International hiring at McKinsey or BCG

Hi Michael,

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

• The question of whether offices in Peru would be open to international candidates is not really about nationality, but about whether they could staff you well on projects. Given your language skills, local experience, and cultural understanding, I see no reason why they would be less interested in your profile than in local candidates.

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 for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi Michael, 

The main hurdle in some markets (not all) is speaking the local language. 

I was with BCG in Hong Kong for 1 hour (through a rotation (Ambassador Program), so slightly different), but not speaking Mandarin was a significant issue. 

But as you speak the language, you won't be at any disadvantage (you understanding specific market context - even better). 

Best of luck - let me know, if you'd like to discuss further. 

Cheers,

Andreas

Hello Michael!

I would say the only real barrier is the language and if you are comfortable with Spanish it won't be a problem at all, it can even actually help you stand out aongst candidates. 

I've seen this happen many times, including in the Lisbon office, where we hired a consultant who spoke 70% Portuguese. They did great!

Best of luck :)

Hi Michael,

You tick all the boxes in terms of local language, study background and visa requirements, so you do not have a disavantage versus local applicants.

Mattijs

You have working rights, you are fluent in Spanish, you are there for the long run, you know the culture, you have business experience... I don't see a negative at all in your profile, being a foreigner is very unlikely to be a negative in your situation.

Hi!

Like the other answers you've received, you do tick all the boxes. 

In the Johannesburg Mck office, we had atleast 30% foreign hires and the main hurdle was language - which isn't a problem for you. 

What I would do to strengthen your application is to get a referal - preferably a local referal. 

Good luck! 

Hey Michael, 

You tick all the right boxes and I encourage you to not be held back by any doubt and try apply! 

Sometimes, despite having work authorization, there are other immigration challenges and considerations (i.e. quotas on numbers of international workers, etc.). Here on PrepLounge, we won't know the true specifics of those - and this is something you could discuss with recruiting (but it's not always the case that they disclose some of these matters). 

I joined McKinsey as a foreigner in one office, but we had to jump through several hurdles first before I could join. Let me know if you'd like a brief chat on my experiences there 

All the best Michael

Hi Michael,

If you have the working rights and speak the language + have ties to the country for more than 6 years, there should not be an issue.

Cheers,

Florian

Thanks for sharing — your profile actually aligns well with what many Latin American offices look for in local hires.

McKinsey and BCG do hire foreigners in their Latin America offices, especially when candidates are fluent in Spanish, have local ties, and no visa constraints — all of which apply to you. Having lived in Peru, being fluent, and married to a local are significant advantages.

Your background in project management and international development can be particularly relevant for implementation, transformation, or public sector work, which both firms are active in across the region.

While roles like Consultant or Analyst are more structured in their recruiting, implementation roles (e.g. McKinsey Implementation) tend to be more flexible and open to experienced profiles.

You’re definitely a viable candidate — feel free to apply directly and highlight your local knowledge and bilingual experience.

Hey Michael,

Sounds like a strong profile! Both McKinsey and BCG do hire foreigners in LATAM, especially if you're fluent in Spanish and don’t need visa support — that's a big plus. Your local experience and regional knowledge definitely help too.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to prep together or have more questions!

Best regards,
Alessa