Piece of advice: experienced hire at MBB, a good step for me?

Question

Hello everyone,

I’m a recent member here, and first of all, a big thank you for the quality of the answers found on this forum; it’s very rich!

I’m writing here to seek advice from more experienced people than myself :)

I’m 30 years old, I studied at a business school targeted by MBB. I started my career by going straight into industry. I worked in production management for 5 years at a large, well-known, and publicly visible company. I have gone through all the possible roles in production management, from production engineer, and now I manage a team of 300 people on the factory floor, in a cross-functional role, with a major investment project in robotics/automation.
My goal is to one day be able to apply for job offers from private equity firms that are looking for CEOs to take charge of the companies they have invested in. My career has been industrial so far and I haven't focused much on the commercial or business side, even though that was my initial training. I’ve been advised to pursue a consulting route, especially in a generalist role at an MBB firm (although I’ve been headhunted by recruiters from these firms, mostly for operations roles). I know it’s very difficult to be hired by these firms, so I’m asking if you think it’s worth trying to follow this path! I’m interested in it, and beyond the sole logic of my career, I’m sure I would thrive in such an environment. According to you would it be worth it for me to work and aim to be hired as experienced hire at MBB.
If this path is indeed the right one, how would you suggest approaching these firms, especially since 2 of them have already contacted me for operations roles? Would it be a good idea to approach the recruiters and ask if I can focus on the generalist track instead?

Thank you very much, sorry for the length!

Answer 1

Hi there,

Welcome to PrepLounge! Thank you for sharing your story--it's an impressive journey so far that will set you up for success at MBB or other firms. Let’s dive into your questions and how to approach your next steps strategically.

1. Is Consulting the Right Path for You?

Given your goal of becoming a CEO in a private equity-backed firm, pursuing a role at an MBB firm could be a smart decision. Here’s why:

Broader skill set: While your experience in production management is highly valuable, a stint in consulting would allow you to round out your skill set (e.g., strategy, transformation/change management, due diligence, org./op. model design, and other topics).
Network and credibility: MBB firms have extensive networks, particularly with private equity firms. By working at an MBB, you’d gain access to influential connections and build credibility with investors who often look to consulting firms for operational and strategic expertise. Bain is a leader in the space, and McKinsey/BCG/LEK/etc. have strong practices.
Diverse industry exposure: As a generalist consultant, you’d get exposure to different industries and business challenges, giving you a broader perspective that’s essential for a future CEO role. This is particularly important if you want to pivot from industrials.

You can't go wrong with adding MBB to your resume. Getting in is not easy, and the challenge doesn't stop at getting an offer. However, my experience was incredibly rewarding in terms of learning, networking, and career optionality.

2. Should You Aim for a Generalist Role or an Operations Role?

It’s great that you’ve already caught the attention of recruiters for operations roles—this is a strong validation of your skill set. However, if you aim to gain broader exposure and round out your business acumen, aiming for a generalist role would make sense rather than being pigeonholed into operations.

When engaging with recruiters, be transparent about your career goals. It’s perfectly fine to express interest in a generalist track and explain your reasoning. That said, you should show willingness and interest in working in Operations because this is your competitive advantage as an experienced hire.

3. How to Approach MBB Firms as an Experienced Hire

As an experienced professional with a strong track record, you have a unique profile that MBB firms value. Here’s how to approach the process:

Leverage Your Existing Contacts: Since you’ve already been contacted by MBB recruiters, use this as a gateway to start a conversation about your interest in the generalist track. You could reply to them expressing gratitude for their outreach and request an informational interview to learn more about different pathways (e.g., operations vs. generalist).
Tailor Your Application: When applying, emphasize your cross-functional leadership experience, your ability to drive large-scale projects, and your strategic vision. Highlight the complexity of the projects you’ve managed, especially the automation investment, as this demonstrates your ability to handle strategic business decisions. If you have experience outside of production management, make sure you highlight that as well.
Prepare for the Case Interview Process: Experienced hires are often assessed with the same rigor as traditional candidates, so be ready for case interviews. Focus on building your problem-solving skills and practice cases that touch on strategy, market entry, profitability improvement, and growth to show your versatility beyond operations.

Bottom Line

Given your existing contacts at these two firms, you're in a privileged position. If I were in your shoes, I'd start getting ready for case interviews right away and would keep the ball rolling on landing interviews with these two firms and other top-tier firms in your geography. If you would like support on application strategy, resume drafting, and case / fit interview prep, don't hesitate to reach out on the platform. We can set up a free 15-minute intro call.

Answer 2

Hi there,

It's definitely feasible, achievable and also sensible given your background and ambitions.
I would try not to get pushed into the ops practice as this is already a very specific niche. If your plan is to exit into PE, I would rather try to be a generalist first and specialize in corp finance/strategy/PE topics along the way. Recruiters are quite open to these discussions and I would definitely take that up with them + network with current active consultants for a referral, then apply. :-)

All the best along the way!

Cheers,

Florian