Hi Chris,

Q: As I am currently out of school, would it be advantageous for me to wait until the next recruiting cycle to align with that timeline? Or would I be considered an experienced hire at this point in which case would I be alright to apply now even though I would be “off-cycle”? 

You probably won’t be able to apply as an Advanced degree holder as you are out of school already. As Ian said, the best way to find out the best moment to apply is to network and find a referral in your target office, which will also strengthen your application in any case.

You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation 

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi Chris,

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

• First of all, given you already have your advanced degree, the deadlines for advanced degree holders will most likely not apply to you anymore, providing you with the freedom to apply whenever you feel ready.
• In order to actually be ready, I would highly advise you to ensure you hand in the best possible application, including polished application files and a strong referral, and start preparing for case studies and personal fit in parallel already.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi Chris,

Congratulations on your advanced degree!

The #1 answer here is: Network, network, network.

The best time to apply is going to be different for each company/situation.

Networking helps you figure out which companies are hiring when. You want to go with the flow in terms of when they have openings AND in terms of when you can get referrals.

If you network now and firm x says you should apply. Then apply!

No matter when you apply, at this point you are an experienced hire. (Therefore, there's not a set timeline for you)

 As an experienced hire, you can typically apply at any time, as these firms often have ongoing needs for experienced talent.

Here are a few tips for your application process:

Leverage your network: Reach out to any friends, former classmates, or colleagues who work in consulting. They might be able to refer you or provide insights about the hiring process and requirements for experienced hires.

Tailor your resume and cover letter: Highlight any relevant experience, including transferable skills from your advanced degree, that could be applicable to the consulting industry.

Research the firms: Understand the specific industries, practices, and office locations you're interested in joining. This will help you better tailor your application materials and prepare for interviews.

Prepare for case interviews: As a candidate with an advanced degree, you may still be required to participate in case interviews. Start practicing early and consider attending workshops, webinars, or working with a case coach.

Monitor job postings: Keep an eye on MBB and other consulting firms' career websites for experienced hire openings. You can also set up job alerts on LinkedIn or other job platforms to receive notifications when relevant positions become available.

For advanced degrees they often hire throughout the year - I recommend dropping the recruiting team an email with your CV and asking what the timelines are and when you should formally apply. 

Good luck!

As you are recruiting off-cycle, honestly anytime will do - with a couple of exceptions.

My guess is that this is correlated with recruiting and budgeting cycles. If you want someone to start in January, you start looking for then in September and October; by late November you already shorlisted candidates or even sending offets.

The other strong intake tends to be in September. So you have to start 4 months before, but then in late July-August there isn't much going on. Is not as dramatic as December but the dip is there.

But to be honest, between Jan and June there isn't much of a difference, at least that I've noticed.

Throughout my career I had more calls from headhunters in Sep-Oct (or very early November). Usually nothing in late november until mid-January. And then “average” from Jan to June. July-August also less active, but not as dramatic as December.

(edited)

Hi there,

In the absence of first-hand insights from networking, which I absolutely recommend in line with other coaches, timing is down to your own preferences.

Recruiting for Experienced Hires is generally on a continuous basis and you should apply when you feel 80% ready for the interviews. Once invited, things can move quite quickly and you don't want to be starting from 0 at that point.

Please let me know if I can help in any way - you wouldn't be the first MD I helped getting into MBB.

Best of luck!

Moritz