Big 4 to strategy

Question

Good day,

Very simple question

How many years should I spend at big 4 before attempting tier 2 or mbb with guaranteed referrals from senior consultants

Answer 1

Hi,

There’s no fixed number, but 1.5–2 years at a Big 4 (especially in their 'strategy' or deals arms) is often enough to make a strong lateral move to Tier 2 or even MBB, especially with a solid referral, at least what I have seen with my friends who made the move.

Focus on:

Building a strong project portfolio (strategy > ops > audit)
Getting clear, quantified impact stories
Cultivating at least 1–2 senior referrals who can vouch for your performance

With the right setup, you don’t need to “wait”, you just need to be positioned well.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Hi,

Truly there is no right or wrong answer! Generally 1 year or 2 years is good enough - you paid your dues.

But if you have the guaranteed referrals the chances of being invited to an interview are significally higher than a cold CV application.

So get ready for the case interviews.

Begin your case prep!!

And good luck!

Answer 3

2.

But it's not set in stone, as you might imagine.

2 is a good number because typically it might involve even a promotion and it definitely involves several projects across several industries. So there's a body of work that you can point towards and which has already helped you formulate a value proposition.

Switching firms around the one year mark or earlier might come across as job hopping.

Still, often times, despite all the planning, you don't end up controlling for all the variables and it's best to go with whatever opportunities show up.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 4

You should apply every year. Additional years do not necessarily increase your chances of being invited to interview.

Answer 5

Hi,

As seen above, there is no consensus on that, although of course at least one year is required for the experience be at least worth mentioning.

What will impact your chances of being invited to the process is the achievements of this Big4 experience. Here you may think about projects with relevant and measurable results, promotions, clients’ results, changes in company’s culture, etc. So aim for being a high performer and apply when you have enough material to show you’re a strong candidate.

Good luck!

Best,

Mari