Entrepreneurship

Hi there,

This is a great question! 

My recommendation would be to definitely mention it, but be careful how to position.

1. Why mention?

MBB firms really appreciate entrepreneurial people, as they typically showcase the drive, problem-solving ability, creativity & comms skills that are highly demanded by a consulting job. Telling your start up story is a great way of getting that message across and enables you to stand out among the sheer mass of candidates.

2. How to position?

As you rightly pointed out mentioning an active role in a startup may cause concern with regards to a candidate's focus. MBB firms will, by no means, not tolerate the consulting job being compromised by a side hustle / other venture (and typically won't allow that by contract) - I'm speaking from personal experience here. Hence, you need to give them assurance / confidence that any future involvement in that start up will not interfere with your day-to-day work / project duties. If you spend a few h on the weekend in more of an advisory capacity, no-one will complain / care too much. If you aim to maintain your start up as a 2nd job - that may not fly and, as mentioned, goes against contract in many cases. Be very careful about that part!

Hope this helps - if you'd like to know more about how I used to navigate this particular situation while at MBB, feel free to reach out.

Regards, Andi 

Hello, 

thanks a lot for the question. It is a very interesting one. :) 

I would definitely suggest to mention it for 2 main reasons: 

• You already put it into your CV. Is it probable that the recruiter will ask about it in any case. Better anticipate proactively!
• Entrepreneurship is very much appreciated in MBB. Moreover it underlines some of the most important skills in order to succeed (e.g., problem solving, leadership) 

Given that, I fully understand your point. This is why, it would be fundamental to position it in the best possible way. In particular, try to reassure the interviewer in 2 main ways:  

• Priority to consulting projects → Stress that your main focus would be to deliver the highest impact into the consulting projects
• Mean to overdeliver → Position this experience as a potential value adding resource able to make your more distinctive in the consulting role (e.g., able to anticipate some potential needs from the client)

To conclude, definitely mention your experience but pay high attention on how you position it. 

Do not hesitate to reach out me in case of further questions! I am currently offering a free coaching session.  

Good luck!

Matteo

Hi there,

There's good and bad news:

• Good: First of all, your entrepreneurial drive will be well perceived! It's a key skill that people are often lacking when coming from employment rather than self-employment. At MBB, you will get far with entrepreneurial drive!
• Bad: You will most likely not be able to continue your venture once you join MBB. There's clauses in the standard MBB contracts prohibiting you from basically doing anything outside your job. Technically, you couldn't even help a friend out in running their business, let alone running your own! There's good reasons for that beyond the impossible workload - PM me for more info.

Bottom line: Mention your venture with pride but show that you're willing to sacrifice it to get into the firm, because that's what it will most likely take. Whether you're ready to do that is a different question…

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Hi there,

This is something that I would definitely highlight, as it clearly demonstrates that you are a self-starter, can work independently, have business judgement etc. - all qualities that MBB interviewers will be looking for. 

In preparation for the interview I would be ready to answer questions on the following:

1. How this experience is relevant to you being successful in consulting (e.g., concrete examples which showcase some of the qualities mentioned above)

2. How you intend to manage the entrepreneurship once going full-time at MBB (e.g., provide evidence of how you've already balanced this vs. other priorities in your life, option of taking on more of an oversight / board role etc.). 

Overall, this experience will set you apart from other candidates, but just keep in mind that MBB will expect 110% commitment from you in your role.

Good luck!

Hi there, 

I'd mention it for sure. It's a great conversation started and it rather shows the ability to deal with multiple complex topics at the same time. It's a sign of your ability, not of your lack of it. 

Hi there, 

absolutely YES, do mention it. Entrepreneurs get a lot of extra points as it proves drive, courage, entrepreneur mind, leadership …. Actually many MBBer do have their own business running while working in consulting. I will do recommend to set well the expectation on your resources need to convey the sense of comfort you are 100% ready for your new consulting work while yet managing your business. 

Good luck!

Lucie

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Hi there,

You should mention it!

First of all, both Mck and BCG said you should!

Additionally, it shows that you take initiative, have entrepreneurial drive, and get stuff done! Well and truly you need to add this experience as it adds good value to your resume!

Once you start the job, you will have to drop the venture though, so if the interview asks you just have to flag that the new job would be 100% your focus!

Dear candidate,

it is a great initiative to mention since it demonstrates leadership, entrepreneurial mindset and ability to manage a high workload. Look at it from the positive perspective. Of course if asked the question whether you want to continue it - decide this for yourself. 

Best regards

I would definitely mention it.  Consulting in the long run becomes more “entrepreneurial" and your ability to multi-task is actually a requirement (i.e., juggling multiple glass balls without dropping them).