Hartley Hogenkamp

Share about your journey to Bain.

About a year out of undergrad, I moved to New York and started my recruiting career at an agency. I loved the work and quickly realized I wanted to become more specialized, which led me to a role focused on recruiting for strategy consulting firms. That’s where I first became familiar with Bain and began to develop a real interest in the firm, as I learned more about the consulting industry.

Looking to work more closely with candidates and hiring managers, I transitioned into an internal recruiting role at a real estate firm. During my time there, a project focused on campus recruiting helped me realize that’s where I wanted to take my career --but I knew I wanted to do it at a firm I truly believed in.

When I saw a friend from high school's LinkedIn post about the Associate Consultant recruiting role at Bain, I immediately jumped at the chance. Everything I’d heard about Bain proved true: the people are smart, driven, and ambitious, but also incredibly supportive, humble, and authentic. It’s a place where you can be yourself and that combination made Bain the perfect fit for me.

What advice would you give a candidate who is interested in recruiting for consulting?

One piece of advice I always share with candidates is to remember that our recruiting process is very human. It can be easy to get caught up in nerves or the pressure of performing, but we genuinely want candidates to succeed. Our interviewers are rooting for you! I encourage candidates to prepare thoroughly, of course, but also to try and bring their authentic selves to the process. Confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn go a long way.

What should candidates know?

Candidates should know that consulting isn’t one-size-fits-all -- everyone brings something different to the table, and that’s exactly what makes this work and firm so dynamic. There’s no perfect background, personality, or path so you should bring your full self to the application process!