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MBB

What time of year is best to apply for associate position at MBB for an advanced degree candidate 

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Top answer
Moritz
Coach
on Jan 09, 2023
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

Hi there,

Generally speaking, this depends on you, not the firm. 

Firm: There's virtually nothing timing-related you can do that increases or decreases your chances to get invited. If a company wants you, they want you. If they don't, they don't. All that is pretty much irrespective of seasonality. It's a different story when there's a general downward trend and slowdown in recruiting but you're asking about seasonality.

You: It's important to network for referrals and application support. Once you have secured both, which takes time, and are about 80% interview-ready, you should apply - irrespective of the season.

Happy to discuss more if you'd like to go deeper on this.

Best of luck!

Hagen
Coach
on Jan 08, 2023
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • It is generally best to apply for associate positions at strategy consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG during the recruiting season for your degree program.
  • This is typically in the fall for candidates in business school or in the spring for candidates in undergraduate or graduate programs in other fields.
  • However, it is worth noting that the recruiting process for these firms can vary by location and by program, so it is a good idea to check with your career services office or the recruiting team at the firm you are interested in for specific information.

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

Florian
Coach
on Jan 07, 2023
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hey there,

This depends on your timeline and preferences and local recruiting timelines.

Some offices have deadlines, others have rolling recruiting throughout the year and MBB offers are usually valid for 12 months.

Figure out what the deadlines are for your target offices (if any at all), then plan accordingly.

Cheers,

Florian

Rushabh
Coach
on Jan 07, 2023
Limited Availability | BCG Expert | Middle East Expert | 100+ Mocks Delivered | IESE & NYU MBA | Ex-KPMG Dxb Consultant

Hello,

MBBs typically hire throughout the year, but have focussed hiring in January and September from my personal experience. 

It would also depend on the geography you apply to :)

All the best!

Rushabh

Deleted user
on Jan 07, 2023

It depends very much on which of MBB and where you are applying. For the associate cohort, the bulk of them apply in Sep/Oct to get an offer the following September

7
Ian
Coach
on Jan 07, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

When you have a referral and when your networking has indicated it is a good time…

It truly depends on the region/office, the specific year in question, your individual situation, etc.

There are too many variables to definitively tell you via a Q&A (without discussing things via coaching), but, ultimately, this is exactly what networking is for!

Ken
Coach
on Jan 08, 2023
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

It depends on the recruiting timeline for the specific office.  Smaller offices will tend to have a more rigid headcount target and so its best to check with the relevant recruiter.

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