Consulting or MBA - Which route would increase my chances to get into a Restructuring Shop.my chances of getting into a restructuring focused shop.

Question

Hello!

I'm currently at a crossroads and looking for some guidance on whether to pursue consulting or go for an MBA, with the ultimate goal of landing at a Restructuring shop.

A bit about my background:

I pursued engineering for my bachelor's degree but always wanted to get into business, so I pivoted to the business sector by doing a MiM program at UCL, UK, from which I graduated in September 2022. During my studies, I struggled to pinpoint my specific interest within the business world. But as expenses and living costs don’t wait until I figure out, I took a job in operations in the hospitality and leisure industry. I’ve been working in this role since April 2023 and was even fortunate to receive sponsorship to stay and work in the UK.

To clarify why I’ve remained in this operational role was due to my international status and the downturn in the job market, I wasn’t able to secure a related position with visa sponsorship. So, I made the best of the opportunity I had at the time.

Now, I find myself at a crossroads, trying to figure out how best to pursue my goal of getting into restructuring shops.

Option 1:

Apply for graduate consulting roles in the UK that focus on restructuring or the turnaround sector—firms like MBB, Alvarez & Marsal and others. The main challenge here is securing visa sponsorship and also securing a graudte role with over 2+ years of work experience. Assuming I do get a consulting offer with sponsorship, the plan would be to work for a few years and then pivot into a restructuring shop.

Option 2:

Pursue an MBA and try to recruit directly for restructuring shops. However, I’m not sure how active post-MBA recruiting is for these roles in the UK/USA, especially for candidates without prior experience, and visa constraints.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

Hi Hemanth,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

I would highly advise you to pursue both options at the same time. Apply directly to your target firms and see what happens - if you end up without an offer, you can still do the MBA program.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi Hemanth,

Q: Now, I find myself at a crossroads, trying to figure out how best to pursue my goal of getting into restructuring shops.

I don’t think you need to necessarily pick an option. You can:

Apply first to consulting roles related to restructuring.
If that doesn’t work, pursue an MBA (assuming you find that graduates from that MBA have a good chance of securing the jobs you desire) and apply again afterward

In this way, you will maximize your chances with two shots instead of one.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 3

Hi there,

I don't think it's an "either or" -> I would apply with consulting firms now.

If it works, you could think of going from consulting to restructuring after a few years (with or without an MBA)
If it does not work, you can get an MBA, then get into consulting or restructuring.

This way, you are maximizing your chances.

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

It's hard to get into a restructuring shop from the MBA... option 1 is superior.

Actually it is always superior. First you have to try to apply for the job you want (and that includes applying directly to the restructuring shops), if that doesn't work, you go for the MBA.

Answer 5

As others have said, there’s no harm in applying now — you should definitely give it a shot.

If you do get into MBB, keep in mind that you won’t necessarily be staffed on restructuring projects, as those represent a small share of their overall work. If your long-term goal is to join a restructuring-focused firm and you don’t get into MBB at this stage, the better path might be to first deepen your industry experience. Restructuring firms often value candidates with strong operational or industry backgrounds, and some even prefer them over consultants from MBB.

As for your second option — pursuing an MBA — keep in mind that you’ll typically need some work experience to get into a top program. An MBA can significantly increase your chances of getting into a restructuring shop, especially if you’re struggling to get interviews now without one.

Answer 6

Hi there,

In short, both options could work.

I'd work backwards in this process by actually starting to have conversations with people who are in your target roles now.

Share your track with them and ask for advice.

Ask about their track and what was critical for them to join that role.

If you have a couple of these calls, you'll soon get a sense of what are the 3-4 most important things that you need to do and double down on those.

It's super important because it might help you realise that you don't need an extra degree or anything else fancy, but something else that perhaps you weren't even considering.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 7

During my time in consulting, I collaborated with several restructuring firms and have many friends and connections in that industry. From my experience, there’s no clear or consistent link between doing an MBA and entering boutique restructuring firms. You should definitely do your own research.

Given your objective, I’d recommend focusing 100% of your current effort on joining a consulting firm first—that’s the most common path before moving to a restructuring boutique (you can confirm this by checking LinkedIn career paths).

Happy to support you through the process.

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: FastFashion - Customer Loyalty

Answer 8

Hello there,

Have you tracked the steps of people who are in your target companies? It may be that you don’t need consulting or an MBA. Look for these on LikedIn and cold message them about your aspirations, ask for a quick chat and verify what experiences really contributed for them landing the offer.

Best,

Mari

Answer 9

Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on navigating a tough job market while staying focused on your long-term goals. You're clearly thoughtful about your next steps, and it's great that you've narrowed your interest to restructuring.

Regarding:

Option 1: Apply directly to consulting roles with restructuring focus

This is a strong move if you can secure sponsorship. Firms like Alvarez & Marsal, EY-Parthenon (Turnaround & Restructuring), Kroll, and Deloitte Restructuring are solid entry points. Even MBB occasionally touch on turnaround work, especially Bain.

Pros:

Faster route into the restructuring space
Builds relevant experience and network for lateral moves
No delay from an MBA

Challenges:

Visa sponsorship can be a hurdle
Graduate programs may filter out based on your experience level
You may need to apply via experienced hire tracks or specialist practices rather than graduate schemes

Option 2: MBA with focus on post-MBA recruiting

An MBA can be a powerful repositioning tool, especially if you aim for US-based firms or want to strengthen your financial and turnaround skillset.

Pros:

Gives you access to top-tier recruiting for consulting and restructuring
Expands your network and credibility, especially if you aim for firms like Houlihan Lokey, AlixPartners, or A&M
Visa support is often built into US MBA programs

Challenges:

Significant cost and opportunity cost
Some restructuring firms recruit less through MBA pipelines (though consulting firms do)
Visa/work authorization for post-MBA roles still needs careful planning, especially in the UK

What to consider:

If you can secure a sponsored consulting role now, especially in a firm with exposure to turnaround or financial advisory, that may be your most direct path
If visa limitations persist and you’re aiming for more elite restructuring shops in the US, an MBA from a top program (especially US-based) can help unlock doors, but it’s a bigger bet
Whichever path you choose, build financial and turnaround literacy; courses in corporate finance, valuation, and distressed investing will help

You're clearly motivated and capable, both paths are viable, but it comes down to where you can realistically gain traction in the short term. Happy to chat more if you want to explore application strategy for either route.