What does the timeline look like and which months are they interviewed the most?
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Thank you for your response. I wanted to ask if, from your experience, you have a sense of when BCG and McKinsey typically post openings and/or reach out to candidates. There hasn’t been much movement over the past six months (particularly for BCG), so it would be helpful to have a rough idea of expected timelines. I’ve also tried reaching out to the recruiting team via email but haven’t heard back.
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This is a great question, and you’re right to focus on the ME offices, as they operate differently from typical US or European recruiting cycles.
The reality for experienced hire (EH) recruiting in the Middle East is that it is almost entirely demand-driven, not calendar-driven. Unlike campus recruiting, where there are predictable fall and spring cycles, EH needs open up when a team wins a specific, large-scale engagement (e.g., a massive government transformation effort or a new giga-project) requiring immediate staffing, or when attrition creates an unexpected hole.
Because the need is tied directly to the project pipeline and visa allocations, there are no specific peak months for interviews. If an opening for a specific profile (e.g., someone with deep experience in logistics, or public sector finance) surfaces, the recruiting machine moves very fast—often trying to fill the role within 4 to 8 weeks. This means they are often interviewing people as soon as they submit their profile, regardless of the time of year.
The best strategy, therefore, is to treat it as an evergreen application. Get your referral network established now and ensure your resume and materials are ready to go at a moment's notice. When those headcount requirements open up, the slots are limited, and speed and warm introductions are key to getting past the initial blind HR screen.
Hope that sheds some light on the internal mechanics!
Not sure about Bain specifically, but McKinsey and BCG tend to have rolling deadlines for experienced hires in the Middle East.
Ask the recruiter.
I know this is rather plain and straightforward but only they will be able to tell you.
Best,
Cristian
