McKinsey/BCG entry-level reapplication

Question

Hi guys,

Despite having, according to Forum standards, somewhat of a ‘strong’ profile (top 10% bachelor's-, top 20% master's degree at a well-known European business school, several extracurricular activities and leadership positions as well as multiple internships across, among other, consulting (T2) and within the strategy department of one of my home-countries largest private firms), I was recently rejected at both McKinsey and BCG in course of entry-level applications.

I am aware that consulting firms usually ask applicants to wait some time (1-2 years) to further strengthen their profile before reapplying. That said, I was wondering how quickly one could give it another go, considering significant CV-improvements:

I was recently offered an internship at another T2-consultancy in summer, which I am now very likely to accept. In further addition, considering that two semesters since my last application will pass before graduating in January 2024, I will not only be gaining further academic knowledge, but also, be given the opportunity to improve my grades (a strong thesis should realistically put me in the top 10-15% area of my cohort).

However, in contrast to some of my classmates, neither BCG nor McKinsey directly mentioned the opportunity to re-apply in e.g. autumn of this year. Still, I was wondering if the above-mentioned aspects could be enough to 'justify' a re-application around November - so only 10-11 months after my last application?

Highly appreciate any insights!

Best

Answer 1

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the rejections. In terms of your question:

Q: In contrast to some of my classmates, neither BCG nor McKinsey directly mentioned the opportunity to re-apply in e.g. autumn of this year. Still, I was wondering if the above-mentioned aspects could be enough to 'justify' a re-application around November - so only 10-11 months after my last application?

If they haven’t mentioned a shorter deadline, you should expect the ban to be 12-18 months.

If you want to apply earlier, I would recommend to:

Wait at least 6 months
Look for a referral and organize a call (you can find suggestions for that at the links below)
Disclose the previous rejection during the call (as most likely they will find out anyway) and check with them if they think it’s possible to apply at that stage. If they say no, you can wait for the end of the ban. If they say yes, you can let them talk with HR to check if there is an option

You can find more on referrals at the links below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Answer 2

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the rejections. Please remember that no matter how good your profile is, it's all probabilities.

It's extremely normally to get rejected from Mck/BCG even with an excellent profile.

I think you can probably re-apply, however, make sure you network before doing so. This is the perfect excuse for getting a networking call and reaching out to people…saying something like “I would love to understand if it's possible to apply in 2 months given x situation”.

Also, remember MBB is not the end-all-be-all. Given your profile, I think you have great odds for your next round of applications there. But also remember you can still be incredibly happy (and often happier) in the thousands upon thousands of other companies that exist!

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejections!

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

In general, you have to wait the ban period before reapplying which is usually around 12-18 months. I would advise you to reach out to the recruiting team for more information on specific policy at the moment.
Moreover, it's important to note that there seems to be a slowdown in recruiting among most strategy consulting companies. Although this might not be the case for your specific office, it's still worth mentioning.
Nevertheless, some or all aspects of your application may not have been strong enough to secure an interview. In such a scenario, seeking the help of a coach to review your application could be beneficial in avoiding the same situation with future applications.

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

Answer 4

Hi there,

Sorry to hear the applications didn't work out. The reality is that it's a rather difficult period at the moment and companies have grown increasingly tough about who they invite for interviews.

From my point of view this will justify re-application. Just make sure you do a great job of preparing your application documents so they stand out. Get some coaching support on this to make sure they are stellar.

Best,

Cristian

Answer 5

Hi,

sorry to hear about your rejections. The ban period is usually 12-18 months. If you intend to apply in 10-11 months, you should try to get a referral and also let the person referring you know about your situation of having gotten rejected before. It's better you be upfront than them finding it out anyway.

If you are just trying to push it otherwise, you take a chance of actually getting black-listed at the worst, but in all likelihood being ignored.

Good luck

Answer 6

Hi there,

Sorry to hear!

You are likely affected by the hiring freeze that many McK and BCG offices are now having globally.

I would definitely go the route that others have proposed.

Continue building your resume and improve on 2/4 metrics (academia, prof. experience, time spent abroad, extracurriculars).
Network and score referrals where you are open and transparent about the situation.

All the best for the future!

Florian