Rejected at MBB Screening – Why? What Should I Do Next?

Hello there!

It’s hard to guide you without knowing the details. It may be that your experience is not relevant or that your CV was not proper crafted (my bet is the latest). Send me your CV per DM and I can evaluate it and see if that’s the case (free of charge).

Best,

Mari

Hi there,

Sorry to hear!

1. Without seeing the actual full profile, this is very difficult to say. You also need to see it in the context of the office you have applied to. There could be many reasons, likely a combination of some.
2. Yes, there is usually an application ban of 12-24 months; could also play a role in your rejection
3. Out of the 3 options proposed, I'd try with T2/T3, work there for 2 years and then switch to MBB.

Reach out for help!

All the best,

Florian

Hi there, 

sorry to hear that it did not work out! Don't lose hope, there are still pathways into MBB after you have started your first job. 

1. Reason for rejection is very hard to say without seeing your full profile but there are 12-24 months ban periods in place that might have played a role since you tried previously 

2. I would go for a T2 consultancy and then try to make a move. If you go for the industry option, try to pick a role that has strategic components to it otherwise it will be tough to justify a move

Best, 
Sebastian

Your rejection at the MBB screening stage could be due to several factors. Let’s break this down systematically:

1. Why Might You Have Been Rejected?

• Academic Background: ESCP is a strong school, but you are also competing for the same spots as students from  HEC, LBS, INSEAD, or Oxbridge for European offices. A 3.7 GPA is solid, but if the competition includes 3.9+ candidates from these schools, it could put you at a disadvantage.

• Work Experience: 16 months is decent, but MBB typically looks for either top-tier consulting internships or highly relevant experience (strategy roles, investment banking, or top corporate programs). If your internships weren’t in top firms or high-impact roles, it might have weakened your profile.

• CV Quality: Even strong candidates can get rejected if their CV doesn’t highlight impact, problem-solving, and leadership in a structured, consulting-style manner.

• Past Rejections: MBB firms do track previous applications. If you were rejected before, they might assume there hasn’t been a significant improvement unless you’ve made a clear career leap.

• Hiring Needs & Competition: MBB recruiting cycles fluctuate based on demand. If they have a strong talent pipeline, it becomes even harder to pass screening.

2. Does MBB Have a “Blacklist” for Rejected Candidates?

• No official “blacklist,” but yes, past applications are tracked.

• If you were rejected before, especially without an interview, MBB recruiters may assume your profile is still not competitive unless you demonstrate significant improvement.

• Some firms have “cooling-off” periods (e.g., 1-2 years) before you can reapply.

3. What Should You Do Next?

To maximize your chances for a future reapplication, you should focus on significantly strengthening your profile. You have three strong paths:

Option 1: Join a Tier-2/Tier-3 Consulting Firm and Reapply Later

✅ Best for staying in the consulting track.

✅ Consulting experience (e.g, S&, OW, ATK, etc.) can be a great stepping stone.

✅ Easier to transition to MBB in 1-2 years if you excel.

🔸 Best if: You can secure an offer at a well-regarded Tier-2 firm.

Option 2: Gain High-Impact Industry Experience & Reapply

✅ Join a strategy/corporate finance role in a top company (Big Tech, PE, Fortune 500, or a fast-growing startup).

✅ If you get into a high-responsibility, high-impact role, it can make you a more attractive candidate.

🔸 Best if: You land a prestigious role (e.g., strategy at Amazon, or BizOps at a unicorn startup).

Option 3: Do an MBA or a Quantitative Master’s

✅ A top-tier MBA (e.g., INSEAD, LBS, Harvard, Wharton) resets your profile and gives you a fresh shot at MBB recruiting.

✅ A Master’s in a quantitative field (e.g., data science, finance, economics) could help if you lack a strong analytical background.

🔸 Best if: You want to fully reposition yourself, and you can get into a top program.

Final Advice

• If your goal is MBB at all costs, your best bet is Tier-2 consulting → MBB lateral hire.

• If you want broader career flexibility, industry (strategy, finance, startups) → MBA → MBB can work well.

• Ensure your CV is MBB-optimized (quantify impact, structure, leadership).

• Consider networking more aggressively to get referrals.
 

Hi there,

Have you passed the ban period from the previous rejection? If not, then it is normal that you got rejected again. 

If you have pass the ban period already, then likely it is the CV and/or the relevance of your work experience. 

It is hard to say more without looking into your CV and experience in more details. A proper coaching session with a seasoned coach would be helpful for you. 

Best,

Emily

1. Would need to check the specific profile. But with 16 months of work experience you should be applying to entry level / business analysist roles (i.e., not the consultant / associate post-MBA roles).

2. Yes, they do, but should not be relevant if you are applying after you graduated and assuming you didn't apply in the past few months.

3.1. and 3.2. Apply to other consulting firms. It is easier to move between consulting firms than from industry to consulting

3.3. MBA from a top school makes a difference. It really has to be a top world / european school, otherwise it won't help (quite the opposite). 

Hi,

As others have mentioned, it is hard to pinpoint reasons without further information such as your CV, your last rejection date and your interview performance.

One thing to keep in mind however is that these are not great times for recruitment in consulting in general. Projects are drying up, MBB is delaying start dates, partner elections are much smaller and hiring is being reduced across many markets.

What can you do from here? You have a few options

1. Joining a T2 firm in the right role is not a bad option. The right role is one where the work being done is similar to MBB - so strategy, due diligence etc. is great, even if it is sector focused. I would avoid PMO work or pure operations unless you want to get into an ops role at MBB.

2. Gaining expertise in a crucial space - in order to advise clients, it helps to also have the same expertise in house. That is why experienced hires do reasonably well even in down years like this one. Try and focus on areas of high demand or industries of high demand (AI, data centers, nuclear energy etc.) and work in companies in the space in roles that build your knowledge and experience quickly.

All the best,

Udayan

We need more information to help you effectively.

Share the details here (or via DM if you prefer) so we can evaluate your case.

Key details we need:

• Which firm you applied to

• Which office/location

• Your resume

• Which channel you used to apply (website, referral, etc.)

Best,

Alberto

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