I'm curious about how consulting firms decide who to interview. Is it purely the HR department, or is it senior managers? I have applied to multiple companies without a referral, and were rejected by a few. Does it help if I reapply through referrals after getting a reject letter? Or, will I have to wait 1-2 years due to the ban? Thanks.
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Hi,
The process is: HR initial CV screening --> Recruiting team CV screening by senior consultant / project leaders (after this step, invitation for interviews are to be sent out) --> 1st round interview by project leader or principals --> 2nd round interview by principals or partners --> final round by partners (some office doesn't this, in which case 2nd round would be the final round).
Referral is always better. Esp if you can get a senior personal e.g. partner to refer you then very likely you would get interviewed. That said, be frank and tell the person about your prior rejection and see how he/she can best help you to proceed. There is usually a ban for up to 2 year for reapplication. Don't let him/her get caught by surprise.
Best,
Emily
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Hello!
It depends:
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
Hi,
Depends on the firm/ office. I know a few cases, when candidates could reapply within 3 months after rejection. These candidates were referred by head of practice (partner).
Though usually you would still need time to acquire the right skills and it takes time.
Best,
Anton
Dear A,
Applying again through the referral doesn't make sense within the next 12-18 months, when your profile is frozen. However, afterwards, I would recommend you to re-apply only through the referral. As for now, just focus on the other firms.
Best,
André
Screening can either be done HR or, in case of campus recruitment, by consultants and senior leaders. Reapplying to a referral is possible, but it will come up in the system. The firms usually follow a ban, but it nothing prevents you from trying.
Ideally you would have applied the first time with a referral, but in this case I would say try and get senior-level referrals. If you can't, then wait a year.
Hello,
Consulting firms delegate the CV screening and interviews invitation to HR staff. There are specific criteria agreed with senior management but they are not actively involved in that phase. On the opposite, once that you start the process, only interviewers will be responsible of your outcome.
If you got rejected during the CV screening your BAN should be shorter, but it would be really difficult (and not coherent) to be reconsidered before getting new experiences. Of course a referral could help, and the more senior is the consultant doing the referral, the more increase your chances of being reconsidered.
Best,
Luca
Hi there,
Consulting companies typically have an HR department that does an initial screening based on a pre-selected criteria (target school, grades, previous relevant experience). Then, some companies will apply another screening by project managers and senior consultant based on the CV content and relevant experience. (e.g. HR might fitler in a CV that has good grades, however the PM might reject it is not tailored to consulting)
Regarding the rejection, highly unlikely to reapply before another 1 to 1.5 years - Very difficult to get a referral to bypass this rule, unless it is from a partner.
In case you have any questions regarding specific CV tips, feel free to reach out.
Best regards,
Khaled
Hi there,
normally after a rejection you have a ban of 1 or 2 years. The only case where a referral could help in your situation is if it comes from a senior position (eg partner); however there are no guarantees also in this case and as mentioned by Emily you should explain upfront you have already been rejected before.
Best,
Francesco
Hi,
Usually no, since you have a reject in the system. In those cases, even referral will not help. However, as usual, there might be exceptions:
Best
Hi there!
Sorry to hear about that! However, rejection is also an experience. Use the time given to significantly upgrade your profile and to maximize your chances next year!
- Relevant work experience. Have you applied somewhere else? Tier 2 consulting firms could be a great start and give you the needed experience that would be of great advantage in the future and make you a better fit for the desired company.
- Preparation. Solve different types of cases, prepare for the fit part carefully, improve your feeling of confidence.
- Networking. I would strongly recommend finding some contacts within the targeted firm to understand how it is from the inside, have a better idea of your position here in the future.
Maybe even think of the guidance of an experienced coach.
Do you need any further help?
Good luck!
GB
