Below the bar first project at MBB

Question

Hi,

I joined MBB as lateral hire in expert role almost 2 months ago. I just completed my first project and I got below the bar score on consulting toolkit while above the average score in expertise.

I asked to my manager how to improve my consulting toolkit and he replied by working on project.

I am worried since I have a six months probation period and I’d like to understand if it is possible to recover from this or it is better to start looking already for a new job.

Thank you for your help

Answer 1

Sorry to hear that! Getting ramped up at MBB isn't easy, and you are not the only one who has ever struggled in that transition. Here are a few resources to leverage if your manager isn't giving precise guidance:

Staffer/talent manager: work with your staffer to understand how to select the next project (and manager) to help you show growth
Learning and development team: reach out to the L&D team (local or within your region) to get a better sense of expectations and strategies to address areas for improvement (e.g., 1-1 coaching, training)
Peers (on this project or otherwise): find people you trust to open up about how your project went and debrief on strategies to improve on specific skills in the toolkit (e.g., quantitative analysis, slide writing, driving your work independently, leveraging firm resources effectively)

Don't be discouraged by the setback. If you want to discuss your situation's specifics and map out a more tailored action plan, feel free to DM me.