Career advice for pivoting from a boutique firm

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

Some of the things you have mentioned are not clear. Have you interned a Tier 1 consulting firm or in industry? Did you do your MBA from a target school in your own country? Where are you located now?

Anyways, irrespective of the unknowns, since you have some consulting experience, I would suggest doing a few things:

1. Networking - network with your ex-school/company alumni who are working in your target firms. Share that you still want to do consulting but not in a niche industry. Most consulting firms look for smart people who can learn quickly and have transferable skills they can bring to the table. So if you have relevant experience and background in consulting, that should help your story. Perhaps target both T1 and lower tier firms, since the work will still be similar as a generalist. You have to decide what is more important to you - role or company.

2. Start preparing for consulting interviews in parallel.

3. Keep a timeline for your self. May be 6 months to a year to make this transition. That will help you track your progress and also know when to think of other options if it does not work as you want it to.

4. If the switch to generalist does not work out, consider may be internal consulting roles in industries of your interest.

Hope this helps,

Soh

Hi there,

Q: I'm not sure what to do at this point, have I ruined my own career this early on?

I don’t see particular issues with switching to another firm - worst case, in the long term:

• If your boutique has a good brand name, you should be able to move to a Tier 1 or Tier 2.
• If that’s not the case, you can wait 1-2 years, do an MBA and switch after that.

To maximize your chances to get interviews, I would recommend looking for referrals, you can find some tips about it below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Interview

▶ The 3 Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there, 

Is the working hours the main concern, or is there anything else?

If is mostly the working hours, T1 doesn't necessarily guarantee a better experience. Some cases could also require 70+ hours and some weekend work. It is not always better. 

Nonetheless, there is nothing wrong about pivoting, and I wouldn't consider a pivot to generalist consulting as "ruining career". 

Best,

Emily

Hi there, 

first off: You have not ruined your career but you might have made it a bit harder for yourself ;) I have myself made the move from Financial Institutions M&A to General Consulting. Would it have been easier to apply for Consulting right after university? Maybe. But it worked out anyways for me. 

For targeted next steps, we would need to understand your situation a bit better, i.e., which region are you in? What company did you intern at before? What relevant Consulting experience do you have that you can leverage for your storyline when applying? 

Happy to chat. 

Best, 
Sebastian

Hi there,

You have definitely not ruined your career. In fact, you're in a strong position to make a move.

If your goal is to transition into generalist consulting at an MBB or Tier-2 firm, start networking as soon as possible while continuing to perform well in your current role. Your boutique experience in a specialized industry, combined with your T1 internship and target-school background, makes you an attractive candidate.

Begin by reaching out to consultants at your target firms - especially alumni from your university or individuals with a similar background. Use these conversations to gain insights, express your interest, and build relationships. Once you've established a network, follow the standard application process, ensuring your resume and cover letter highlight transferable skills and your motivation for the shift.

Your early-career choices are not permanent, and many consultants successfully pivot industries. The key is taking a strategic approach and executing your move thoughtfully.

Happy to help!

Cheers,
Florian