Experienced Hire in the U.S.

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for a lot of users, thus I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• It's difficult to say for sure whether consulting recruiting for experienced hires is picking up in the U.S., as this can vary depending on the specific firm and the current economic situation. In general, the consulting industry has been affected by the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently preparing for a potentially upcoming recession.
• If you are interested in applying for a consulting role at an MBB firm, a tier 2 firm, or another big 4 firm, it's a good idea to research the current hiring situation at the specific firms you are interested in. Many firms have information on their websites about their current hiring plans and recruiting timelines, and you can also reach out to their recruiting teams directly to inquire about their current hiring needs and opportunities.
• In terms of timing, it's generally best to apply for consulting roles when you are ready and when the firms you are interested in are actively recruiting. While the recruiting cycles of consulting firms can vary, most firms tend to hire on a rolling basis, and it's often possible to apply and interview for roles throughout the year.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on what to do in your specific situation, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

At the moment recruiting is tough, some offices are in a hiring freeze or limiting intakes.

You should check with people working at your target offices.

My suggestion, in case you have confirmation that at the moment is tough to get hired, is to wait 6 months and then have a bulletproof application to MBB.

The other difficulty is that MBB are reducing the number of invitations for interviews to people coming from Big4 and Accenture, in particular, if they have some experience. The difference in way of working is so marked that most employees need 1-2 years to get up to speed with the MBB way of working.

So, I would give a quite limited chance of success to this move. That said, it is worth trying. 

From everything I've heard and seen it is currently slow. People are holding off on recruiting broadly for now. 

Hi there,

Most people are holding off and yes hiring is pretty slow at the moment.

Please make sure you are networking extensively! Coming from Big4 it's going to be critical to getting a foot in the door.