Am I eligible for MBB? When should I apply and ?

Question

Hey I graduated from and LSE & CEMS in dec 2022. I am working in botique consulting (strategy and innovation) for a year. I work a lot with big name clients over $20billion in revenue. Worked on business development and leading project plans.

I am intereted in MBB and other top firms like Oliver Wyman. I am curious to know if I should apply again (1) When to it (2) which role (seniority) and (3) where ?

I am interested in applying to Middle east and Amsterdam office.

I got rejected after 6 rounds with Oliver wyman December 2024
I have been rejected by BCG last year. I did not get shortlisted after test (pymetrics).
Mckinsey not short listed.

Bain did 3 interviews, 2 rounds didnt clear (amsterdam office).

I feel I have prepared enogh and learned? Any detailed comments to answer my questions will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,

Below an answer to your questions.

1) I would only re-apply for the same firm at least 1 year after the rejection. Try to really understand why you were rejected and work hard on those points to show improvement during the interview.

2) Your office preference is up to you off course, depending on your personal situation. In general, offices in the Middle East do have more open positions. I have contacts with Bain Amsterdam, so feel free to reach out if I can help you networking.

3) You can apply as an experienced hire. During the interview, they will help/advice you on your best starting level.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Mattijs

Answer 2

Usually the orientation from MBB is for you to wait for a year before trying the application process again, but I had colleagues who ignored this orientation, applied again in 6 months and entered the process normally 🤷🏻‍♀️ I would say go for it if you feel ready, the worst thing that can happen to you is receiving a “no”.

Best luck!

Mari

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your rejections!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, if you are interested in reapplying, you can of course do so. However, please keep in mind that the band period is 12-18 months, so you may not be able to apply to all consulting firms right now.
Moreover, since you have about two years of work experience in consulting, I would advise you to apply as an Associate/Consultant. If the recruiters think you are not experienced enough, they will tell you so.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 4

Hey there,

Short answer on eligibility: yes, you are. More especially if you've been through interviews at Bain. This is now a question about execution during the interview phase!

As to when to apply, please clarify the exact duration with interviews. Usually it is between 12-18months, but can be less or longer depending on many circumstances and situations that coaches here on this platform may not have access to.

All the best

Answer 5

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from sele... (read entire answer)

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from select universities and schools (Target Schools), and their Midd... (read entire answer)