Are you only able to apply for MBB once?

Question

As the title mentioned, I wanted to ask if you're able to reapply to MBB consulting positions.

For some context, I have had some unfortunate health issues of late and don't feel as ready as I could possibly be regarding prep. I originally was going to go into law and had some offers from some top law firms but ultimately decided when i left Uni that consulting would make me happier and be a better fit. I got a job as a junior researcher and have worked for the past year full time after graduating in 2023. I will give it my all, but I'm not sure if it's wise to squander the chance if you only get one and I'm unlikely to perform at my best. BCG is my favourite and I noticed that on their website it says you can only apply once to a role.

Answer 1

Hi there,

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

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

First of all, yes, you can certainly reapply if you fail.
Moreover, since you seem to live in the UK, the 12-18 month ban period is usually only 12 months in the UK, since hiring is not done on a rolling basis, but essentially once a year.

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 2

Hi friend, I hope you are doing well.

Answering your questions: You can apply as many times as you want, but with restrictions.

These firms generally have a cooling-off period between applications if your initial attempt is unsuccessful:

McKinsey: Typically requires a 12-18 month gap before you can reapply if you are rejected, though this can vary by region or office.
Bain: Usually recommends waiting at least 12 months before reapplying after a rejection, but the exact policy can depend on specific office guidelines.
BCG: Also typically asks candidates to wait 12 months between applications if they were not successful initially.

Considering the background you mentioned, I recommend you to take your time to prepare and apply when you are ready. The application process opens annually or semestral depending on office/region and will exist for when you feel you are ready.

As a personal point, I should mention that I tend to be motivated by deadlines. So, using a deadline to pressure yourself with the preparation (which can be 2-3 months period depending on your math/communication skills), can be helpful.

Good luck in your journey!

Answer 3

Hi there,

if you apply and your application is not successful, there will be a ban period of 12-18 months (depending on the individual firm) that you must wait before you can apply for a role there again.

By rejection a candidate during the recruiting process, the firm does not believe that the candidate would be a right fit for them at the present moment in time. But in general, they are willing to look at a candidate again if he/she demonstrates improvements during the ban period (e.g. relevant job experiences, another academic degree). These things take time to accomplish obviously and hence the length of these ban periods.

If you don't feel well prepared for the interviews, don't apply yet. The likelihood of you getting an offer like that are extremely low. But you shouldn't be discouraged from applying because you think you only have one shot. You have multiple shots, but with some lag time in between, as described above.

Best of luck

Answer 4

Hi there,

I hope it sorts itself out and you get better soon!

Quick answer: No, you can apply multiple times to all firms.

What is important is to demonstrate significant improvements on your resume in 2/4 with a re-application:

Education
Work experience
Leadership and impact (can be partially overlapping with the above)
Time spent abroad (in some regions)

Additionally, I would always try to get a referral before applying to maximize your screening chances.

Once you have passed the screening, you start from 0 with the tests and interviews.

This thread could also be interesting for you: Coaches, how many times did you fail? | PrepLounge.com

All the best,

Florian

Answer 5

Hi there,

Q: I wanted to ask if you're able to reapply to MBB consulting positions.

Yes you can, many people succeed at the second or third attempt. You normally have a ban period of 12-18 months if you are not successful, after that you can apply again.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 6

You can reapply if you showed some potential. After the ban period some colleagues mentioned here, you can normally apply again if nothing estrange happened in your previous interviews (normally, if you break any company value).

Preparing for consulting interviews is exhausting so 1) make it when you feel ready and energized and 2) give your best when you do it to try to secure the offers in your first try.