In a sign of turbulence in the consulting industry, Management Consulted has confirmed that EY-Parthenon is delaying start dates for its 2025 pre-MBA full-time hires. This includes undergraduates and Master’s students. Start dates are being pushed to March 2026 at the earliest.
This development marks one of the most significant pushbacks we’ve seen among top consulting firms for entry-level hires and raises critical questions for those entering the job market post-graduation. It can be noted that this is not the first time EY-Parthenon has pushed back start dates in the midst of economic uncertainty.
With start dates for 2025 graduates slipping into the spring — or possibly later — of 2026, EY-Parthenon seems to be navigating a prolonged period of demand uncertainty and staffing oversupply.
Incoming hires – who had expected to start in the fall of 2025 – are now scrambling to make alternate plans for the gap between graduation and their new start date. EY-P is offering affected hires the option to push their start date to the second half of 2026 in return for a $10,000 payout - which is 10% of their $100k first-year base salary - or to simply walk away from their offer entirely, while being allowed to keep their $8,000 sign-on bonus.
The implications of this delay are broad
- Internships become even more critical. With full-time roles delayed, rising juniors and seniors looking to break into consulting should double down on securing competitive internships (and crushing the internship to secure a return offer).
- Lateral hiring may dry up. As the firm fills project needs with backlogged full-time hires, there may be fewer opportunities for experienced professionals to transition into a role at EY-P.
- Expect greater competition. The 2025 job market may see some added pressure as recent grads from the 2024 and 2025 classes compete for the same roles. However, other firms tell Management Consulted that hiring plans are moving forward at "full speed ahead." This seems to be less indicative of what's happening in the broader market, and more indicative of a supply-demand mismatch at EY-P.
What To Do
If you’re an incoming hire affected by the news, or an aspiring consultant still searching for a path in, you’re not alone. The road into consulting may no longer follow a straight line — but there is still opportunity for those with persistence, flexibility, and a strong game plan.
That’s where our Black Belt program comes in. Whether you’re preparing for interviews now or trying to pivot laterally into the industry, we can help you stand out in a crowded, uncertain market.