Moving into consulting as an experienced hire.

Hi Anonymous A, 

Going to a target business school would be the ‘traditional’ way to get an interview for an Associate position at MBB (called Associate at McKinsey and AT Kearney vs. Consultant at BCG/Bain). Nevertheless, I know some experienced hires that successfully transitioned to MBB without MBA.

The hardest part for your will likely be to get an interview. There is not a written rule and significant differences exist depending on the office and geography but in general:

• McK/ATK are probably the most open, assuming you have a specific expertise set that they need
• Bain pretty much does not take anyone out of school and value some experience
• BCG does hire some experienced hires but that's rare

If you had worked alongside consultants on a project at your company, I would suggest that you ask them to recommend you for an interview. If that is not your case, I recommend to use any other contact or to get in touch with a headhunter rather than sendig a 'cold' application. Once you got an interview... expectations will be mainly the same. Yes, you probably have a slightly better business sense than average candidate due to longer work experience, and yes you might feel more comfortable talking to senior execs, but that will not make a significant difference in how you will be judged.

Let me also precise that experienced hires will be generally penalized on their career paths. Especially if they do not come from a strategy consulting background, in the first period they will struggle a lot more than an internal consultant of the same level who has develop a very specific mindset.

Considering your work experience, at this stage you would probably get in at a senior analyst position and then could get promoted to an associate level after 0.5/1 year.

I hope this helps,

Good luck,

Jacopo

Hi Anonymous,

given your profile and goals, I would recommend to apply for a position in consulting now, and leave the MBA as a backup if your applications are not successful, for the following reasons:

1. Although it could be slightly easier for you to get the interview after a top MBA, there are less slots for post MBA than pre MBA, thus not changing the finally likelihood of an offer substantially for a good candidate
2. You would have to invest a relevant amount of money (€200k) and time (1-2 years), not counting the preparation time for the MBA
3. MBA is not a compulsory step in MBB if you join now – some people just become senior business analyst/senior associates and move on the ladder in the next role after 1-2 years in such position
4. If you join consulting now they will likely recognize 1 year of seniority anyway
5. It’s safer to join as Analyst/Associate than as post MBA; expectations are lower and you could adapt more easily to the new environment
6. In case you do want to do an MBA for other reasons as well, you could do that anyway and MBB could sponsor your MBA if you are a top performer

I agree with Jacopo that the main challenge would be to get the invitation, but I do not see issues on that given your profile so far that you manage to get a good referral. I would also keep options open and target ATK, RB, OW as well and equivalent consulting firms, as you could transit to MBB after some years there as well without having necessary to go for the MBA path.

Best,
Francesco

Dear A,

I would go for your second option and get an offer at MBB firm by using referral and networking activities to secure your job interviews. I'm pretty sure, you will make it. 

May be you could join the firms as a senior business analyst. Not just start from the very stretch.

I hope it helps

Wish you best of luck,

André

Before you decide to pursue any of those plans… have you actually considered just applying to MBB right now. You seem to have a great profile.

You should network in order to maximize your chances (you want to get a referral) and also prepare for the interview process. Then apply.

Only if that doesn't work you should consider the alternative plans.