If you have a first round, that means you are in the running for being hired. No point in postponing that interview. To the extent you may have already prepared to interview, I say go ahead with it.

You will need to wait a few years before reapplying. It sounds like, if you already have referrals, you will have caught an unlucky break with respect to point D.

Moving to BigPharma would definitely help accelerate the time you can reapply, as that is something different and relevant.

For point B, I would advise you have a coach look at the CV next time round to avoid an imperfect CV hindering your chances.

Hi Max,

First of all, I'm sorry to hear that you were rejected at the screening stage at two of the three MBBs!

I think these are interesting questions that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• A) Gaining corporate experience can certainly be helpful in demonstrating your interest in consulting and the value you could bring to a consultancy. If you are applying for jobs in big pharma, this could help to address this issue.
• B) Reviewing and revising your resume to focus more on your consultancy-related skills and experience could also be beneficial. You might consider including any relevant coursework, projects, or internships that demonstrate your problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• C) Applying to multiple offices will not make any difference given it is the same recruiting pool.
• D) It is possible that overstaffing could be a factor in your rejections. If one of the offices is currently firing consultants in the DACH region, it may be more difficult to secure a position there at this time. Postponing your interview with the third MBB could be an option, but it is also important to keep in mind that the staffing situation could change in the future.
• As for gaining experience that might increase your chances of success in the future, it might be helpful to seek out opportunities to develop your consulting skills. This could include joining a consulting-focused student organization or professional association, participating in case competitions, or completing a consulting internship or project.
• It is difficult to predict the chances of being invited to an MBB interview after rejection at the screening stage the first time around. However, it is always worth reapplying if you are interested in consulting and believe that you have the skills and experience to be successful. Continuing to gain experience in your current role as a medical doctor and actively seeking opportunities to develop your consulting skills could also increase your chances of success in the future.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello Max,

Sorry to hear about this! Here are my thoughts:

1) All the four feedback points you received make sense to me, however overstaffing seems the most important one.

2) From what I've seen happening in the DACH region now is that there is a general fear of uncertainty associated with the 2023 recession. Thus, hiring across the board is slowing down in Europe, which obviously affects a non-traditional background like yourself the most.

3) If you're rigid about not applying anywhere else but the DACH region, then consider the Pharma companies job opportunities. I do not think having more medical experience will make any difference to your application, but having corporate experience might.

4) If you're flexible with other geographies, consider applying to larger and more open geographies like London or Dubai. I would say consulting in the middle east particularly is growing massively.

5) If sufficient time has passed (12 - 18 months), I don't think your rejection this time around will have any impact on your subsequent applications.

Hope this helps!

Feel free to reach out to me via chat if you have any other specific questions or need some help with your CV.

Best,

Rushabh

Hi Max,

You have secured an interview at one of the 3 top consulting firms in the world…

Did you expect to have them all beg to have you?

Of course, please don't take my above comment agressively (It's not intended that way!).

Many of the coaches here (including myself) likely were only invited to interview at 1 MBB.

Many of my colleagues at Stern had zero invites from MBB.

Count your blessings my friend and fight for what you want :)

In the current market 1 out of 3 is amazing.

Importantly, you need to get used to this rejection. Get punched and get back up. It's going to happen a lot more in your career and life.

Here's my advice/pointers to your questions:

1. If you can get invited to 1 MBB you can get invited to all. Sounds like your application is not a “problem”. It is always a game of probabilities
2. Overstaffing/pipeline adjustment is a thing at the moment. Right now is not ideal for applying
3. Make the interview you do have count - put everything into it!
4. Avoid these pitfalls when case prepping: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

(edited)