MBB Consultant vs. Tier 2 EM

Question

Hi,

I have got offers from one of the MBB firm for a Consultant position (MBA hire level), and one tier 2 for an Engagement Manager (+1 on MBA hire) position. The pay doesn't vary much ($10k difference).

I think for former has better brand but later provides quicker career progression. The culture of both teams look nice. They are the same team covers similar industries. I plan to exit to PE in the next 2-3 years if possible. I would really appreciate if you have any advice on how to make the decision?

Thank you all.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Congrats also from my end! Indeed a nice problem to have!

Like the other coaches, I'd also argue going with the MBB offer might be a better choice

Brand: MBB brand is just significantly stronger and all these firms have a proven track record as PE exit feeder
Timing: Think about timing of the planned exit - as a senior manager / principal in a few years, the exit into PE may prove more difficult than if you jump as a senior consultant / junior EM, based on the way many PE firms hire
Ramp up: This is a factor that many people underestimate - if you don't have any prior consulting experience, starting directly as EM can be very very challenging, to say the least (e.g. at BCG, that category shows the highest churn rate on EM / Principal level). Consulting firms have high expectations and limited patience, so it would be advisable for most people to spend a bit of time honing core consulting skills, before assuming EM responsibility, where you will be fully exposed from the start.

Hope this helps!

Regards

Andi

Answer 2

Hello!

First of all, congratulations are in order! Well done!

Both are really good options, and the good news is that here you cannot really make a bad choice.

Overall, I would have it pretty clear and would go for MBB, since what I have seen with time, is that brand is the most important thing. What you will see in some time from now was I was in McK vs. I was in OW, despite the roles.

This said, given that you want to exit to PE, this can complicate things a bit… since OW can gain you good connections there too. I would try to see which type of network and connections both companies give you IN THE REGION/AREA of you interest, to see if this changes the pic.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 3

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offers!

MBB is more likely to open doors in PE. To check that in your particular area you can do the following:

Look for alumni of OW and your MBB on LinkedIn
Check how many moved to PE in your region
Normalize for the size of OW and your MBB in your region

Before you apply to PE, I would also look for referrals. You can find some tips in the article below (it refers to consulting but works for any industry):

▶ https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/networking-as-part-of-the-management-consulting-preparation-process

Best,
Francesco

Answer 4

Hi there,

congrats! if you are thinking in exit opportunities, MBB is probably a better choice because:

1. MBB is a diamond name on your CV

2. Steep learning curve (problem solving, dealing with C levels, commercial excellence etc.)

3. Amazing networking access including becoming alumni with its advantages

4. MBB can actually secure you a job

Good luck!

Lucie

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Answer 5

Hi there,

Congrats on a fantastic problem to have - you can't go wrong here :)

If it were me, I would personally pick MBB. The career progression would actually be quicker because of the brand. That's just me though - you need to think about where you fit best and what “sits" best with you!

Ultimately, you should pick the 1-3 things you care about most and see which company/offer best fits against those values!

Last thing: See if MBB can make you a C2 (i.e. 1 year from promotion). Leverage your other offer here.

Answer 6

Hi there,

Very simple: MBB all the way!

Some good answers pointing out some good reasons already. I will just add one thing - career progression is very fast and as an MBA hire you will be advancing to an EM role between 1-2 years.

When that happens, you can either do a couple of projects and exit with the EM title (very common). or you stick around and commit for the long haul.

However, if exiting after a short stint is your game plan, nothing beats an MBB EM title on the job market!

Hope this helps a bit! Best of luck!

Answer 7

Hi there,

Congrats! That's a nice problem to deal with.

If I were you, I'd go with MBB. You're likely to get promoted to manager anyway within 2-3 years, so your exit position will still be manager. With Tier 2 promotions tend to take a bit longer and the brand is not as strong. The MBB brand is also likely to have a carry-on effect for much longer after you leave the firm.

Answer 8

First of all, it is quite unlikely to move to PE with just CDD experience.
In particular, it is even more unlikely to move to PE if you are not coming from MBB.
MBB overall have much more interesting projects than OW.

Answer 9

Hi,

Which one is a better FIT in terms of your career aspirations, risk profile & values? Go for the one with better FIT. You need to look purely beyond brand, $$ etc. Please have a look at this article for plenty of tips and guidance on this question- https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

All the best choosing and congrats!