How to Get a Job at Bain & Company

Just like any other renowned management consulting firm, you need to work your fingers to the bone to get a job at Bain. The selection process is tough—a typical Bain office usually receives thousands of job applications and only a small percentage of candidates are invited to interview.

This fact can be discouraging, but if you’re determined to work in the management consulting industry, consider the following tips:

Never Miss Bain School Visits

Bain visits approximately 900 universities located around the world each year. Recruiters usually arrange the event with the career office of each school. Consult with your coordinator about upcoming visits or search for your university on Bain’s campus recruitment web page. Campus visits are a perfect opportunity for you to gain information about Bain’s operations, culture, and values from an insider’s point of view. You will also have the chance to network with professional experts who can provide valuable feedback on how to get a job at Bain.

For Bain reps, this is a perfect time to spot prospective consultants. When attending these events, rehearse your elevator pitch ahead of time and come up with sensible questions; a recruiter remembers someone who practices the art of inquisition. As Voltaire said, “It is better to judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”

Understand the Recruitment Process

Generally, those who get a job at Bain are individuals who have excellent problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. An applicant’s passion to make a difference is also essential as unmotivated candidates will never survive in the field of management consulting.

Bain considers the level of the applicants who are interested in breaking into the firm. Their website clearly outlines the requirements, expectations, and interview process for undergraduates, MBA candidates, and experienced professionals. Each level has a different set of documents to submit in the online application. The interview process may also differ but it’s usually a mix of the applicant’s qualifications and case interview performance.

Prepare for the Case Interview

In order to get a job at Bain, you should pass the case interview, a classic tool used to gauge your ability to resolve problems. The interview allows you to apply your critical thinking and creativity to a realistic situation. The interviewer will provide you with slides describing the scenario; you will then have a set amount of time to review the information and write your recommendations.

After you have formulated your answer, you will have a chance to present your solutions. Interviewers might challenge your ideas in order to determine if you can handle a client situation. Be sure that you are flexible, quick, and open-minded. Be calm, pragmatic, and concise in communicating your ideas. There’s no right answer for the case presented. You will be judged on whether you arrived at a solution in a logical manner.

Expect to have a few case interview rounds. As expected, there will also be a fit interview where the recruiter will ask about your experience, education, and values.