Frequently asked questions
Here recruits can find useful information and answers to common questions about applying to and working at Bain Ibérica.
I am not sure whether strategy consulting is for me. Could I have an informal chat with someone on your consulting staff?
We frequently have informal discussions with potential candidates, although we cannot possibly satisfy all requests. Please contact our recruiting coordinator. Visiting a recruiting event can also be a great way to find out more about consulting.
Is there a good time to apply?
Yes, there are specific times to apply. If you are an undergraduate you should apply to Bain Ibérica from September to mid November (for full-time positions) and from September to mid December (for summer internships). If you are an MBA candidate, application process varies according to school application deadlines, please contact our recruiting team for more information.
At what level should I apply?
You do not need to worry about that, as that question is part of our recruiting assessment. We will discuss that during our interviews.
What are your language requirements?
Consultants must be fluent in English and either Spanish or Portuguese. English is the working language at Bain.
What is Bain's True North?
The True North is a navigational point on a gyro compass - an unchanging point of reference and grounding, despite shifting conditions and turbulent environments. For Bainees the true North means our focus on client results—even when it means recommending actions that senior management might not want to hear.
Describe Bain's private equity group (PEG)
Bain was the first to establish a private equity practice and is now the leading global PE consulting firm. Our PE dedicated teams primarily assist PE firms with strategic due diligence; the work we do with portfolio companies post-acquisition is typically handled by our general practice teams—the nature of such work is not significantly different from our strategy and performance improvement work; our PE dedicated teams also work with PE firms on developing fund strategies, screening sectors and companies to invest in and planning exits (including IPOs).
Due diligence cases are approximately 3-6 weeks in duration (vs. 3-6 months for a typical Bain case); the staffing approach is also different due to the intensity and shorter duration of PEG assignments; consultants are typically staffed to our dedicated PE teams for a six month rotation
How successful is Bain's private equity group (PEG)?
PE work accounts for ~25% of Bain's global business; we have advised on half the larger transactions ($500M+) in the last decade, and we work with more than two-thirds the capital globally; we have worked on 3,000+ transactions and 850 portfolio company cases in the last decade.
We have 400+ professionals dedicated to serving PE clients; while all offices do work in private equity, the following offices have dedicated or "ring-fence" PE teams: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Stockholm, Tokyo, and Toronto
Can I specialize in an industry?
Our consultants work across industries—tackling business challenges across industries builds a strong problem solving skill set. Our generalist model develops a valuable chief executive's perspective. Over time our consultants build an increasing expertise in one sector where they are able to lend their unique learnings from other industries. Typically, our people begin to spend the majority of their time in their industry of interest a year or two after becoming a manager.
That being said, Bain is also a place where consultants can pursue their passions. Our staffing model is interactive. If a junior consultant has a particular interest in a specific industry, we work with him/her to accommodate that interest. (Note: New consultants typically are not 100% aligned to an industry in their first couple of years so that they can gain the benefit of a diverse experience. They do, however, tend to align earlier than those without strong industry interests.)
How many hours does a consultant typically work?
Consultants are judged by their results and the value they provide to their clients, not by "face time" or the number of hours they work. Our focus is on doing what it takes to get client results. Given this approach, there is no typical work week. There may be some weeks where work load is higher given a client presentation or a particularly demanding phase of our work. Work style is driven by client need, not rigid protocol.
