When does BCG get back to work?

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for a lot of users, thus I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• It's generally a good idea to wait until after the holiday break to send in your application, as you mentioned. This will give them time to review and process all of the applications that have come in, and it will also give you the opportunity to make sure that your application is as strong as possible.
• As for the coffee chat, it's generally a good idea to follow the instructions that were provided in the email you received from the firm. If the email indicated that coffee chats will be held after the holiday break, then it would be a good idea to wait until that time to reach out and request a coffee chat. If the email did not specify a timeline for the coffee chats, then you could consider reaching out to the firm to inquire about the availability of slots.
• Keep in mind that consulting firms are typically very busy, and it may take some time to coordinate a coffee chat with a specific individual. It's also possible that all of the slots for coffee chats may be taken, in which case you may need to wait until a later date to request one.
• In any case, it's generally a good idea to be patient and to follow the instructions provided by the firm. This will help ensure that your request for a coffee chat is handled smoothly and efficiently.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on what to do in your specific situation, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Not sure what the problem is. Are you worried your message gets lost if you reply now? It won't.

My advice is to stop guessing when people may be in or out and just reply as if it weren't the end of the year. Keep the conversation going on your end and let them be the bottleneck, to avoid the risk that you're it.

Best of luck!

Moritz

Hello,

No harm in expressing your interest for doing a coffee chat now. Most likely, they will still see your email after the holidays, but if they allocate slots based on first in first out, you would still be better off!

Hope this helps.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any further questions regarding interviews with BCG Middle East.

All the best!

Rushabh

Hi there,

Q: Needless to say, applying now was a bad idea, so I'm waiting at least a week into the new year. But what about this coffee chat thing? Should I wait for that also? My thinking is that it's different because slots may be taken fully.

If they invited you to the coffee chat now and you are interested to reserve a slot, I can’t see problems replying now. You may indeed avoid the risk that the event runs out of slots in this way. Worst case, you might have to call the office once they reopen in January and follow up on the application if you don’t hear from them.

Good luck!

Francesco

It's generally a good idea to wait until after the holidays to reach out about scheduling a coffee chat, as many people take time off during this period. In this case, it sounds like the consultant you spoke with mentioned  they would be returning in Jan, so wait until they are back.

Given they may be busy getting caught up on work after returning from the holidays, it may be more convenient for them to schedule the coffee chat for a later date. Just ask when works for them.

Hi there, 

For the coffee chat, feel free to write to them already. This has nothing to do with your application per se. Then aim to send the application mid-Jan when certainly everybody will be back in the office. 

Here is an article about how to approach coffee chats. It details out what you should expect and how to best prepare to get the most out of it. 

Best of luck!

Cristian

Hello!

Getting a coffee chat is always going to be a good idea. The least you can get is some info about the company and experience about doing networking, and the best is contacts and even a referral to apply. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

The coffee chat thing is something you can contact them about whenever. Send it now and they'll get back to you whenever they can. It's less of a process than the application so I wouldn't worry about perfect timing in conjunction with year-end shutdown.

Hi there,

If it were me I would reach out in the second week of Jan. Gives them a chance to get settled/caught up and reduces the chance that things get lost.