Post-MBA MBB Experienced Hire

Question

Unfortunately, I didn't secure any offers from MBB during second year FT recruiting at a T-10 MBA program. I was waitlisted at one and received rejections from the other two firms after interviews.

I'll be joining a T-2 consultancy post-graduation and plan to work hard there for ~1-2 years, but still have a desire to eventually apply again for MBB.

Is re-recruiting as an experienced hire a realistic path? If so, what would be an appropriate timeline for applying again and what would be the most effective strategies for building my candidacy?

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer, despite the rejections and being waitlisted from MBB!

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

First of all, you may consider reapplying after about a year.
Moreover, however, I would highly advise you to wait and see how you like working at your future employer before committing yourself to MBB. I know quite a few people with the same plan who ended up liking their "second choice" much more and stayed for good.

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 there,

congrats on your T2 offer. It is very common for consultants to transition from a T2 company to MBB somewhere down the line (the other direction is rather unusual).

I would at least give it 2 years of consulting experience before you attempt a re-application. That way you'll be already seasoned enough and have some "war stories" to share. Better yet though, you wait until you have some form of specialization that might be interesting for MBB.

However, you should just focus on your current firm for the time being and not already think years ahead day-dreaming about greener pastures at MBB. Because after all, you might

find out that you actually like the company and client environment at your T2 firm and you'll be given plenty of opportunities to grow
determine for yourself that consulting is actually not your cup of tea and you rather want to focus on something else
2+ years of consulting workload and sacrifice of your personal life will have been enough for you to pursue a different direction in your career

So with all that said, in summary: No, your dream of MBB is not dead. But there is also little reason to make that your primary objective at this point in time.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Great insights from Brian and Dennis.

One quick add: ideal timing depends on hiring needs. I’d keep connections at the firms warm (e.g., note to recruiters expressing interest in reapplying, to your connections on where you landed and thanking them for the help) and wait at least a year before asking about the timing of experienced hire applications/interviews.

Experienced hires are reviewed on a rolling basis, but that doesn’t mean you should apply whenever and hope to make it work. Recruiting teams will only spend the time on this part of the pipeline when business need picks up and requires additional headcount beyond existing staff and planned starts.

For now, focus on crushing it at your job and developing the skillset that will make you a successful consultant.

Answer 4

Yes - it is a very realistic path to be hired as an experienced consultant, depending on where you will be working and what your expertise is likely to be. If you specialize in skills/sectors that are in high demand and build a good reputation you will have a great shot at MBB.

In terms of timeline - At least 2+ years to build credibility around your story about what you can bring to the role once you transition.

Answer 5

1 year in T2 is enough to reapply again; but it will be helpful if you can share why you were rejected in the first place. e.g., Case study performance, resume strength etc. I'm assuming it is the former.

Re-recruiting is a perfectly realistic path. Focus on doing your job well (develop consulting competencies) + case/behavioral prep + source for referrals from your MBA counterparts who are in MBB

Answer 6

Hi there,

Great plan!

I would say, 12-18 months would be a good timeline to reapply:

You can demonstrate significant improvements on your resume by then
The market will hopefully be in a better shape
You have time to network with active MBB consultants for networking
You have significantly improved your problem-solving skills, analytics, and communication by then
You have better stories to tell during the fit

All the best,

Florian

Answer 7

That depends on your profile and in which part of the processes you were rejected.

If you were not invited to the process, work on your resume with a professional coach or another consultant.

If you failed during the interviews but you showed potential, MBB will normally call you back.

If you failed big time in round 1, chances are very low.

Answer 8

I am an EP hire myself and have helped a few EP candidates get offers in my office. There is no set timeline like the... (read entire answer)

I am an EP hire myself and have helped a few EP candidates get offers in my office. There is no set timeline like the MBA/APD campus hires and it is rolling basis (hire year aro... (read entire answer)

Answer 9

Do you have a contact in the recruiting team? Did you network with any consultants in your target office? I’d encoura... (read entire answer)

Do you have a contact in the recruiting team? Did you network with any consultants in your target office? I’d encourage you to check in and express continued interest. Applying... (read entire answer)

Answer 10

Hi there, Yes, you should reach out to the recruiter letting them know you applied already. In the note, you can bri... (read entire answer)

Hi there, Yes, you should reach out to the recruiter letting them know you applied already. In the note, you can briefly highlight key professional achievements since the last... (read entire answer)