Big 4 advisory

Hi there,

MBB will have multiple rounds of joiner classes within a given year, with the largest one being in Sept/Oct after the majority of undergrads and MBA graduates enter the market. 

For Tier 2, it depends on the size of that company’s local office (hard to say without that detail).

If you were to target a September/October start date, now would be a great time to start preparing.

As for your credentials, it’s certainly possible but the key thing is how you position yourself - narrative, expertise, and experience.

Feel free to shoot me a message if you’d like some support on CV / interview prep.

Hi, happy to help!

1. Best time to apply: For the Middle East, peak recruitment tends to happen after summer (August–October) and early in the year (January–March). Applying just before or during these periods gives you the best shot.
2. Do you have enough? With a Big 4 advisory background (even if just 4 months), a good GPA, and strong referrals, you definitely have a realistic shot, especially at tier 2 firms. For MBB, you might be on the junior side, but it’s still worth applying—referrals will help get your profile seen.

Feel free to ask if you need tips for positioning your profile.

Alessa

Hi,

1) The best period to apply is just after summer (August-October) or after Christmas (Jan-Feb). I would advise to start preparing the application period now to apply in august.

2) Yes, You have a good background to apply (GPA score + Internship experience + referral(s)). 

Let me know if you have further questions.

Mattijs

1. If you are going for referrals - then your referees should suggest you the best time to apply - by asking their recruiting teams internally. Experienced-hire recruitment cycles for Middle East are currently a bit random and depend on firm-to-firm, month-to-month. Referals are available all year long, and in low phases, they just take it slow to schedule interviews compared to high phases.
2. You do stand a chance - but it will be for entry-level positions only. Would suggest you to work with a coach to prep well and get your CV + Fit answers in order before you get cracking with case prep and then applications. Happy to chart out a prep plan for you - feel free to message me and we can get on a free intro/counselling call.

Hi there!

Great to hear you have referrals. 

I would aim to apply outside of cohort recruitment especially since you can do that now as a experienced hire. 

Reach out to the recruiters from the firms and offices that you're interested in and confirm that they are actively hiring and what role would they recommend you apply to. 

Then apply already now, this year. Worst case scenario, if nothing materialises you can apply again next year with more experience under your belt. 

You can also use this guide when developing your application:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Hi,

You have a good shot (Big 4 and referral).

I think the question you should be asking is actually: What role do I apply for and then When should I apply.

Firstly,, there are two roles you can apply for:

1. The most junior - Business analyst (which is already a 2 year programme to get to the next role) >>> August-October.
2. An experienced hire role - Junior Associate or Associate >> With a referral, you can technically apply anytime, as experienced hire recruitment in the region is less structured.

What I would do is.. Since you have referrals, I'd speak to those connections and ask their opinions.

Experienced hire is demand driven, so it's best to get a real life understanding from those in the actual offices.

Good luck, and happy to chat.

1) If you’ve got the referrals—apply now. If you don’t get an interview, the ban period is short (around 6 months), and by then, you’ll have more experience. The upside outweighs the risk.

2) With only 4 months at a Big4, you’ll be evaluated for an entry-level role. And if you didn’t attend a target school, your resume and cover letter need to be world class to even make it through the first filter.

If you want to understand how the screening process actually works behind the scenes, check this out:

How MBB Recruiting Really Works – Hiring Hacks

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: FastFashion - Customer Loyalty

Hi there!

Adding to what was mentioned, #2 depends on the achievements you have made in your past experiences, not only in this specific job but also during grad, in your community, etc. I highly recommend you to hire a coach to build a strong and consulting ready CV.

Best,

Mari

Hi there,

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

• First of all, and contrary to what other coaches have said, I would strongly advise you to keep in mind that while timing might contribute to your chances of securing a consulting offer, ultimately, that contribution will be very small. As such, focusing on your application files, a strong referral, and great interviewing skills will increase your chances a lot more.
• Moreover, unfortunately, no one can seriously answer the question of whether your candidacy will be strong enough to secure an interview, let alone a job offer.

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