Recruiting timeline for an in-between candidate?

Hi Aaron,

1) Would I need to apply to McKinsey, Bain, or BCG by their undergrad deadlines?

The position you will have to apply to should still be entry-level, however you should follow the deadline for candidates that are already out of school. If the deadlines you indicated are solely for candidates currently at school they would not apply.

2) If I am not supposed to apply by those undergrad deadlines, is there some sort of rolling deadline alternative?

They should have that reported on the sites, if that’s not the case the only option would be to reach out to HR or to someone in the firm (ideally the person that will refer you) for confirmation. 

As Ian said, it is a good idea to have a referral anyway before applying (you can find more on that here).

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi Aaron,

If you are not recruiting via undergraduate university, then no, those are not your deadlines.

Since you are an external hire, you can technically apply whenever. In reality, you should apply once your networking has borne fruit (i.e. they tell you there are openings and someone there will go to bat for you)

Hi there, 

Theoretically, if you are no longer in school, then you shouldn't apply as part of campus recruiting (the deadlines you just mentioned). 

What I would do instead if I were you is to reach out to the HR department of each firm, send them your CV upfront, explain the situation and ask what deadline would be best applicable for you. They will most likely suggest you apply at any point and that they will consider you to be an experienced hire. 

Before you do this, however, there are a few other things to take care of:

1. Build an application strategy. Have a clear idea of the firms that you want to apply to and in what order. You can leverage this guide which takes into account the limitations brought by the current economic conditions:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

2. Develop an amazing application package (CV, cover letter, referrals). If I have to pick only one, I'd say the CV matters most so this is one area you should consider working with an expert on. Having an amazing CV will already put you in the top 5-10% of applicants. In terms of referrals, you can read the guide below to learn how to leverage coffee chats to get referrals:

• Mastering Brainstorming: A Consultant's Guide

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I agree with the sentiment:

• Make a list of the companies you want to apply to
• Scan their websites to gather as much info on potential application deadlines as possible - on-campus recruiting will no apply to you
• Reach out to current employees (ideally manager+ level) to inquire about info calls in order to network your way to a referral
• Begin the application process only when you have referral (wherever you can)

That said, you need to have your CV ready and polished and you should also have a good draft of a cover letter handy that you could easily customize in case it becomes relevant.

Good luck

Hi there,

in line with what some other coaches mentioned - since you already graduated, campus recruiting deadlines won't apply and you will be able to apply off-cycle (= anytime) to these firms. 

Feel free to reach out to me or one of the other coaches, if you need help with the right positioning of your application and advice on how to best network to increase chances of success.

Regards, Andi