How does the time of year you apply influence your likelihood of being hired?

Question

I've networked with contacts from each MBB firm, and I’ve received varying insights on application timing. For Bain, I already applies as I was informed of a clear application deadline (early october). A contact at McKinsey suggested that applying by the end of November is optimal, though others mentioned there’s no strict timing. BCG’s HR noted that they don’t have a set deadline to consider. Yet, for all of them, I've heard a lot of times that 'the earlier the better'.

As I come from a non-economics and non-mathematics background, I want to allow myself as much preparation time as possible. I j However, I’m also aware of the strategic importance of timing in the application process. Do you think it’s crucial to apply at an “ideal” time, or is it unlikely to affect my chances significantly if I apply when hiring may be quieter? Should I prioritise preparation or apply asap?

Answer 1

Based on the context you shared, it sounds like you're applying as an experienced hire -- is that right? If that's the case, the ideal timing comes down to the office, business need, and their planned interviewing/decision timelines.

You're on the right path to getting the intel you need by networking with consultants and recruiting. The most concrete answer you got was a McKinsey application at the end of November. That would mean you're interviewing in Dec '24/Jan '25, so you need to get serious about case prep immediately. In addition, you want to ensure your resume/CV is ready to tell a compelling story about your strength as a candidate.

If you'd like to get started soon and want a coach to support you through the application and case prep process, I would love to help you secure an offer at one of these top-tier firms. Reach out if you'd like to learn more!

Answer 2

Hi there,

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

First of all, there is generally no better or worse time to apply and there is no significant impact on your chances to get invited. A strong candidate will most likely always be invited and a weak candidate will most likely always be rejected.
Moreover, as you rightly said, what actually matters is that you are well prepared for the interviews. Therefore, I would highly advise you to plan your preparation realistically and schedule your interviews accordingly, as far as you can control it.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

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

Answer 3

Hi there,

Q: Do you think it’s crucial to apply at an “ideal” time, or is it unlikely to affect my chances significantly if I apply when hiring may be quieter?

Timing can affect whether you receive an invitation - if a company is hiring more people, everything equal, it will be easier to receive invitations. However, in general, I would recommend applying when you feel confident you are close to your full potential (which means, you might reach your full potential within a few weeks from the application).

The only exception is if there is a specific deadline, such as in the case of Bain you described, or if someone internally tells you that it doesn’t make sense to apply due to low hiring in the office. In the first case, I would apply within the deadline; in the second, I would wait for recruiting to begin again.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 4

Hi there,

This depends on the firm, office and country.

In general, there are slightly higher chances earlier in a year as hiring goals are usually resetting at that point (as told to me by an MBB recruiter once).

If there are set deadlines towards the end of the year (like you mentioned), I don't think your chances would be lower.

Cheers and all the best,

Florian

Answer 5

Hi there,

Considering you’ve networked with consultants at each firm, it’s advisable to go with their suggestions because generally, timelines are set at the office level especially for experienced hires.

For positions without specific timelines, there’s really no ideal time to apply as recruiters should check for qualified candidates that have applied since the last campaign in any new cycle.

Regardless of when you intend to apply, I’d suggest you commence prep as soon as you have the bandwidth to do so.

All the best,

Fathu