My First Month as Recruiting Manager at Bain’s Experienced Talent Recruiting Team

How Bain's onboarding set me up for a best-in-class recruiting process

My first month at Bain went by very fast: Loads of information, meeting new people, interesting projects, including a trip to Chile! 

Getting to Know Bain

Bain is a top management consulting firm and is recognized globally for being a Best Place to Work. This is what I knew about the company before starting the recruitment process. Discovering what Bain is about was a pleasant surprise and a great motivator to become a Bainie (how we call each other).

“Guided by True North: We do the right thing, always. We are open, honest, and direct.”

Getting Excited About Not Knowing Things

The first week of any new Bainie in South America is at Sao Paulo’s office for a week of training, cultural immersion, networking, and fun. The sessions are 100% in English.

If you are part of a global team like myself, you also have extra global onboarding sessions that happen during the entire month. If I do the math, this represented more than 60 hours (!!!) of learning and development sessions, which is a big focus of the organization. The expectation is not that we learn everything at once, but that we have access to all the resources to achieve our best performance.

“Practical and At Cause: We take on challenges proactively, bring a fresh perspective to find solutions, and collaborate to overcome any obstacles”

We Are Not Only Traditional Consulting – Innovation Hubs in South America

The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about Bain is traditional consulting. I learned this month that the company is much more than that. Today I am responsible for recruiting Advanced Analytics talents for South America. As part of my onboarding, I went to Santiago in Chile to get to know Spike - a startup that Bain acquired in early 2022.

The Advanced Analytics Group in South America has a very particular culture and environment. It includes remote work, a 4-day workweek, and an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

We currently hire Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Software Engineers, and other data-related profiles. Our team can be based in any city in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

Besides the Advanced Analytics area, we also have other capabilities in innovation hubs, such as Product Design, Agile, and Architecture, among others. The goal is to embed digital expertise into everything we do.

“Passion for Results: We are driven by a bold ambition to create extraordinary impact for our clients, teams and communities”

Diversity Matters!

Bain has been investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion for more than 30 years. They have seven very active affinity groups, and a DEI team – led by Chief Diversity Officer and longtime partner Julie Coffman – focused on maintaining a culture of inclusion where every Bainie can thrive. 

Concerning the Advanced Analytics Group, there is a real commitment to gender parity, and we are intentional in recruiting women to the team.

“Diverse Teams, One Bain: We believe diverse and inclusive teams are our strength and together we accomplish more than we can alone.”

Partnering Up and Collaborating

Bain is a global company of more than 17,000, with a strong culture and a remarkable talent density. There are so many incredible people together that any interaction makes you feel smarter. Moreover, the company has several internal engagement initiatives so people can get to know each other, connect, exchange information, and have fun together! These events include happy hours, team events, sports, and volunteering, among others. It is all about finding your tribe!

Beyond that, one of the most encouraging points in the company is collaboration. During onboarding when everything is new and challenging, I felt super welcomed and integrated! Everyone is so open and helpful, and we are encouraged to give our opinion and ask questions! It feels like there is space for everyone in the spotlight and people want to see you succeed.

“A Bainie Never Lets Another Bainie Fail: We care for each other’s wellbeing. We trust and support each other in the spirit that another’s success is our success”

Be bold!

A month’s worth of context may not be enough, and I will soon find out more things and challenges I am unaware of. Yet, my first impression is very positive, and I am excited to be at the front door for the incredible talents this company continues to attract.

I will keep on sharing more about things I observe and learn at Bain, and in case you want to join us, feel free to connect and discuss opportunities! We have plenty!   

“We champion the bold to achieve the extraordinary”