Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

MBB Application

I graduated 1.5 years ago from my MBA, from which I've been working around 1 year from that.
Which route I need to take to apply, am I considered an “experience hire” now?  Or can I still apply with recent MBA graduates route? Is any of this router more difficult to succeed than the other?

5 Answers
500+ Views
8
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
on Jun 09, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

1) Which route I need to take to apply, am I considered an “experience hire” now?  Or can I still apply with recent MBA graduates route? 

Most firms will ask you to apply as experienced hire at this stage. Please note though that you will still join at the same level of a post-MBA (Associate at McKinsey, Consultant at BCG/Bain)

2) Is any of these routers more difficult to succeed than the others?

Usually you have a preferential channel via campus recruiting if you apply as an MBA, in particular if the school is a target one. You can compensate for that with a referral. You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Sophia
Coach
on Jun 10, 2023
Top-Ranked Coach on PrepLounge for 3 years| 6+ years of coaching

Hello,

I think with 1.5 years you would be classified as an experienced hire. You no longer get the on-campus recruiting pipeline that MBA candidates access, which makes getting your foot in the door a little trickier. However, you are also a more established candidate work experience-wise, and there are usually fewer candidates in the experienced hire pools relative to the MBA pools. So there are advantages and disadvantages.

Ian
Coach
on Jun 08, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

You have to apply as an experienced hire. It is indeed harder than the MBA where you are provided a direct channel (recruiting events, application portal etc.). A strong resume and effective networking is paramount.

on Jun 08, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi there, 

You're an experienced hire now. 

Some offices / firms are more lenient in how they decide to consider the status of candidates. If you're unsure and the application track makes a huge difference for you, I'd suggest you reach out to the recruiters and discuss this with them. 

Aside from this, sharing with you a guide that you can leverage to build your application strategy to ensure the best results:

Best,
Cristian

Udayan
Coach
on Jun 08, 2023
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

Yes at this point you’re an experienced hire. The main difference is that you can’t go through the on campus recruitment process and will need to rely on referrals to get an invite to interview. 

Similar Questions
Consulting
McKinsey - Strong referral one month after the application
on Jan 15, 2024
Global
7 Answers
2.8k Views
Top answer by
Brad
Coach
Expert coach | Head of recruiting for Bain | 8+ years interviewing | Free intro call
116
7 Answers
2.8k Views
+4
Consulting
Bain's application process
on Feb 26, 2024
Global
6 Answers
4.3k Views
Top answer by
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach
188
6 Answers
4.3k Views
+3
Consulting
Is it possible to re-apply for MBB Full-Time roles (MBB will be recruiting for a May 2025 start date now) despite being a May 2024 Graduate?
on Jan 04, 2024
Global
6 Answers
2.5k Views
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing, and coaching
64
6 Answers
2.5k Views
+3
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
You are a true consultant! Thank you for consulting us on how to make PrepLounge even better!