office may have an informal event on Friday after work, for example drinks in the office, or some people might organize something to go out. Join those. Part of the fun is getting to know new people and then complaining about your cases together :P

Lastly, 2 thoughts on the introvert point:

• don't worry, slight majority of BCGers are also introverted (they should show you this statistic in the training i believe)
• BCG is a big place, you will find people you click with and you will find your 'group' 

As for advice, the best advice is often very specific to any problem you will face.. so, when the time comes and you really don't know what to do about something, feel free to drop me a dm. I've been there before too. 

All the best!

That is a perfect question, and I can assure you that every single incoming class is packed with introverts and highly anxious candidates. You are definitely not alone, and it’s smart to prepare now.

The first few weeks are intentionally a high-pressure, high-contact environment. BCG (like McKinsey and Bain) front-loads the socializing because their internal data shows that new hires who feel they have an immediate "safety net" of 4-5 peers are significantly more likely to succeed. The firm is essentially forcing you to build your first professional network layer immediately.

This period usually breaks down into two phases: Orientation and Training (1-3 weeks) and then The Pivot. Orientation is highly structured, involving deep dives into proprietary tools, case study simulations, and the "BCG way." It is interspersed with mandatory social events—dinners, happy hours, city tours—often subsidized or fully paid for. Your strategic move here as an introvert is to focus your limited social battery. You don't need to dominate every conversation; you need to identify 2-3 people in your cohort you truly vibe with, and dedicate your energy to making those relationships strong.

The Pivot is when training ends and you are released to the staffing team. The speed at which you are placed on your first case varies dramatically, but once you are staffed, the mandatory large-scale socializing drops off immediately. You pivot from performing for a group of 50+ to performing for a team of 3. This is when the introverts typically thrive. Use the high-contact orientation period to master the internal jargon and systems, build those essential 2-3 peer connections, and then look forward to the calmer, more focused environment of the actual project work.

All the best!

Congrats -  and your reaction is completely normal, I can resonate with it being a fellow introvert!. Most people who do well at BCG (or in general at MBBs) are not loud extroverts. They’re thoughtful, observant, and a bit anxious about getting it right.

What the first few weeks actually look like

Weeks 1–2: Onboarding & training

• Expect a very structured start: firm basics, core problem-solving skills, internal tools, and “how BCG works.”
• There will be a lot of people interaction: cohort sessions, group exercises, shared meals, office events.
• This is intentional. BCG wants you to feel socially anchored early so you don’t struggle alone later.

Important mental reframe:
This is not a popularity contest. It’s an insurance policy against isolation.

As an introvert, your objective is not to be visible to everyone. It’s to come out of onboarding with:

• 2–3 peers you’re comfortable asking “stupid” questions to
• 1–2 senior people who recognize your face and name
  That’s enough.

Weeks 3–4: Staffing & the pivot

• Training ends, and you either get staffed on a case or support a proposal.
• Social pressure drops sharply.
• Your world shrinks from 40–50 people to a team of 3–5.

This is where many introverts actually start performing better — clarity, fewer distractions, real work.

The real game: Your first 100 days

Think of your first 100 days in three phases.

Phase 1 (Days 1–30): Absorb & anchor

Success looks like:

• Understanding how things actually get done (not what slides say)
• Knowing who to go to for what
• Being reliable and low-ego

Practical advice:

• Ask more questions than you speak — but ask good questions
• Take notes obsessively
• Follow up fast and cleanly

No one expects brilliance yet. They expect coachability and hygiene.

Phase 2 (Days 31–70): Deliver & de-risk

Once staffed:

• Over-communicate progress
• Share drafts early
• Ask for feedback before it’s “needed”

Introverts often shine here because they prepare well and think before speaking. Lean into that.

Your manager should feel:
“I don’t have to worry about this person.”

Phase 3 (Days 71–100): Build signal

Now you start shaping your reputation:

• Pick one thing to be good at early (slides, analysis, client comms, data)
• Be explicit about wanting feedback
• Start forming a point of view in discussions — even if it’s tentative

You don’t need to be loud. You need to be clear.

A final word on being introverted

BCG doesn’t reward charisma. It rewards:

• Judgment
• Structured thinking
• Trustworthiness
• Calm under pressure

Many of the strongest consultants I’ve seen were quiet, deliberate, and socially selective.

Treat onboarding as a short, intense investment period. Spend your social energy deliberately, not evenly. Once project work starts, the environment will feel far more natural.

You don’t need to become someone else. You just need to play the early game intelligently.

Ah, yes, as an introvert, it won't feel pleasant all the time. 

Typically, you have an office induction in the first week. You get your equipment, you meet people, you speak with payroll, IT, etc. Basically, you get technically and admin-wise set up. 

Then, you have a full week of training somewhere. It can be in your country but also abroad. You get to meet 30-50 people who will be your 'starting cohort'. You will get deeper into the content of how the firm works, how you build presentation, etc. 

For some roles, you might have an additional induction that is specific for your practice. 

Eventually, a couple of weeks later, you are in a project and doing the actual work. 

One suggestion - if you're an introvert, do not try to participate at all the social stuff because it will feel suffocating very soon. 

Best,
Cristian

Congrats — totally normal to feel that way.

Typically, the first week is onboarding-heavy: IT setup, tools, equipment, admin sessions, payroll, HR, meeting people, etc.

Then you’ll usually have a full week of training covering consulting fundamentals, how the firm works, and getting to know your cohort.

After ~week 3, you’ll either help on BD / proposals or get staffed on a case, depending on demand.

My main advice: focus on building connections with your peers — they’ll be your day-to-day support system. And don’t worry about being an introvert; MBB has plenty of very successful introverts, and teams tend to look out for each other.

Hi there,

You'd have around two weeks of onboarding where you can meet your cohort of new consultants. If you've done an MBA, it's no different from the first few weeks of the MBA where socializing would help a long way when you require advice/help down the line. If you're an introvert, I suggest you to prepare to push yourself out of your comfort zone to network and build connections.

Hey there,

the first few weeks at BCG are usually a mix of training, onboarding sessions, and meeting your team. You’ll do case and business skills training, get introduced to tools, and shadow some projects. As an introvert, focus on listening, asking thoughtful questions, and building a few strong connections rather than trying to network with everyone at once. Things get much easier once you start actual project work.

Best, Alessa :)