International staffing @Bain & Company

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from Bain!

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

• First of all, and contrary to what other coaches have said in the past, every multinational firm (also outside of consulting) employs a primarily local staffing model as these are separate country entities with their own P&L responsibility. Thus, with a strong local consulting market, it is quite common to have most of the projects within the DACH region.
• Moreover, I would advise you to speak openly with your career advisor and staffing coordinator once you join. They can guide you on how to navigate opportunities beyond the DACH region.
• Lastly, attending the global training sessions will also offer you chances to network with people from other offices, making it easier for you to find projects outside the DACH region.

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

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Ultimately, having Bain on your resume is going to boost your global opportunities. Period. That's just more in the future.

Additionally, you can keep an eye out for any international opportunities they advertise/list, you can ask for an office transfer at some point, and you can “volunteer/offer” your French speaking services - flagging “if you ever need it”. These would be the main options.

Here's some reading to help you succeed on the job!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tips-for-consultans

Hi,

I was always based in SEA, but I managed to do projects in the Middle East, North Asia, South Asia, as well as Europe / US. 

Here are a couple of tips

• Build a strong reputation for yourself - the stronger your performance, the more pull you have in creating an opportunity
• Build a strong relationship with influential partners / partners that often are involved in cross-region projects
• Leverage any internal mobility opportunities - at BCG there were plenty of these that allowed for international exposure

Happy to chat more on my experience - just drop me a dm.

All the best!

Hey,

I suggest you build a strong case for yourself working on local projects first for a couple years and only then looking for international opportunities. Why? It's easier to get ahead if you stay visible at your local office and if you have good connections with the partners who are directly responsible for your promotion. If you are mostly staffed on the international projects, the feedback you get there may be less relevant for you and the partners there wouldn't have that much of a say in when it comes to discussing your performance at the round table.

I've heard of MBB consultants who worked only on international projects for several years and then eventually had to leave the firm as they failed to generate traction within their local offices.

Good luck with you consulting career!
Nick

Hi there!

Sorry to break it to you but if you work in the DACH region you're going to have most of the projects locally regardless of the firm :) 

That's the case even with McKinsey. If you work for McKinsey Germany for instance, you can safely assume 80% of your staffing is going to be in Germany. Which is why German offices also make such a big deal about speaking fluently German. 

So don't be too sad about Bain specifically (though being in Bain doesn't make it much easier). 

Anyway, regardless of the situation, it's important to keep in mind that if this is something important for you, there are actions that you can take. You can always look for staffing opportunities outside of the region, network with local Partners that also work outside of the region and so on. In short, if you want to have projects outside of DACH, you definitely will. Just make sure you communicate this. 

Best,
Cristian

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Hey there,

Congrats on the offer with Bain! I understand your eagerness to explore and work across various locations – that's one of the charms of consulting, isn't it?

While the local staffing model might seem limiting, it's quite common among big consulting firms in the DACH region. However, that doesn't mean your dreams of working internationally are shelved. Every office, regardless of its primary staffing model, will have pockets of international opportunities. It's all about how proactive you are in seeking them out.

For instance, the emphasis on language, especially German, highlights the regional focus but remember, fluency in other languages could be your ticket to international projects. So, if you're multilingual, that's a plus!

Moreover, don't hesitate to voice your aspirations. Regularly communicating with your staffing manager and networking with partners who have a global client base can open doors. Also, consider joining global training programs or firm-wide initiatives that can give you that international exposure.

I hope this helps!

Alberto