Candidate profile and application FAQs
What is the overall recruitment process?
Depending on what job or country you apply to, you will have different recruiting processes. As standard, your submitted application will be reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team who will assess your skills and suitability for the role. Some roles will require you to take an online assessment. You may have a member of our Talent Acquisition team reach out for an initial chat about your application to get to know you better (though this won’t be possible for our high-volume application roles). After successfully passing our screening process, you will be invited to interview, where you will have several virtual or in-person interviews. Our recruiting team will guide you through the whole process, and if successful, will make you an offer.
What email address should I use?
When applying and creating a profile, you should use an email that you will have regular access to into the future. We recommend using a personal email (not a university email) that you intend to have for years to come. You cannot change your email once chosen and will need to create a new profile if you can no longer access your original email.
Can I use my university or school email address?
We do not recommend using your school’s email as you may lose access to it after you graduate and this may impact current or future applications. You cannot change your email once chosen.
Can I change my email address?
No, you cannot change your email address once you have created a profile. If you no longer have access to your email, you should create a new profile with a new email address.
What happens when you select office location preferences?
When creating a profile to attend an event or apply for a job, we will ask which of our offices you would like to work from. These are called office preferences; there is a primary and secondary option, and a broader relocation question.
If you haven’t applied for a job yet and create a profile for event registration, we will use these preferences for future communication and potentially send you job openings and events specifically for that office.
If you’re applying for a job, some roles will be available in different office locations, which will be specified in the job description. To ensure you are considered for the location(s) you want, your office location preferences in your profile should reflect the job description. For example, if you are applying to a role in Paris, Paris should be one of your location preferences. This will be used by our teams to assess your application(s) in line with your preferences. We strongly recommend that your preferences match the office(s) you have applied to. We may also consider you if your office is in the region you have selected for relocation.
You can update your preferences at any time by logging in and navigating to “My profile”. Your last updated profile preference at the point of application screening will be utilized as your final profile preference.
It is critical that you consider exactly where you want to work and the implications of that choice before selecting your preferences. This will directly impact who sees your application and where you may work if you are successful in receiving an offer.
How do I make sure I apply for the right location?
Checking the locations specified on the job description ensures that there are openings for that job in that office. If there are multiple locations listed (e.g. Boston, Chicago, Atlanta), you should select which office you prefer to work in when selecting your office preferences during profile creation.
If you choose to select a different office preference that is not listed on the job description, we cannot guarantee there will be an opening available and this may impact you when we assess and screen your application.
If you apply for multiple jobs across different regions and countries, we will prioritize your location preferences regardless of where you are currently geographically located or what is listed on the job description. For Associate and Consultant roles we recommend you apply to only 2 locations and make your preferences match.
If your preferences change after setting up a profile, you should login and navigate to “My profile” and amend your preferences there.
What is the relocation question used for?
When setting up a profile to apply for a job or attend an event, you will be asked if you’re willing to relocate to a particular region. We may use your answer to consider you for additional opportunities within BCG, if you’re suitable.
How do I make changes to my application?
Applications consist of 2 parts: a profile and job-specific questions. A profile is created once, and after creation you can update information by logging into your profile. You can find a link to your profile page in the original email you received. You should then navigate to “My Profile” where you will see sections for personal details, preferences, resume, language, skills, experience and education. Click on the pencil icon to amend or edit your details. These will update in our internal system when assessing your application. If you need to update job-specific questions you’ve answered, such as GPA or test scores, you will need to contact your recruiter to inform them. You should not withdraw and reapply; you can only apply to a role once.
What happens if I have made a mistake after submitting my application?
If you are concerned about your application, reach out to your recruiter to inform them of any errors or mistakes. If you intend to be considered for the role, do not withdraw. You cannot reapply to the same role once you have submitted an application.
How do I complete the university grades and test scores correctly?
We hire people from all around the world who come from different education systems. Each of these has its own grading system. So that we understand your score, we need some more information at application. If you have a numeric score, we need to know the maximum score available for your degree and whether an increasing or decreasing score is better. If your scores are non-numeric, you can specify that before giving your grade. If you have any other tests results, we recommend that you list these when asked: a scale and maximum score is not required for them.
How do I know if all my details have been taken from my resume correctly?
When creating your profile using a resume, you are given the opportunity to check both your experience and education from what it has parsed and added on your behalf. We recommend that you check all details thoroughly to ensure they are correct, and you are happy with what is being submitted. We’d advise confirming your education and experience start and end dates. This will directly impact your application if information is wrong.
What university establishment should I add first?
When adding university details, if you are enrolled in school, please provide your current school, degree and major. If you are pursuing a dual degree or major, or if your major is not listed, please select the one that is nearest or most applicable to your application. If you are on exchange, please select your main school.
If you are not currently enrolled in school, respond with details from your most recently completed degree.
Am I able to save my application part way?
You are not able to save your profile or application once you begin it, so please make sure you dedicate the time to apply. The application should not take long and many of the questions will auto-generate from your resume and potential past applications.
What is my profile used for?
A profile is needed when applying for jobs or attending events at BCG. By creating a profile, you provide your details once, making multiple applications quicker and easier as your information is saved. By creating a profile, we also have your details within our database should we want to contact you in the future for other opportunities that might match your skills and experience.
How can I withdraw my application and when should I do it?
If you no longer wish to be considered for a role you can withdraw at any time. Login to your profile by clicking the link in your original email. Then navigate to “My applications” and click the “Withdraw” button. Your application will stop, however your profile will be retained for future opportunities you may be considered for.
Do not withdraw your application if you would like to remain in consideration for the role. If you believe you've made a mistake, update your profile or reach out to your recruiter. You will not be able to reapply to the same job once you've withdrawn your application.
How long is my profile kept and what is it used for?
During profile completion you may have consented to having your data held by BCG for 5 years. If you did not consent your data will be purged 6 months after your application is completed or your profile has become inactive. We may use your data to contact you about future opportunities or events.
How many times can I apply for a role?
You can only apply for a role once. You are not able to resubmit applications to the same role so please consider your responses thoughtfully. Should you make a mistake, please contact the recruiter or update your profile by clicking on the link in your original email.
We recommend that you only apply for roles that you are serious about, want to be considered for and will relocate to. If you make multiple applications at the same time, please make sure your office preferences reflect your priority location and the offices listed on the job application.
Why am I being asked to create a profile to register for an event?
Events require a profile to be created so that you do not have to resubmit your details each time you register. This should make attending multiple events easier and simpler.
How can I check which events I’m attending?
You can check which events you have registered to by logging into your profile by clicking on the link in your original email. Then navigate to “my events”.
How do I change my attendance to an event?
Login to your profile by clicking on the link in your original email, then navigate to “My events”, here you can update your RSVP should your circumstance change.
What do I need after I register for an event?
Once you have registered for an event online, if the event is in-person we will send you a QR code. This code will be scanned by a BCGer at the event to register your attendance. We recommend you have it open on your phone.
If the event is virtual, you will be sent a Zoom link to use on the start date.
What happens if I can’t access a scheduling link?
Sometimes for interviews and events, you will be asked to select a timeslot that works for you. A link to this will be sent via email. If, for any reason, this link does not work or you can’t use the webpage, you should contact your recruiter. Selecting the time is an acknowledgement of your desire and commitment to attend the interview or event.
Where can I see the status of my application and my upcoming interviews?
Your BCG profile will show the status of all your current and past applications. You can access it by clicking on the link in your original email and logging in. Then navigate to “My applications” which will show you your application status.