Going to MBB or tier 2

Hi there, 

It is good that you have connection that can refer you. I think whether you would get an interview depends on how strong your resume is - e.g., do you bring out all the achievements, highlight the qualities / transferrable skills relevant to consulting, show that you would be a great addition to their team etc. 

If you need help with refining your resume, feel free to DM. 

Best,

Emily

Hey Ja, 

In short, it definitely is possible. 

That said, it's not a given and there's work you will have to do on your end. You'll need to ensure that you craft your profile in a manner that presents you as a strong problem-solver having achieved and accomplished a lot in your professional and educational background. This is what recruiters will look to when wanting to pass you through the screening round

Remember: Having referrals will not necessarily over-power a weak profile

All the best Ja

Ja, 

I'm always surprised that people with your background doubt whether they have a chance. Why wouldn't you?

You aleady have a track record in consulting and clear experience. You have excellent academic credentials. As long as you develop a proper application strategy and prepare well for the interviews, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to secure at least one offer. 

You might find some of these materials useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Feel free to reach out if you have any other Qs.

Best,
Cristian

Hi Ja, 

Based on what you’ve shared, yes, you do have a shot at getting interviews with MBB and Tier 2 firms, especially if you play your cards right and approach your applications strategically.

What You’ve Got Going For You
    1.    Strong Academic Background
    •    A Finance major with cum laude honors is a solid academic foundation, particularly for firms like Bain, BCG, or Strategy& that appreciate rigorous academic performance.
    2.    Current Role at Deloitte
    •    Even though you’re in the Risk department, Deloitte is a highly regarded brand, and being part of its consulting business — even tangentially — gives you a foothold in the consulting ecosystem. The key is how you frame and translate your experience.
    3.    Previous Experience in MENA-Focused Consulting
    •    A year of consulting-related experience, especially with exposure to education sector strategy or public-sector clients, can be quite valuable — particularly for offices in the Middle East where MBB and Tier 2 firms often handle large public and education-sector projects.
    4.    Referral Access
    •    The fact that you plan to leverage referrals into MBB and Tier 2 firms gives you a real edge. 

Key Considerations and How to Strengthen Your Candidacy
    1.    Frame Your Deloitte Risk Experience Strategically
    2.    Position Yourself as a Strong Generalist
    •    MBB and Tier 2 are looking for potential — not just your current title. Make sure your CV shows leadership, impact, and client-facing responsibilities, even in non-strategy roles.
    3.    Target the Right Offices
    •    If you’re applying in the Middle East (e.g., Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi) or offices with growing consulting needs, your regional experience + language/cultural familiarity could be a differentiator.
    •    European offices are more competitive and may have stricter academic or experience-based filters.
    •    Reach out to your contacts about 3–4 weeks before you apply, so they can support your referral before recruiting volume spikes.

You’re not coming in with a “perfect” consulting resume (i.e., strategy role + top-tier school), but you’re also far from a long shot. If you:
    •    Polish your CV and translate your experience well,
    •    Leverage warm referrals,
    •    Target the right offices,
    •    And prep well for cases,

then yes — you definitely have a realistic shot at getting interviews at MBB and Tier 2 firms! 

If you’d like, I’d be happy to review your CV or help tailor your experience to maximize your chances, especially before referral season starts. Just shoot me a message!

Best,

Evelina

Hi there,

It depends on 2 things: the demand of the office you’ll apply and how you position yourself as a desirable candidate. For the second one, you have mentioned some positive points. Remember that brands and experiences per se don’t necessarily translate into being recruited. What will put your foot on the door is to highlight what value you have brought in each of these occasions.

The CV screening phase is one of the main filters of the recruitment process, often overlooked by candidates. You have to have an outstanding résumé.

I have successfully supported candidates passing this first phase in MBB using a hands-on approach of building strong and consulting-ready CVs. If you are interested in knowing more, feel free to DM me.

Good luck!

Best,

Mari

I will go against the current here and say with the current market conditions, landing an MBB offer in Middle East will not be straightforward. Risk experience in Deloitte and and consulting universities in MENA are not necessarily considered as relevant / strong experiences. Of course, this all depends on the other CV credentials such as the university you graduated from, strong achievements and extracurriculars, record of career achievements progress, etc.

Yes, you have a chance... but I am not sure I understand the "MBB or Tier 2" part of the question. You should apply to all of them.

Hi there,

Seems possible depending on some other factors: reputation and pedigree of your university and program, your GPA, other relevant work experience, and a clear growth trajectory across jobs or internships.

If you’re open to sharing a bit more about your background, I’d be happy to offer a more tailored assessment.

Cheers,

Florian

Hi!

I was a consultant at Deloitte before joining McKinsey, and I joined without a referral so YES, it’s definitely possible!

Let’s think about what MBB consulting firms are really looking for - someone who is analytical and thinks strategically.

Coming from Deloitte, you've already proven yourself - demonstrating financial acumen, proficiency in excel and powerpoint  (or atleast the basics of) and a solid understanding of the consulting industry. You’re already 50% there!

What I’d recommend is tailoring your CV to really highlight your achievements at Deloitte (and the previous consulting firm). Emphasize your:

• Leadership skills
• Initiative and successes e.g.  if you started something that led to measurable impact “led X project, resulting in Y outcome”

I'm happy to help you tailor your CV - please do reach out :)

Good luck!

Hi Ja,

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

• First of all, unfortunately, no one knows until you try and see the result.
• Moreover, in general, your profile seems to contain certain relevant experience for strategy consulting firms.

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 pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen