Kearney or Strategy& Dubai

Hi there,

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

• First of all, both Kearney and Strategy& are top-tier consulting firms, so you can't go wrong with either. But among the global consulting community, Strategy& usually has a slightly higher prestige.
• Moreover, skills development is somewhat comparable between the two either. Both offer strong training programs and opportunities for professional growth. However, Kearney tends to focus more on operational issues, while Strategy& leans more towards strategy work.
• Lastly, concerning exit opportunities, both will open many doors for you. It's worth noting that the network you build within the firm and the specific projects you work on play a more significant role in shaping your exit opportunities.

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

Best,

Hagen

Hi there!

Wow, big open question. 

If I had to choose, I'd probably lean towards Kearney, just because there's a stronger association between them and strategy consulting than is the case with Strategy& (that is more seen as a Big4). 

But you need to also take into account how the office looks like that you got the offer from, the compensation package and the vibe that you got during the interview (among other things). 

Best,
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Hello!

Besides looking just at the companies' brands, always consider:

- the industrial and functional practice you want to work at;

- the team you'll be working with.

Target the company which can best meet your current career aspirations. Therefore, network extensively to learn more about both companies.

Regards,
Nick

Hi there,

Q: Of the two firms, which is one is best ? In terms of exiting opportunities, skills developing and prestige.

In terms of exits, you can check them as follows as they are based on what you would like to do next:

1. Look for alumni of the two companies on LinkedIn
2. Check how many moved to your preferred exits in your target region
3. Normalize for the size of the companies in the region

As general criteria, I would consider the following

• Where do you want to be in 5-10 years? Try to identify the company that can help you to achieve that goal faster. You can check LinkedIn for that (see below). If you are not sure, the McKinsey brand is probably stronger in most countries.
• If you consider the average consultant/partner you talked to in each company, which one would you rather be? You will spend a lot of time with your colleagues in the next years - be sure you choose a company where the people are close to the person you want to become.
• If money and prestige were not a consideration, which company would you choose? This could help you to identify additional elements to weigh you have not considered yet.

If you want to do extra due diligence, you can contact Alumni of your university (not current consultants) who worked for the possible alternatives (bonus if they worked for both firms). You will learn more in a 30-minute call with them than with any online research you might do.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

Just to double check: If you do not have offers at both, don't even ask this question….they might decide for you (i.e apply to both and see what happens).

If you have offers at both, then figure out waht you value most and have calls/conversations with people in this region+firms.

In terms of prestige and exit opportunities, Strategy& has a stronger reputation in the Middle East (they are generally viewed very highly).

In terms of skills developing, this honestly depends and is highly variable (on office, leadership, the bosses/teams you land with, luck, etc.)