Is the Post-MBB Career Really as Bright as Advertised?

Question

The allure of a career at McKinsey, Bain, or Boston Consulting Group (MBB) is often tied to the promise of exceptional exit opportunities. While many ex-MBB consultants do achieve remarkable success, there's a growing need to examine the full spectrum of post-consulting careers. This article aims to explore whether the post-MBB career path is truly as bright as commonly portrayed.

The Success Stories We Already Know

It's undeniable that many former MBB consultants have gone on to become successful executives and leaders in various industries:

Tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta employ a significant number of MBB alumni, often in senior strategic roles
Several unicorn startups, including Airbnb, DoorDash, and Kayak, were founded by ex-consultants
Some consultants transition into high-profile roles in private equity, venture capital, or even politics

The Shadow, The Less Discussed Reality

However, the career trajectories of all ex-MBB consultants are not uniformly successful:

Many former consultants change jobs every 2-3 years, sometimes landing in less prestigious companies
The constant job-hopping can lead to a cycle of starting over, potentially hindering long-term career growth and expertise development
Some struggle to find stability or may face challenges in roles that require deep industry-specific knowledge rather than generalist skills

Factors Influencing Post-MBB Career Success

Several factors can impact the success of a post-consulting career:

Individual skills and adaptability: The ability to apply consulting skills in new contexts is crucial.
Industry choice: Some sectors may value consulting experience more than others
Timing and market conditions: Economic factors and industry trends can affect available opportunities.
Network utilization: Leveraging the MBB alumni network effectively can open doors.
Personal career goals: Success is subjective and depends on individual aspirations.

Conclusion

While MBB experience can provide a strong foundation for future career success, it's not a guarantee. The post-MBB career path is diverse, with both notable achievements and challenges. Prospective and current consultants should approach their career planning with realistic expectations, understanding that success after consulting requires continued effort, adaptability, and sometimes, perseverance through periods of transition.

What has been your experience or observation regarding post-MBB careers? Have they lived up to the hype, or do you see a more nuanced reality?

Answer 1

Hey there,

It is true that MBB is not a guarantee of success. It is also true that the definition of success is different for different people and it evolves over time. When picking careers and jobs, it can be helpful to do a bit of thinking around the following:

What are your personal long-term goals? Where would you like to be 10 years down the line, what city/country, what kind of role, what industry, what compensation? Do you want to start a family / have kids? If yes, how do you want to split your time between work / kids?
What job/role can you pick now that would help you get to where you want to be long-term? Would consulting today help you get a better role in a few years in an industry you are interested in? Or would consulting help you figure out which industry would be interesting for you? Or is consulting the path you would see yourself on long-term?
If you are considering multiple paths to get to where you'd like to be long-term, what are each path's pros and cons? For this, you can do some research: talk to your parents / your friends' parents, career counselors at the university / professors, do some internet research (happy to share my take on consulting pros/cons with you - feel free to reach out)

Try to pick a job that you want/can help you fulfill your goals, rather than a job that you think other people might find interesting/cool. Define career success for yourself. And remember, there are multiple ways to get to the same goal, so if one doesn't work, try another.

All the best!

Maria