Delaying graduation to recruit?

Hi there, 

The way I understand you have two paths forward here: 

• Recruit for this cycle: you can definitely catch up on case preparation/ recruitment if you make it a priority and focus on developing those muscles. I started pretty late and was able to get good offers. Building an expedited preparation plan is key here, as you need to be efficient with your time
• Take a semester off and recruit later: this is also a good option, as long as you make sure that you do something with that time off which consulting firms would find applicable to the job. This could be anything from working on a side-project related to consulting (your university consulting clubs should be a good place to look for these) to building an app. The key here is to show that you used that time off to improve yourself, as opposed to just sitting out a recruiting cycle

Regardless, I would say not to stress too much about this. You can make your way into consulting through both approaches. Just try to decide relatively early, so that you can start preparing for each path. Happy to help you if you need :) 

Hey there! It's great that you're thinking ahead about your recruiting timeline. Delaying graduation to better prepare for recruiting can be a smart move if you feel you need more time to get ready. However, keep in mind that most consulting firms hire for full-time positions from the senior class, so if you delay graduation, you might miss out on some opportunities.

Recruiting can be intense, so it's good to have a solid plan in place. If you're unsure about being ready for this cycle, it might be worth recruiting anyway and taking a semester off as a backup plan. That way, you can give it your best shot this time around and still have the option to take more time if needed. Ultimately, it's about finding the balance that works best for you and your goals. Good luck with your decision!

Hi there

My strong recommendation is to work backwards from the deadlines, especially since the deadlines are not within your control, whereas your preparation is. 

So, figure out your target firms and offices and contact the recruiters to find out when the deadline is for you. 

Then, start planning your prep from there and decide whether you should delay the graduation or not. 

You can actually problem-solve on this with the recruiters as well. It's in their interest to recruit you as long as you're high potential. 

You might also find this guide useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

I'm finding it hard to grasp the reasoning here.

Please consider all below as indicative dates.

If I understand correctly, if you don't take a semester off, you will graduate in May/June 2025. 

Recruiting for students graduating in (May) 2025 will happen around October / November 2024.

As such, you have plenty of time to apply within the next recruiting cycle and to be prepared for the interviews.

Please also note that most likely they have their university recruiting process tuned for students graduating in the summer… so if you finish in December, you will be recruiting off-cycle.

Please also understand that if you don't get a job this year, you can apply again 12 months later… it's a better plan than postponing entering the professional world.

Hi there,

I would personally not delay graduation for recruiting purposes. You want to get your degree in regular time - otherwise that will be something you have to explain going forward. And taking a full semester off because you otherwise wouldn't have managed to prepare for job interviews sounds like a very poor argument.

The consulting market is tight right now and there is no guarantee as to when that will change. So you might as well take your chances now. In the worst case, you get rejected and by the time your ban period of 12-18 months is over, the market might also look more promising so you can try again.

In any case, you need a good game plan to prepare for your interviews - if you are a Junior now, you've got plenty of time though. Typical campus recruiting for full-time positions happens around October. Start preparing now and you'll be in good shape by then.

Best

Hi there,

Q: If I take my Senior Fall semester off and graduate in December 2025 instead, will I be able to recruit for consulting jobs next cycle?

When is the deadline for applications and when do you expect to interview if you don't take the semester off? Even if you don't feel ready now, with a good prep plan, you might be able to be ready by the time you have to interview. If you want to share more details, we can provide feedback on that.

Best,

Francesco