Consulting Q&A – Ask Questions about Your Career

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Advice for a Final year student looking to improve their candidacy

Application Australia Bain BCG Big 4 Boston Consulting Group management consulting McKinsey & Company recruiting
Most recent answer 14 hours ago
The best answer (on Mar 15, 2024) is from:
Sohini
Expert
Ex- Strategy Consultant ZS Associate | Commercial Strategy Director | Michigan MBA | Pharma/Financial Svc. /Tech Expert
Sohini
Expert
gave the best answer on Mar 15, 2024
Ex- Strategy Consultant ZS Associate | Commercial Strategy Director | Michigan MBA | Pharma/Financial Svc. /Tech Expert
Hi, Since you already have a consulting offer, asssuming  what you want to improve your candidacy for MBB - I would suggest you reach out to alumni from your university who have worked at MBBs, and try to get their advi ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
77
Views
70
Total Upvotes
14 hrs ago 14 hours ago
Last Activity

Inclusion of trans and non-binary folks in consulting firms

Application people
Most recent answer on Mar 07, 2024
The best answer (on Feb 02, 2024) is from:
Cristian
Expert
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Cristian
Expert
gave the best answer on Feb 02, 2024
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Hi Vicgo! I actually wrote a piece precisely on this here: Expert Guide: How Are Diversity Initiatives Affecting Recruitment? Let me also take your questions one by one: 1) How are consulting firms actively promoting an ... (read entire answer)
3
Answers
125
Views
35
Total Upvotes
on Mar 07, 2024 on Mar 07, 2024
Last Activity

Is working in commercial banking sector a good addition in resume to reapply for a consulting role?

Application Banking entry level
Most recent answer on Feb 29, 2024
The best answer (on Feb 12, 2024) is from:
Adrien
Expert
Ex-McKinsey interviewer & Senior Consultant | Harvard MBA
Adrien
Expert
gave the best answer on Feb 12, 2024
Ex-McKinsey interviewer & Senior Consultant | Harvard MBA
Hi there, Sorry you got rejected from MBB - I got rejections in the past as well so I know it can be hard, but kudos for bouncing back quickly and thinking about other potential opportunities. Yes, banking (incl. retail ... (read entire answer)
6
Answers
215
Views
72
Total Upvotes
on Feb 29, 2024 on Feb 29, 2024
Last Activity

How to break into the interview? or pass the resume filtering?

Addressing interviewer Application application strength Consulting Resume
Most recent answer on Feb 29, 2024
The best answer (on Feb 29, 2024) is from:
Cristian
Expert
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Cristian
Expert
gave the best answer on Feb 29, 2024
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Hi there! Tough situation.  Basically, you need to think about your approach to applications as a funnel.  First of all, you need a broad funnel. Meaning, lots of application. Then, you need to optimise the funnel, mean ... (read entire answer)
5
Answers
111
Views
53
Total Upvotes
on Feb 29, 2024 on Feb 29, 2024
Last Activity

BCG Application mistake

Application application process BCG
Most recent answer on Feb 29, 2024
The best answer (on Feb 23, 2024) is from:
Andreas
Expert
BCG Principal, First/Final Round Interviewer, Post-MBA offers from All Big 3, Experience working for Booz and Accenture
Andreas
Expert
gave the best answer on Feb 23, 2024
BCG Principal, First/Final Round Interviewer, Post-MBA offers from All Big 3, Experience working for Booz and Accenture
My guidance would depend on the office location, i.e. how important is Arabic to your application.  For example, if you applied to an office in the US, I wouldn't consider your Arabic language skills very central to you ... (read entire answer)
9
Answers
168
Views
70
Total Upvotes
on Feb 29, 2024 on Feb 29, 2024
Last Activity

Bain's application process

Application application process Bain & Company
Most recent answer on Feb 26, 2024
The best answer (on Jan 16, 2024) is from:
Cristian
Expert
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Cristian
Expert
gave the best answer on Jan 16, 2024
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Hi there! Sorry to hear about this complication.  Basically, the way it works in practice is that your first option office is the one that receives your application, and they decide whether to accept it or not.  There a ... (read entire answer)
6
Answers
597
Views
80
Total Upvotes
on Feb 26, 2024 on Feb 26, 2024
Last Activity

How long till I can reapply BCG?

Application BCG MBB Referral waiting period
Most recent answer on Jan 30, 2024
The best answer (on Jan 19, 2023) is from:
Hagen
Expert
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years
Hagen
Expert
gave the best answer on Jan 19, 2023
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years
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: The recruitment process and policies for consulting firms can vary, and it's important ... (read entire answer)
10
Answers
2.5 k
Views
72
Total Upvotes
on Jan 30, 2024 on Jan 30, 2024
Last Activity

McKinsey - Strong referral one month after the application

Application application process business analyst MBB McKinsey Referral
Most recent answer on Jan 15, 2024
The best answer (on Jan 12, 2024) is from:
Brad
Expert
Expert coach | Head of recruiting for Bain | 8+ years interviewing | Free intro call
Brad
Expert
gave the best answer on Jan 12, 2024
Expert coach | Head of recruiting for Bain | 8+ years interviewing | Free intro call
Hi there,   Exciting times!   You’ve ask a couple of good questions. Let me try to answer them together.   At some point, the firm needs to take N number of applicants and distil them down to Y number of interviewees. T ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
283
Views
91
Total Upvotes
on Jan 15, 2024 on Jan 15, 2024
Last Activity

BCG Growth Matrix Application in Other Consulting Firms

and Bain Application approaching a case BCG BCG Matrix case frameworks Case structure and frameworks consutling McKinsey
Most recent answer on Jan 15, 2024
The best answer (on Jan 12, 2024) is from:
Brad
Expert
Expert coach | Head of recruiting for Bain | 8+ years interviewing | Free intro call
Brad
Expert
gave the best answer on Jan 12, 2024
Expert coach | Head of recruiting for Bain | 8+ years interviewing | Free intro call
Hi there,   The direct answer to your question is no, you won’t use the growth/share matrix (or any other framework) to crack interview cases.   The deeper answer to your question is that case studies don’t test you abi ... (read entire answer)
6
Answers
202
Views
53
Total Upvotes
on Jan 15, 2024 on Jan 15, 2024
Last Activity

CV Review for Summer 2025 MBB Internships

Application CV MBB Resume
Most recent answer on Jan 08, 2024
The best answer (on Jan 01, 2024) is from:
Francesco
Expert
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Francesco
Expert
gave the best answer on Jan 01, 2024
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Hi Hugh, Q: It would be great if some people could rate it and offer some tips to maximize my chances of getting an interview. Many coaches offer a CV review as part of their coaching. You can check if there is an optio ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
267
Views
76
Total Upvotes
on Jan 08, 2024 on Jan 08, 2024
Last Activity

Does McKinsey shut down over Christmas?

Application application process Application timing Applied junior associate McKinsey
Most recent answer on Dec 18, 2023
The best answer (on Dec 16, 2023) is from:
Ian
Expert
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
Ian
Expert
gave the best answer on Dec 16, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
Hi Hannah, Short answer, yes :) That said, YOU should not “shut down” over Christmas. Make sure you're using this time to case prep! Also, please, for the sake of your sanity, stop refreshing your emails :P And, please ... (read entire answer)
8
Answers
383
Views
91
Total Upvotes
on Dec 18, 2023 on Dec 18, 2023
Last Activity

BCG Referral Portal

Application BCG MBB Referral
Most recent answer on Dec 17, 2023
The best answer (on Dec 17, 2023) is from:
Hagen
Expert
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years
Hagen
Expert
gave the best answer on Dec 17, 2023
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years
Hi there, I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question: First of all, it's great that you have a referral for BCG. I would advise you to follow the new process as mentioned by your referrer, since they should ... (read entire answer)
8
Answers
269
Views
95
Total Upvotes
on Dec 17, 2023 on Dec 17, 2023
Last Activity

Format of German Tabular CV Question

Application application process CV CV screening German germany Lebenslauf MBB
Most recent answer on Nov 10, 2023
Anonymous gave the best answer on Oct 08, 2018
Hi Anonymous, I am German, have worked in consulting in Germany and have seen my share of CVs, so I hope I can help. So first of all: None of the three examples are total no-gos. I would consider No 2 best / sa ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
116.1 k
Views
24
Total Upvotes
on Nov 10, 2023 on Nov 10, 2023
Last Activity

Not heard back 2 months after online application

Application McKinsey
Most recent answer on Nov 10, 2023
The best answer (on Nov 06, 2023) is from:
Raj
Expert
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK
Raj
Expert
gave the best answer on Nov 06, 2023
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK
I understand your frustration with not hearing back from McKinsey after applying to their New York and San Francisco offices. In this situation, it would be appropriate to reach out to the McKinsey recruitment team to i ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
382
Views
36
Total Upvotes
on Nov 10, 2023 on Nov 10, 2023
Last Activity

Impact of Mid uni gap year impact on application

Application GPA Resume Transcripts
Most recent answer on Nov 06, 2023
The best answer (on Nov 06, 2023) is from:
Raj
Expert
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK
Raj
Expert
gave the best answer on Nov 06, 2023
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK
Thank you for sharing your situation. I understand that taking a gap year and experiencing personal challenges during the COVID period can raise concerns about how it may impact your job prospects. While I cannot speak ... (read entire answer)
9
Answers
294
Views
52
Total Upvotes
on Nov 06, 2023 on Nov 06, 2023
Last Activity

Requesting Referrals

Application referrals
Recent activity on Oct 31, 2023
The best answer (on Oct 31, 2023) is from:
Cristian
Expert
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Cristian
Expert
gave the best answer on Oct 31, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
Sure, I actually put together two articles that go deeper into this topic and you might find it useful to review them.  Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals V ... (read entire answer)
7
Answers
1.5 k
Views
15
Total Upvotes
on Oct 31, 2023 on Oct 31, 2023
Last Activity

Internship application in Asia

Application Asia Hong Kong internship Shanghai Singapore
Most recent answer on Oct 30, 2023
The best answer (on Oct 27, 2023) is from:
Benjamin
Expert
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Benjamin
Expert
gave the best answer on Oct 27, 2023
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Hi, Theoretically, anyone can apply anyhwere. The question is why you are relevant for the role and whether the firm perceives that as well. You have personal/family ties in that region You have previously spent time in ... (read entire answer)
4
Answers
3.6 k
Views
14
Total Upvotes
on Oct 30, 2023 on Oct 30, 2023
Last Activity

From Tier 2 to Top Tier Consulting Firm

Application application process Bain Bain & Company BCG career progression Case Interview Change Career Change Firm Change Firms Change Job Experienced Hire Interview Lateral Hire MBB McKinsey MMB Oliver Wyman Roland Berger strategy& switch Top tier
Most recent answer on Oct 28, 2023
Anonymous gave the best answer on Sep 06, 2017
Hello, I have known several people who joined a BCG Paris after having work for a few years in other consulting firms (either top 20 or boutique/specialized) Evaluation criteria during cases interviews will remain rou ... (read entire answer)
12
Answers
27.8 k
Views
31
Total Upvotes
on Oct 28, 2023 on Oct 28, 2023
Last Activity

Southeast Asian offices as a European

Application BestOffices office preferences SE Asia
Most recent answer on Oct 15, 2023
The best answer (on Oct 15, 2023) is from:
Benjamin
Expert
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Benjamin
Expert
gave the best answer on Oct 15, 2023
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Hi, Sharing a perspective having worked in SEA. All offices require / function in English - there will always be a copy of the work in english, although a second version in the local language may be developed also depen ... (read entire answer)
3
Answers
2.4 k
Views
6
Total Upvotes
on Oct 15, 2023 on Oct 15, 2023
Last Activity

Differences in Associate and Analyst positions at McKinsey?

analyst Application associate MBB McKinsey
Most recent answer on Oct 11, 2023
Anonymous gave the best answer on Oct 06, 2020
Hi San, Please raise this point with HR. In all the cases the process is the same, so you will have to go through it and it will be up to your interviewers to recommend the level at which you join. I hope this helps ... (read entire answer)
21
Answers
67.0 k
Views
87
Total Upvotes
on Oct 11, 2023 on Oct 11, 2023
Last Activity
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