Is it possible to move office in an MBB at a junior level?

Question

Hey there,

a bit of an unusual question here…but sometimes it's good to remind ourselves that not only work exists. I am applying to MBBs and, as an Italian candidate, I have much higher chance to join an MBB from Italy (most likely Bain). However, my significant other will be in London for an indefinite amount of time and we're trying to understand if it's possible to ask for a office transfer. Is it feasible? Because many people said it's an absolute nightmare and in the end companies don't want you to move office but only say it's possible at a recruiting level

Answer 1

Hi there!

Both things are true: (1) it is possible and (2) it is fairly hard to get, especially at junior level.

I have myself transferred to London office from another European office, but it was in a time (during Covid) when the office was growing. Things have gotten more challenging ever since.

How I would think about it if I were you:

Work with the default that it likely won't work (at least not in the first 1-2 years of joining Bain in this case) and discuss with your partner the implications this would have on your relationship
Nevertheless, try your best to be top of mind for any transfer opportunity there might arise. This includes: being informed about Bain's mobility programs, network with Bain consultants from London, try to get staffed on London projects if at all possible (e.g., doing DDs might be a “way in”)

Let me know if you want to have a quick chat about this. As someone that has been through this (including the situation with the partner), would be happy to share my thoughts.

Wish you good luck!
Ariadna

Answer 2

Hi there,

Great perspective!

It is possible but it requires a bit of work, esp. at a junior level.

You need partners in the target office to support the move
You need partners in the home office to support the move

Target office:

Network, try to help out with internal projects, get staffed on their projects, develop a reputation and state your intentions → that can help with the pull.

Home office:

This is trickier. You need to state your intentions early in with the people you work with, your mentors, and HR. Try to build goodwill over time and make them see your perspective.

I know several people who transferred out of their home office/country within the first year.

Keep in mind that London is the most competitive office in Europe and we are currently seeing a significant hiring freeze, so this works against you at the moment.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 3

Hi,

Is it possible - yes. It is easy - no.

Internal transfers depend on 2 things:

Your local system willing and able to let you go
The target system willing and able to take you on

Influencing the above are multiple things → state of the business and demand, your experience and expertise, your performance.

There are processes and policies but consulting is still very much a relationship based business. If you have people with significant clout on both sides who are willing to support you, that often makes it easier. But, it takes time to build that relationships - hence why it is often more difficult the less tenure you have (because you have had less time to build relationships and prove your worth, so to say).

Answer 4

Yes, sorry to add a voice to that choir, but it is a bit of a nightmare.

It really gets easier to transfer once you have a tenure of at least 2 years, but even then it requires some orchestration.

Then it depends what office you want to move into.

London is super competitive and lots of people want to go there, which means that they decline lots of transfer offers.

If you're planning on doing this, make sure you have a good strategy of how to do it and you play that game in a targeted game over a 2y period.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 5

Hi there,

Q: We're trying to understand if it's possible to ask for a office transfer. Is it feasible?

Based on my experience, I saw two scenarios where this happens:

You work for a few years in the local office, create connections with the other office, leverage them to move there
You work for a few years in the local office, do an MBA in the country of the other office and create some local connections, move to the other office after that

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 6

It's possible, but difficult and unlikely. A bit easier to ask to get staffed in a project on a different country. So… not a definite solution, but at least a short term fix (on the other hand, realize there's a risk of being at the London office but staffed abroad)

Answer 7

Hi there,

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

First of all, and contrary to what most other coaches have said, office relocations within a consulting firm are perfectly possible, although they usually require a compelling reason. Having a partner in another country would certainly qualify as such a reason in my view.
Moreover, however, I think it is a fallacy to assume that just because you are Italian, you have a greater chance of getting a consulting offer in Italy than in the UK.

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

Best,

Hagen

Answer 8

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