Consulting career

Hi there, 

The fact that many ex-consultants leave to start their own businesses or take on other roles doesn’t necessarily mean that management consulting becomes unattractive—it’s more about the nature of the career.

Management consulting is often seen as a stepping stone. It provides exposure to different industries, strategic thinking skills, and a strong professional network. Many consultants gain valuable experience and then move on to leadership roles in corporations, startups, or their own ventures. The intense workload and frequent travel can also lead some to seek a better work-life balance after a few years.

So, rather than consulting becoming unattractive, it’s more that it equips people with skills and experiences that open doors to other exciting opportunities. 

Best,

Evelina

Hi there, 

there are a multitude of factors at play. I'll lay out a few of them: 

1. It's a demanding job - your hours are long, you travel a lot, it is hard to keep personal committments. Lots of people do this when they are young and then search for something more stable and local 

2. It's an up-or-out principle - not all people starting at the company will make it to partner. Some leave voluntarily, others get requested to leave. If you are looking for a job with long-term security, this is a harder sell 

3. It has a tremendous learning curve - industry companies value the skill set that you learn and might be willing to compensate your very nicely for joining them

To your question if it makes sense for you to shift: That is a very personal / individual thing and depends on your current situation, your stance on work-life-balance, your willigness to travel, your age etc. 

Happy to chat in case helpful. 

Best, 
Sebastian

“Does this mean that's the consulting career at certain become not attractive any more, to push the consultant to leave it and start his own business?”

Considering the context prior to your question, I would say that although there are a lot of ex consultants that became entrepreneurs, this is not the rule. Many opportunities in the private sector appear after you include MBB/T2 companies in your resume, and in my experience, that’s where most of consultants move to.

That being said, people leave for multiple reasons, due to their own decision or to the industry’s up or out culture. I would say that for those that decide to leave, the combination of burnout + attractive external offers is the main lever. As for those that are counseled to leave, it may be either performance, and/or lack of clear platform for promotions.

Best,

Mari

You see a lot of ex-consultants for two main reasons:

1. The consulting career is very demanding in terms of work-life balance, and not everyone can—or wants to—sustain that lifestyle long term. It involves lots of travel, long working hours, and continuous pressure to deliver extraordinary results.

2. The consulting business model can’t support everyone reaching the partner level. The structure is pyramidal: a few partners at the top drive commercial efforts, while larger teams below execute projects. This creates natural bottlenecks, and many talented people will leave the firm as part of the up-or-out model, often with strong exit opportunities thanks to their training and network.

Best,

Alberto

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MBB consultants are known for their high attrition rates, with many exiting around the two-year mark. This pattern is driven by a mix of push and pull factors, including the nature of consulting work, career progression dynamics, and personal considerations. Here are the primary reasons:  

1. Intense Workload and Burnout
  - Consultants face long hours (often 60–80+ per week), high-pressure deadlines, and constant travel ("Sunday Scaries" are common).  
  - The lifestyle is unsustainable for many long-term, leading to exhaustion and a desire for better work-life balance.  

2. "Up or Out" Promotion Model
  - MBB firms operate with a strict hierarchy (Analyst → Associate → Manager, etc.). If a consultant isn’t on track for promotion within ~2 years, they’re encouraged to leave.  
  - Even high performers may exit if they hit a bottleneck (e.g., failing to make Manager).  

3. Exit Opportunities Are Highly Attractive  
  - After 2 years, consultants have built a strong resume: elite training, problem-solving skills, and exposure to top-tier companies.  
  - Common exits include:  
    - Corporate roles: Strategy/operations in Fortune 500 firms or startups (often with better pay/hours).  
    - Private equity/VC: Especially for those with financial modeling expertise.  
    -Entrepreneurship: Skills and networks gained are ideal for founding a startup.  

4. Limited Long-Term Engagement
  - Projects are short-term (typically 3–6 months), leading to a lack of deep ownership or impact. Some consultants crave seeing long-term results.  
  - The work can become repetitive (e.g., slide decks, stakeholder interviews) after mastering the core toolkit.  

5. Compensation Plateaus
  - While starting salaries are high, post-MBB roles (e.g., in tech or PE) often offer better pay for fewer hours after a few years.  
  - Bonuses and raises at MBB may not match external offers post-2 years.  

6. Personal Life Considerations 
  - Travel and unpredictability strain relationships, family plans, or health.  
  - Many use MBB as a stepping stone and always planned to leave after gaining experience.  

7. Culture Misalignment
  - Some find the competitive, hyper-analytical culture draining over time.  
  - Preference for more collaborative or specialized environments (e.g., industry roles).  

The two-year mark is a natural inflection point: consultants have gained maximum value from the MBB brand and training but face diminishing returns on lifestyle trade-offs. The firms also design their models around this turnover, constantly refreshing talent pipelines while alumni expand their networks into industry.  

Would you like me to elaborate on any specific aspect (e.g., exit options, comparisons to other consulting firms)?  

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This covers the key drivers concisely while maintaining readability. Let me know if you'd like adjustments!

Hey there 😊,

This is such a good observation—and yes, it’s true that many consultants eventually become “ex-MBB” or “ex-consulting” and then move into startups, corporate leadership, or even their own businesses. But that’s not because consulting isn’t attractive—it’s actually the opposite 😄

Management consulting gives you:
– Fast learning across industries and functions
– Exposure to senior decision-makers early
– A strong brand + credibility on your CV
– Great exit options after 2–3 years

So many people use consulting as a launchpad to pivot into something they’re passionate about later—tech, VC, entrepreneurship, strategy roles, etc. Some stay long-term, but many leave by choice, not because they’re unhappy.

If you're curious about this path, happy to help you figure out the best entry point 😊

Best,
Alessa 😇

No, it just means that 50% of consultants leave in 2-3 years, but really enjoyed their experience and believe that stating themselves as "ex-"something has value in the job market and gives them extra credibility.

Hi There,

A lot of consultants leave after a few years, not always because the job is not attractive any more, but also because of other factors, e.g., priorities shift due to personal / family reasons, desire to try something different, rise of even better career opportunities, etc. Regardless of the reason of exit, one thing remains is that the exit options are quite open / diverse - therefore consulting is still an attractive career to consider. 

Best,

Emily 

Hi there,

That's completely normal - the average duration of people staying in consulting is around 2-3 years. It's a great job with many opportunities and upsides but also very demanding. At a certain point, the benefits of leaving outweigh the benefits of staying for most people. 

I wrote a book about the topic which explains this in more detail -> reach out if you want to learn more.

Cheers,

Florian