Reapplication MBB

1) Is McKinsey, BCG and Bain cooling down period global, regional or does it only apply to the office I applied for? 

Global

2) Is the cooling down period strictly applied or are there some exceptions (e.g reapplying after 6 months or 9 months instead of 12 months later as McKinsey HR recommended)? 

Exceptions are either they've reached out to you, or you can use a referral to speed up the process. The problem here was not your CV, but your interview performance, so CV improvements won't make it. Still, with Mckinsey you can try to use a referral and mention that you are reapplying to BCG because they have a shorter ban period. 

3) Which starting point should be taken into account for the cooling down period? Does the count start from when you applied in the system or when you finished your interviews?

Last interview round date.

4) Bain: am I banned in their system even though I did not reach the interview stage?

Yes, but you can still try, particularly if you can get a referral and you have improved your CV in a meaningful way, but you should still wait for 6 months.

Hi there,

1) Is McKinsey, BCG and Bain cooling down period global, regional or does it only apply to the office I applied for? 

Normally it is global. However you may be able to apply earlier if (i) you find a referral, (ii) have relevant improvements in your CV and (iii) disclose the previous rejection to the person referring to and the improvements and ask if an earlier application may be feasible.

2) Is the cooling down period strictly applied or are there some exceptions (e.g reapplying after 6 months or 9 months instead of 12 months later as McKinsey HR recommended)? 

The only cases I know about are those in point 1). Additionally, in some cases they may contact you before the end of the ban if they have a high need for new hires – I just heard this is happening in SEA with BCG

3) Which starting point should be taken into account for the cooling down period? Does the count start from when you applied in the system or when you finished your interviews?

It should be when you had interviews

4) Bain: am I banned in their system even though I did not reach the interview stage?

You have a ban period after rejection before interviews. You may still follow what is mentioned in 1) though.

Good luck!

Francesco

Bad luck on the first application round but it's great that you want to apply again! 

In terms of your questions:

1. The cooling down is globally applied
2. There are exceptions if there is a very clear reason for why you've changed enough to be successful this time. E.g., you were unwell first time round, you're not any more; you're applying for an entirely different role
3. Normally finished interviews but honestly if we're talking just a few weeks I wouldn't worry about waiting
4. Bain also wants to wait until the year is over

Good luck!

Definitely make sure you adhere to the cool-down period that the individual firm communicates to you. 

If you do have the chance of getting a referral for another try, make sure that you are transparent about your previous rejection and also reveal that your cool-down period has not yet concluded (if that is the case).

Applicants have been black-listed for ignoring the specified cool-down periods so you certainly do not want to chance it.

1. Cooling down is global

2. Follow the recommendations from HR, it is quite unlikely the “no-application-zone” will be shortened for you.

3. The cooling down starts from rejection.

4. If Bain dropped you and you don't have a significantly different CV you'll be dropped again.