Reapplying after 2 years and still at the same level?

Question

Hi,

Early 2023 I was invited to the first round interviews at two MBB companies but unfortunately did not make it to the final round. I have been working on my overall profile and know where my pitfalls were in case prep, so considering to reapply now.

I was already working about 1.5 years after my master when I applied for the first time and now it's been around 3.5 years of full-time work. My question is, should I still apply now, even though I would apply for the same level as I fear they would still hire me as a Business Analyst/Associate and won't hire me yet as an Associate/Consultant (as I have no MBA and not the full 4 years of work experience).

Appreciate any inputs!

Answer 1

Hi there,

I was in a similar position myself when I re-applied to BCG as an “experienced hire” — folks who are out of school and have some industry experience.

If you have less than 2 years of work experience, most firms will still start you as an entry level hire (BA, Associate). For folks with 2-3yrs, forms might hire as Senior Associate/BA.

Since you were invited before, you have a strong shot at getting interviewed again. Three things to focus on:

Network your way back in using connections from the last rounds
Craft a compelling story through your resume and fit stories
Crush that case prep so there’s no doubt your a definite hire

On #3, I’m here to help! Happy to offer you a free 15min consultation to ensure you have a bulletproof strategy to break into consulting this time around.

Persistence and hard work pays off! Took me three tries to get it right, and it was worth every hour/$s I put into it.

Answer 2

I was in the same ship a few years ago having applied to all MBBs straight out of campus and being rejected. I reapplied 2.5yrs later but this time through my network and got into BCG. I would recommend doing the same to get a foot in the door.

Even if you don’t have a tangible connection, use LinkedIn to connect with Partners from relevant practice areas and express your interest and fit. I was able to get a Bain interview in this manner.
Best of luck and do get in touch for free if you need guidance in networking! :)

Answer 3

Hi there,

With more than 3 years of FT work experience, you could consider skipping the first step and directly applying for the Associate/Consultant role. HR will tell you if they would like to "downgrade" the application to the entry level below.

If you re-apply make sure to

highlight significant changes on your resume compared to the first application
get a strong referral from each firm

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

Yes, there's that risk, although you would not be a 1st year Business Analyst, but more likely start at the level of an experienced BA.

Please understand that your interview performance (including personal experience interview) may impact the specific rank that is offered to you.

Answer 5

That depends on what you’ve been doing over the past two years. If you’ve been outside consulting, you’ll likely still qualify for an entry-level or senior entry-level position. Be sure to confirm with HR.

Best,

Alberto