Banned from reapplying to BCG for 6 months - where should I apply during the ban period?

Question

Hi so I did not pass the BCG chatbot - they banned me for 6 months (I was surprised it was only 6 months, I have heard of a ban of 1.5-2 years, and that seems to be the common MBB reapplication ban standard). But HR immediately notified me just a day after taking the test. HR of the office specific to my region said my credentials were already really impressive. As a context, I have a Master's in a semi-quantitative degree with a 3.90 GPA, distinction, did some quantitative research during my Master's even though I came from a totally qualitative background for my Bachelor's, and had a reputable academic publication. Nonetheless, it did not matter that much - these companies are very objective and fair with their test scores. I am not even sad, it is what it is. They said I needed to improve my test taking skills because my test score, although not that bad, was still below their passing grade.

So basically, I know they told me nothing waa wrong with my CV or credentials because I did pass their document screening phase, but I do feel like I want to improve my CV, at the very least over the next 8 months to a year. I don't want to just wait and hinge on uncertainty forever, especially that even if I beat Casey I won't know the result all the way until the R2 interview, which is even harder than the chatbot. I won't know at all what kind of genius kids I will be going against or if the interviewer is super tough on me. Any recommendation where I should apply - and other than consulting what sector would be good for my CV for BCG? I live in a big city where there are many other multinational consulting firms. I already applied to Oliver Wyman and Roland Berger, waiting to hear back from them. Should I look into FMCG and larger/fast-growing start-ups as well, while studying for written case and in-person case interviews in between? Or should I focus on consulting if I want to reapply to BCG in the near future? What do you think? Thank you very much for any insight.

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection from BCG!

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

First of all, if your goal is to enter the consulting industry, I would highly advise you to focus your applications on these firms as well – whether just to bridge the BCG ban period or to stay with your next employer.
Moreover, however, you may also gain experience in relevant client industries that will further enhance your profile.

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 your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hey there!

I recommend focusing on opportunities that align closely with consulting while also providing valuable experience. Applying to other consulting firms like Oliver Wyman and Roland Berger is a good start; consider exploring roles in project management or strategy within FMCG or fast-growing startups, as they often value analytical skills and strategic thinking. Additionally, gaining experience in data analysis or market research roles can enhance your quantitative skills, which will be beneficial for your future applications to BCG. Simultaneously, continue preparing for case interviews and improving your test-taking skills to increase your chances of success when you reapply. Balancing consulting roles with positions in industry will not only fill your resume gaps but also give you broader insights applicable to consulting.

Best, Alessa :)

Answer 3

Hi there,

Sorry to hear!

If they have given you a shortened ban period, that means that they really liked your profile!

What I would do:

Apply with other firms (McKinsey, Bain, T2)
Practice for the different recruiting tests
Practice your cases and fit (see below)

Case and fit practice

The key reason why candidates fail their case interviews and don't improve with practice is because they never learn the right approach and techniques to begin with. They might go through 30-40 cases, just repeating the same mistakes over and over again. There is often no strong baseline.
Make sure you understand and learn the basics for each part of the case (structuring, charts, math), which is
- A replicable step-by-step for each part of the case interview
- The right thinking techniques around the individual parts (e.g., what's a framework, what is evaluated, how can I ensure I think about it the correct way, what are some shortcuts to get to the answer quickly, etc.)
- Simple communication templates to help you communicate your insights as well as ask for data in the right way to drive the case forward
There are several approaches you can take, such as hiring a skilled coach, reading the right materials, or enrolling in relevant courses. For example, while some chatbots may suggest a list of books, my book, The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview, provides direct guidance tailored to modern case interviews. It covers all the essential points mentioned here, and more, while also offering a detailed preparation plan. You can find it on Amazon
Avoid generic advice and framework memorization approaches. This will only hurt your performance and waste a ton of time (why -> check out the first post here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-goodrelevant-is-the-case-in-point-book-for-case-prep-1984)
Once you have that baseline it's time to practice and internalize the skills to create the right profile, polishing your strengths and lifting your weaknesses to a robust-enough level
Practice drills alone (structure, chart, math) and practice full cases with other excellent candidates that know the right habits and approach. It is crucial that you are practicing with really good peers, otherwise, it's a waste of time. Practicing drills on your own is a huge effectivity and efficiency booster since you can go over many more questions in a shorter amount of time compared to practicing with peers. Do both in parallel! You want to spend your time where it is most useful, e.g., if you struggle with math focus on math drills, etc.
Focus on quality over quantity. Doing 50+ cases does not mean much if you are not applying the right habits to score high and do a detailed debrief after every case to improve. You want to move from bad to good for your weaknesses and good to great for your strengths --> use the feedback from your previous experience and tailor your prep accordingly
Consider booking at least an initial coaching session to get a detailed and objective evaluation of your performance + learn the right habits for every case regardless of context and framework + get a tailored preparation plan out of the session that will set you up for an effective and efficient prep.
For your prep, tailor the cases to the firm you are applying to. McKinsey cases for instance are quite different from BCG and Bain
Don't forget the fit interview part. Prepare answers for all the typical fit questions and stories (3-5 hours) and rehearse them a couple of times (5 hours)

If you follow this approach, you are set up for success! :-)

Reach out for more tailored help!

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

Don't think short-term. Build a career plan.

Think beyond 6 months. Why do you want to apply to BCG? What career path you want to build? What industries are you interested in?

Be ready for not getting the BCG offer. That is a possibility. You career plan should go beyond that.