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Deloitte to mbb or tier 2

Good day

I am a BA at deloitte doha starting 2025 and the salary is very low compared to other consulting firms. My goal is to apply to mbb or tier 2 by the end of the year. Luckily I have many people in both that could refer me. My question is what can I do during this time to increase my chances and secondly how much will the referral have an affect will I be guaranteed atleast an interview. 
Thank you

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Top answer
Hagen
Coach
on Jan 07, 2025
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your consulting career trajectory thus far!

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

  • First of all, to increase your chances of moving to another consulting firm, I would advise you to focus on doing great work and working on high-impact projects at Deloitte that you can mention on your resume and talk about in interviews. Before you even apply at a later stage, I would advise you to start a thorough case study and personal fit preparation.
  • Moreover, in terms of the impact of a referral, you are not guaranteed an interview, but a strong referral from someone you know and/or someone senior in the firm will help you get through the screening phase of the application process to a certain extent.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Thabang
Coach
on Jan 07, 2025
Ex-McKinsey Consultant | McKinsey Top Coach & Interviewer | Special Offer: Buy 1 Session Get 1 Free (Limited time!)

Hey there, 

What you can do within the year to increase your chances are:

  • Secure a referral with the highest position: A referral from a Partner has more weight than that from a Business Analyst (for example), so try secure a referral that has the highest role
  • Increase accomplishments and performance rating: These will go into your CV and are necessary to increase your chance of passing screening. Try get as much relevant strategic and client exposure
  • Intensely prepare for interviews: This goes without saying, but many candidate applicants to MBB aren't successful because of inadequate preparation (both from a quality and quantity perspective). 

All the best

on Jan 04, 2025
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: My question is what can I do during this time to increase my chances and secondly how much will the referral have an affect will I be guaranteed atl east an interview. 

Most likely, the points of highest leverage under control are (i) doing a good job with Deloitte (so that you can show relevant achievements on your CV) and (ii) networking to find a referral for your application. A referral will impact positively your application, but won’t guarantee an interview.

Good luck!

Francesco

Matthew
Coach
on Jan 04, 2025
Ex-BCG R1 Case Interviewer | Former Campus Recruiting Captain | Focused coaching to accelerate offline case prep

Hi there,

Happy to share my thoughts:

  1. Having a referral would be helpful in securing an interview, particularly in more competitive regions. The seniority of your reference also has an impact (i.e., a referral from a Partner versus a referral from a seasoned consultant versus a referral from a junior BA you went to school with would all naturally be weighed differently).  

     

  2. In terms of increasing your chances, two things come to mind:
    (a) Learn the fundamentals of the job- It sounds like you are starting as a BA in 2025. When you next apply, you will be competing with other experienced hires. You will want to be able to show that you have a solid foundation, whether that be through the types of projects you do in your first year as a BA, or soft skills that you can showcase during a case interview (e.g., keener business sense, experience managing client facing conversations)

    (b) Keep your casing skills sharp- case interviewing is a skill like any other, if you don't use it, you start to lose it. Practicing regularly so that you are still interview ready when you next apply would increase your chances. This is easier said than done when you are working full time and no longer in school. Prioritizing how you spend your offline prep time will be helpful here to keep things manageable.

    Hope this helps and all the best!

Alessa
Coach
on Jan 05, 2025
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | +200 individual & group coachings | feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call for free

Hey! 

To increase your chances for MBB or Tier 2, I would suggest to focus on building a strong case prep foundation (practice, frameworks, and mental math), enhance your resume (showcase impact, leadership in projects, and collaboration), and actively network within your current role and externally. Take on high-visibility projects at Deloitte to gain experience in strategic areas like problem-solving, client interaction, and data analysis. As for the referral, it can certainly help get you noticed and potentially secure an interview, but it doesn’t guarantee one. Strong performance on case interviews and cultural fit will still be the deciding factors in the selection process.

Best, Alessa

Aish
Coach
on Jan 06, 2025
MBB & Tier 2 Prep| Technology Consulting Prep |Helped 50+ non-target students land six figure consulting roles

Hey there,

This question hits close to home as I too used to work at Deloitte and I was interested in working at MBB in Dubai.

Here's what I did to secure an offer at BCG in Dubai.

  • Secure a Referral: As you mentioned, a referral from an experienced consultant is invaluable. It not only helps get your application noticed but also adds credibility to your profile, increasing your chances of landing the first interview.
  • Intensive Case Prep: Before applying, especially as an experienced hire, ensure your case-solving skills are top-notch. Focus on mastering frameworks and structuring, handling math and exhibits, brainstorming creative solutions, and building overall case confidence.
  • Nail the Behavioral Fit: Excelling in the fit portion of the interview is just as important as cracking cases. A strong impression here can sometimes compensate for minor slip-ups during the case. Show your leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving stories in a way that’s clear, authentic, and memorable.

All the best!

Alberto
Coach
on Jan 07, 2025
Ex-McKinsey Partner | Most experienced coach (15 years exp, +2.000 real interviews) | 95% success rate

Work on building your consulting toolkit at Deloitte while practicing MBB casing in parallel.

Regarding the referral, it only accelerates the resume review process—it does not increase your chances of getting an interview.

I personally referred candidates at McKinsey when I worked there who never got invited to the process.

Best,

Alberto

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: TitanTrail - Operations Outsourcing

Florian
Coach
on Jan 30, 2025
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

  • Make sure to become a leader at Deloitte quickly (e.g., small initiatives, events, practices). This will push your application at MBB
  • The referrals will have a small impact but it's worthwile

I have a guide on transitioning from B4 to MBB. Reach out if you want it!

Cheers,

Florian

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