BCG ME application process

Hi there,

1. application status on the BCG talent portal - it shows that i've submitted an app under “latest application details”, but nothing under “pending details”. does this mean it's still not been reviewed yet?

Essentially that's right.

2. timeline - while i appreciate the recruitment process for experienced hires is likely a little less predictable than that of undergrad/campus hires, can anyone who's gone through the experience in the riyadh/another ME office shed some light on how long they waited between rounds?

So I just read an article saying consulting was the role/industry with the longest recruiting timeline (even longer than law!) at 2 months. In general, you should expect to hear back a week weeks after applying, but it could be longer.

3. hiring pipeline - would anyone know what BCG riyadh's pipeline looks like for the rest of the year? i'm reading some recent posts on MBB ME recruiting and it seems like it's slowed down significantly since last year/early 2023. please correct me if i'm wrong - would love to get a sense of their hiring appetite for the rest of the year, if possible

In general hiring is down worldwide. Temper expectations here - even if hiring is still happening across firms/regions in general, rates are far far lower than last year.

Counter-act this by applying to a lot of roles and networking effectively!

Hi there,

happy to add some additional thoughts..

1. Has it still not been reviewed yet? Yes, that's possible, and given the timeline, is also nothing unusual. Especially in the ME, it might take multiple weeks until the get back to you.
2. How long do candidates wait between rounds? In my experience as an interviewer and from my coachees, this can vary quite a bit. Typically, once you passed R1 at BCG, final round will happen within 1-2 weeks. However, depending on season, interviewer availability etc it may sometimes be 3-4 weeks. The latter is less common though.
3. BCG Riyadh's pipeline? Overall, the office is still hiring continuously. While the firm is hiring less aggressively than in previous years, in Riyadh demand has been quite strong to date. Nothing to worry about at this stage.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

1) Does this mean it's still not been reviewed yet?

It is a bit unclear what they mean by “pending details”. In any case that’s not something directly under your control so I would not worry about it.

2)  Can anyone who's gone through the experience in the riyadh/another ME office shed some light on how long they waited between rounds? 

I would expect up to 2-3 weeks between rounds.

3) Would anyone know what BCG riyadh's pipeline looks like for the rest of the year?

I don’t have specific information for BCG Riyadh, but other companies have already stopped hiring for 2023 and considering positions for 2024 instead.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hello,

To answer your questions:

1. application status on the BCG talent portal - it shows that i've submitted an app under “latest application details”, but nothing under “pending details”. does this mean it's still not been reviewed yet?

That sounds plausible. I wouldn’t worry about this too much – it will show you when you get an update.

2. timeline - while i appreciate the recruitment process for experienced hires is likely a little less predictable than that of undergrad/campus hires, can anyone who's gone through the experience in the riyadh/another ME office shed some light on how long they waited between rounds?

Exactly as you point out, it can be quite variable. In most cases its about 2-3 weeks between rounds, but I’ve seen candidates have as little as 1 week in between and some as long as 4.

3. hiring pipeline - would anyone know what BCG riyadh's pipeline looks like for the rest of the year? i'm reading some recent posts on MBB ME recruiting and it seems like it's slowed down significantly since last year/early 2023. please correct me if i'm wrong - would love to get a sense of their hiring appetite for the rest of the year, if possible

Not sure what it looks like for the rest of the year, but based on the experience of my candidates it has been a bit slower this year, but yes they are still hiring.

Hi there!

I have lots of candidates interviewing in the ME so happy to provide a perspective on this. 

Let me take your questions one by one. 

1. application status on the BCG talent portal - it shows that i've submitted an app under “latest application details”, but nothing under “pending details”. does this mean it's still not been reviewed yet?

That's what I would assume. If in doubt, reach out to the recruiter and ask for an update.

2. timeline - while i appreciate the recruitment process for experienced hires is likely a little less predictable than that of undergrad/campus hires, can anyone who's gone through the experience in the riyadh/another ME office shed some light on how long they waited between rounds?

Anywhere between 1 day and 3 weeks. Anything beyond this is a bit strange and it's worth checking in with the interviewer for an update.

3. hiring pipeline - would anyone know what BCG riyadh's pipeline looks like for the rest of the year? i'm reading some recent posts on MBB ME recruiting and it seems like it's slowed down significantly since last year/early 2023. please correct me if i'm wrong - would love to get a sense of their hiring appetite for the rest of the year, if possible

Well, I currently have candidates interviewing in Riyadh so they're definitely still hiring. The volume is just lower, which means that it's significantly harder to pass screening. 

Best,
Cristian

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Hello,

Applications, especially for those outside of traditional university recruiting pipelines, can take a while to process. One week is perfectly normal and in fact quite short! I would suggest reaching out to the recruiter if you don't hear within 3 weeks from your test.

In terms of recruiting pipelines, Middle East offices have slowed down but they are usually more resilient than US offices. Client work is continuing and consultant turnover is also high so there is a need to keep qualified people in the pipeline. I wouldn't sweat it! I've heard of MBB firms across the Middle East continuing with interviews this season.