Promotions

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the (presumed) offer from Deloitte!

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

• First of all, I would highly advise you to maintain realistic expectations regarding your short-term career plan. It seems you have set very ambitious goals, expecting a promotion in less than a year, especially since you plan to move on shortly after that.
• Moreover, I would advise you to focus on excelling in your current role. Demonstrate strong performance by consistently delivering high-quality work and exceeding your targets, which can enhance your prospects for quicker promotions.
• Lastly, the application processes at other consulting firms will likely be similar to those you are already familiar with; there is no "silver bullet" for success. While certifications might not directly influence your chances, pursue them only if they add genuine value to your skills and knowledge base.

You can find more on this topic here: Salaries in the consulting industry.

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

Best,

Hagen

Congratulations on your upcoming role at Deloitte! It’s great to see you planning for success and future opportunities. Here are some targeted tips for getting promoted faster and transitioning into MBB or Tier 2 consulting, along with actionable advice for upskilling:

1. Tips for Getting Promoted Faster at Deloitte

Deliver Exceptional Work

• Master the Basics: Excel at your core responsibilities—ensure deliverables are error-free, insightful, and client-focused.
• Go Beyond Expectations: Volunteer for stretch assignments or take initiative to solve problems that add value to your team or client.
• Develop a Consulting Toolkit: Hone key skills like structured problem-solving, storyboarding, data analysis, and effective communication.

Build Relationships

• Network Internally: Develop strong relationships with your peers, managers, and partners. Seek opportunities to learn from them and showcase your potential.
• Seek Feedback Regularly: Proactively ask for constructive feedback and demonstrate that you act on it. This signals coachability and commitment to growth.
• Align with Leadership: Understand the promotion criteria and tailor your efforts to meet the expectations of leadership.

Demonstrate Leadership Potential

• Own Your Workstreams: Take responsibility for delivering results, even if you’re working at a junior level.
• Mentor Others: Offer to help peers or new hires. Even informal mentoring showcases leadership and collaboration skills.
• Be Solution-Oriented: Present solutions, not just problems, to show you’re thinking strategically and adding value.

2. Tips for Transitioning to MBB 

Excel in Your Current Role

• MBB values high performers. Stand out in your current position by building a strong track record of delivering impactful results, preferably on strategic, high-visibility projects.

Develop Transferable Skills

• Focus on problem-solving, executive communication, and analytics. These are core skills MBB looks for.
• Document key achievements that align with MBB’s focus on impact and structured thinking.

Network Strategically

• Reach out to alumni from Deloitte who moved to MBB or Tier 2 firms. Build relationships with them and seek their advice on the transition process.
• Attend industry events or networking sessions where you can connect with MBB consultants.

Prep for Interviews

• Begin preparing for case interviews early. Use resources on this and other platforms to dust off those case interviewing skills.
• Practice with peers and mentors to refine your problem-solving, communication, and business judgment. Consider coaching!
• Don't forget to craft a compelling narrative for your pivot! The fit interview will be a good opportunity you've been building the consulting toolkit.  

Choose Strategic Projects

• Opt for projects that allow you to demonstrate skills MBB values, such as strategy, market entry, or operational improvement.

3. Certifications to Boost Your Knowledge and Profile

• Certifications are not mandatory but can strengthen your resume and showcase your commitment to continuous learning. I do not recommend you invest time here just for the sake of landing an MBB offer. 

To get promoted faster, focus on excelling in your role, building relationships, and demonstrating leadership. For transitioning to MBB or Tier 2, showcase impact, build transferable skills, and prepare thoroughly for case interviews. I do not recommend you chase certifications. Instead, Spend time excelling at your job, networking, and preparing for interviews. 

With dedication, you’re setting yourself up for success—good luck!

Hey there, 

To be promoted faster, focus on:

• Producing exceptional work (over and above expectations)
• Ensure you and your work is visible (especially to the right people)
• Know what your review criteria and metrics are, then optimise against them

To transition to MBB, your first step now would be to pass the screening and get an interview, for which, you should focus on:

• Building a strong profile with evidence of high performance, relevant experience and achievement, and evidence of being a good problem solver (i.e. consultant)
• Network with people in the office you want to go to and seek a referral from them

All the best! 

Hey there,

Congrats on the achievement!

If you are interested in preparing for your new role, I'd suggest the following:

When I got the offer some years ago I did the same. I reached out to people I knew in McKinsey and people who interviewed me to ask: What can I do to make the start easier? How can I prepare?

The answer from everyone was: Relax! Enjoy your time before you start and don't think about it. You will figure it out on the job. I followed that advice and it made sense to me once I joined.

When you start at in top tier consulting there are 2 ways to learn:

1. Formal training. The formal training sessions/ weeks/ days in the beginning, are nice, however, they are more for networking and meeting your peers. You learn some interesting concepts and get some useful tips from more experienced consultants BUT
2. Constant and implicit learning on the job is where it's at. No matter if you are a newcomer or a veteran after a few years, you will always find yourself on a steep learning curve. As soon as you barely mastered one skill or the skills needed for one level in the hierarchy, you will take care of things, which are expected from a more senior colleague. This cycle never ends. You are expected to learn on the job, and learn from your colleagues, your mentors, and sometimes even the client. So basically a newly promoted Engagement Manager has the same 'struggle' as a new-hire Business Analyst. They both need to work in a completely new environment and role.

Focusing on Excel here is overkill and not what's important. Excel is extremely easy to learn (especially for the types of tasks it is used for in consulting) but it's best to learn it on the job while working on real problems. You can always ask colleagues, Google, or the help desk while working on specific analyses and encountering problems. If you learn while you encounter problems, you will quickly internalize the skills and after a month you will be fully proficient for the typical needs of a consultant.

The trickier parts that take longer to learn are to understand what types of analyses you need to work on at a specific time, how to design them, and why they move the needle (prioritization and analytical framing), how to collect the required data, etc.

Excel is just execution.

Knowing that, if we now go back to square one in your journey it makes perfect sense to enter the firm with a blank slate with a lot of curiosity and eagerness to soak it all up and quickly learn the ropes.

Nothing matches the experience and the learning and this is a good thing (also the reason why ex-consultants are valued highly in the job market).

You will learn everything you need to master while doing it. You will be thrown in the cold water and need to swim. However, your colleagues will always be happy to help you and mentor you. And for the rest, you will figure everything out along the way. The key here is always to ask for tips, shortcuts, feedback, etc. Don't be quiet if you get stuck.

Lastly, if you have no domain knowledge about a certain industry or topic, read through the internal library of documentation (which is endless) and call some of the firm experts on the topic. Usually, they are happy to offer you a short call to get you up to speed.

But here’s something extra: Since the question came up ever so often with my clients, I've authored a book titled "Consulting Career Secrets," specifically to guide newcomers like you in navigating this journey. The goal of the book was to answer all typical questions of entry-level consultants and show them the way to make the entry and the transition as simple and painless as possible. While no book or training can entirely prep you for the unique experiences of your first day, week, or project, it offers comprehensive insights to mentally prepare you, suggests essential tools and skills to acquire, shows you the ways how to do that, and strategies to quickly adapt and excel in your new role. You can DM me if you want to know more. You can also find it on Amazon.

In any case, don't sweat the small stuff like Excel, and enjoy the ride!

Florian