Top tier/tier2/tier3 consulting firms??

Hi there, 

Thank you for this question! It's not stupid at all. Everyone starts somewhere and I believe the answers by our case coaches have helped a lot of candidates to get a feeling of the industry. 

If you have already decided to give your career in management consulting a chance, we have some valuable resources you should definitely check out before applying and during your preparation. I will try to give you a chronological timeline: 

1. Before applying
Make sure to read our consulting resume guide! Since the CV in consulting looks quite different from the CV when applying in other industries, it is important to be aware of these differences and make an instant good impression! 

2. Initial tests
If your CV convinced the recruiters, you will probably receive an invitation. Sometimes this hurdle comes in form of an online test. Consulting firms conduct different tests such as the Problem Solving Game by McKinsey or the BCG Online Case by BCG. It is important that you inform yourself about the different processes within the company and, if needed, practice for these kinds of assessments. 

3. The actual case interview
The probably most feared part of the recruitment process in management consulting is the case interview. Make sure to read through our case interview guide to learn the process and important skills that are needed for the interview. 

4. Personal Fit
You might have already heard of the personal fit interview. We already offer some articles that help you answer such questions during the interview: 

• Consulting Interview Questions – Example Questions and Answers for Your Interview in Management Consulting
• Tell Me About Yourself – Interview Questions: Why Me? Why Consulting? Why Company?
• McKinsey PEI (Personal Experience Interview) – How to Prepare and Ace PEI Questions in the Best Way Possible
• Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers – How You Should Prepare and Respond
• ''Why Consulting?'' – How to Deliver an Answer That Will Impress Your Interviewer

I hope I could give you some helpful insights and resources with this answer. 

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. I am happy to help! :-)

All the best for your case interview preparation.

Christine
PrepLounge Community Management

Hey there! Thanks for reaching out. It's completely normal to have questions as you're starting your journey in consulting.

The terms "top tier," "tier 2," and "tier 3" are often used to categorize consulting firms based on their reputation, size, and the types of projects they handle. While there isn't a universally agreed-upon list, here's a general breakdown:

• Top tier (or Tier 1) usually refers to the most prestigious global firms, known as MBB: McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company. These firms are recognized for their highly selective recruitment, high-profile clients, and significant impact on major corporations and governments.
• Tier 2 typically includes other well-established, reputable firms with an international presence, such as Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Accenture, and Oliver Wyman. These firms offer a wide range of services and often have strong expertise in specific industries or functions.
• Tier 3 encompasses a broader range of smaller, often more specialized consulting firms. These might be boutique firms focusing on particular industries, regional players, or firms with a more niche service offering.

However, these tiers are subjective and can vary based on factors like location and industry focus (or specific teams within the firm). As a candidate, it's helpful to understand these tiers, but it's more important to assess firms based on their culture, values, and the opportunities they offer that align with your goals.

For future recruiters / employers reviewing your CV, the tier of the firm you worked for can provide a general indication of the caliber of your experience. However, most employers will be more interested in the specific skills you developed, the impact you made, and how your experiences have prepared you for the role you're pursuing.

Ultimately, your success in consulting will depend on your individual performance, the skills you build, and the relationships you foster, regardless of the tier of the firm you join.

Hope this helps clarify the concept of tiers in the consulting world!

Hey there,

Most consulting firms hire PhDs and all have a generalist track. These two are not mutually exclusive and PhDs are hired as generalists all the time.

If you want to be sure and discuss your specific situation, reach out to HR of the firms you are interested in and clarify. 

Siemens Consulting, as an engineering company, for sure is also looking for PhDs!

Cheers,

Florian

Hello,

I believe that most consulting firms are interested in hiring PhDs - generally you should be able to apply for Associate-level positions that are aimed at MBAs, and there is often a particular track for candidates coming from an academic background (ie. you work with different recruiters, have a specific training program upon hiring, etc.). It seems like you are interested in the generalist track, but if you would also be interested in something closer to your specialty, you could take a look at expert tracks, applying to specific practice groups, and/or boutique consultancies that specialize in a particular industry. I'd recommend doing some research and reaching out to HR at any particular companies you would like to apply to where you aren't sure which position you should apply for given your experience.

I do agree with Sara’s sentiment on focusing on culture/people and the business focus alignment to your area of interest, but I am not sure how I feel about the segmentation. I do agree there is not a hard line, but below is a different approach to how the industry might be segmented (read how folks describe the industry or folks in industry might perceive themselves):

Strategy Consulting Firms:  Main focus is to provide high level strategic advice to companies leadership (C-level and Board). They partake in other things, not limited to, but including implementation, operation etc. These companies would include:

Tier 1- which typical refers to MBB

Big 4 - Which refers to the Strategy side of Deloitte (Monitor), KPMG, PWC (Strategy&), EY (Parthenon)

Tier 2- Typical Non Tier 1 or Big 4, could be called "Other Boutiques"- example could be Oliver Wyman, A.T.K, Accenture strategy, Z.S Associate and a host of others.

Management Consulting Firms: Now this includes everything including strategy consulting, IT, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Deals or M&A etc. again the companies above mostly offer such services, but the industry has its way of branding MBB as Strategy, Accenture as IT, A.T.K as operation and Big 4 as financial services based. The irony is that they are all management consulting firms that do a bit of everything, so do more than the others do, but you can do strategy work or IT implementation work at most of those firms.

That being said, it is true that MBB gets a lot of strategy projects, but so does Monitor, Strategy& and  Accenture Strategy, just like its true Accenture gets a ton of IT projects, but so does MBB and Deloitte. I don’t have exact data to tell you who have what share, but point is you can end up doing what you want at any firm, if they offer/ sell the service you have interest in.

More specific to your question on if they are the same globally, for the companies described above they operate globally, but sometimes with a slight change in focus (read what the business opportunity might be in that region – Houston firms focus on Energy, San Francisco’s would focus on Tech, Middle East- Oil and Gas and maybe Retail etc.)

Obviously there is more to this, but hopefully this is sufficient to get you a sense of the current industry position.

Hi,

you already have exhaustive answers. Let me just add as en example the “Tier1/Tier2/Tier 3” hiearchy in a specific country - Italy (best of my knowledge)

This is “perception based” and not “set in stone” hierarchy. Moreover

1) hanging over time 

2) Strongly dependent on PRACTICES/INDUSTRIES especially in Tier 2 / Tier 3

3) Not entirely fact-based / quality-based :)

Tier-1

1) McK → “oldest” Tier-1 presence in country. Historically and still strongest in Banking, largest alumni network

2) BCG → strong contender to #1 with fast expansion. More balanced in terms of Practice/industry Strength 

3) Bain → Very effective also in “mid-market” (e.g. smaller firms, PMIs, …) and constantly expanding. Currently full part of Bain & company (historically run a bit “independently”. Strongest in Luxury/Fashion historically and Consumers but present across the board

Tier-2  

1) Strategy&, Kearney - generalist with strongholds (e.g. Kearney in Procurement/Ops)

2) Alix Partners - strongholds in restructuring

Tier 2/Tier-3

1) Lot of specialized “boutiques” (e.g. Altman Solon for Telco, ZS for Pharma, …) can either be Tier 3 or 2 depending in which industry you are analyzing them: Altman Solon, ZS, OC&C, LEK, …..

2) Big-4 Consulting Arms: EY-Parthenon, Monitor Deloitte, Accenture Strategy → growing and poaching MBB talent with price points very different from Tier 1-2

Hope this helps

Happy to deep dive here. if anyone interested in Italy's market

Hi there!

Having worked for a prestigious and 2 niche firms in the industry over the last 15 years up to MD level, I've noticed some important trends and misconceptions that I believe are worth sharing. One significant observation is that the traditional tier 1, 2, and 3 categorizations of consulting firms are quite outdated and can be misleading for students and young professionals.

Today, what truly matters is how firms rank in their respective categories. The terms "top tier," "tier 2," and "tier 3" are often used to categorize consulting firms based on their reputation, size, and the types of projects they handle. However, these traditional categories don't reflect the client perspective.

For instance, many marketing images of the so-called MBB Tier 1 firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) are outdated and often go back to the 80s. In reality, only about 5-10% of their work is strategy, while 90-95% covers a broad range of topics that generate the cash flows for the firms. A whole MBB coaching industry has emerged based on these outdated images. Don't get fooled by this.

To get a more accurate picture, just Google for certain skills, e.g., "topic" in "industry", and you will find experts that are really active in a certain field. This will give you a better idea of who is actually leading in specific areas of expertise.

So-called MBBs spend millions of dollars a year on ranking positioning and marketing.

What you should focus on instead are rankings based on client feedback and specific expertise. Today, tier 1 firms are those that rank highest in their respective categories, including those hidden champions that don't appear in typical marketing materials but deliver exceptional results. To get a clearer picture, consider reaching out to experts who have left these firms for honest insights.

Additionally, don't overlook boutique firms. They often offer the highest quality projects, best learning curves and can provide excellent opportunities for growth.

Good luck with your decision!

Welcome to the consulting world! It's great that you're diving in and asking questions. Understanding the tiers of consulting firms can be a bit confusing at first, but it's an important aspect of the industry. Here's a breakdown of what the tiers typically mean and how they are perceived both internationally and within different countries.

Tier 1 Consulting Firms
These are the most prestigious and well-known firms, often referred to as the "Big Three" or MBB:
1.McKinsey & Company
2.Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
3.Bain & Company

These firms are recognized for their high-impact work, rigorous recruitment processes, and global reach. They are considered top tier across most countries due to their strong brand presence and consistent high-quality client work.

Tier 2 Consulting Firms
These firms are still highly reputable but might not have the same level of global prestige as the MBB firms. They are often considered just a step below in terms of brand recognition and client impact. Examples include:
1.Deloitte Consulting
2.PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Advisory Services
3.EY (Ernst & Young) Advisory
4.KPMG Advisory
5.Accenture
6.Strategy& (part of PwC)
7.Roland Berger
8.Oliver Wyman
9.LEK Consulting

These firms are strong players in the industry, offering excellent career opportunities and working on significant projects, but they might focus more on specific industries or regions.
 

Tier 3 Consulting Firms
These firms are generally smaller or more specialized, focusing on niche markets or specific industries. They can still provide excellent consulting services but might not have the same broad recognition as Tier 1 or Tier 2 firms. Examples include:

1.AlixPartners
2.FTI Consulting
3.Navigant Consulting
4.The Hackett Group
5.Capgemini Consulting
6.Grant Thornton Advisory
7.BearingPoint

Factors Influencing the Tier Classification
1.Brand Recognition: Global and regional reputation of the firm.
2.Client Impact: The scope and impact of the projects they undertake.
3.Recruitment Process:The selectivity and rigor of their hiring practices.
4.Geographic Reach: Presence and influence in multiple countries.
5.Revenue and Size: Overall size and financial performance of the firm.

Regional Variations
1.While the tier system is relatively consistent internationally, there can be variations based on regional presence and dominance. For instance:
2.Some firms may have a stronger presence in Europe or Asia compared to North America.
Local boutique firms might be highly regarded in their specific region but not as well-known globally.

Conclusion
The tier system helps to categorize consulting firms based on their prestige, size, and impact. It's a useful way to understand the landscape of the consulting industry, but it's also important to consider your own career goals and the specific strengths of each firm. Whether you're aiming for a top-tier firm or a specialized boutique, there's a place in the consulting world that can align with your aspirations.

Hi I will write this list from the top of my head, some firms might be missing, especially smaller one where you might argue they are Tier 3.

Tier 2:

• Oliver Wyman
• Roland Berger
• Kearney
• Strategy&

Tier 3:

• ZEB
• Simon Kucher
• Horvath
• Porsche Consulting
• Accenture Strategy + Big 4 strategy arms (although they are getting more and more integrated)

Welcome! Your question is not at all stupid; it's essential to understand these terms when exploring the consulting world. The terms "top tier," "tier 2," and "tier 3" consulting firms are used to categorize consulting firms based on various factors such as reputation, size, clientele, and global reach. These terms are not specific to a particular country and are used internationally, although there can be some regional variations. Here's a general breakdown of what these terms mean:

Top Tier Consulting Firms: These are the most prestigious and well-known consulting firms globally. They typically have a strong global presence, work with Fortune 500 companies, and are highly competitive in terms of recruitment. Examples of top-tier firms include McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company.

Tier 2 Consulting Firms: Tier 2 firms are also well-respected and provide excellent consulting services, but they may be slightly smaller or have a more regional focus compared to top-tier firms. Examples include firms like Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG, which have strong consulting practices alongside their other service lines.

Tier 3 Consulting Firms: Tier 3 firms are generally smaller or more specialized consulting firms. They may focus on specific industries, niches, or regions.

These categorizations can be helpful when researching and targeting consulting firms that align with your career goals and aspirations. Keep in mind that the consulting landscape is dynamic, and the rankings can evolve over time.

Germany:

Tier 1:

McKinsey

BCG

Strategy& (due to pay and prestige of the people they are hiring atm)

Bain (depends - strong name, but a strong focus on PE here)

Tier 2:

Roland Berger

Oliver Wyman

AT Kearney

SSCO (even though small pretty prestigious in Germany)

Tier 3

EY Parthenon (took over OC&C)

Simon Kucher

Monitor Deloitte

Accenture Strategy

Zeb

Hovarth

LEK

United States

Tier 1:

McKinsey

BCG

Bain

The rest not so sure. 

Hello,

Great question. They do vary per country. However, as a general rule of thumb, top-tier refers to McKinsey, Bain and BCG.

Tier 2: Here's where things get a little geographically different and subjective. Typically firms like Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Kearney fall under T2. 

Tier 3: Typically the management consulting arms of Big4 i.e. Strategy& of PwC, Monitor Deloitte, EY Parthenon fall here. Some even argue that boutique firms sit in Tier 3. 

Best,

Rushabh

Hi Akshay,

Tier-2

* Roland Berger

*Oliver Wyman

* Startegy&

* Kearney

Tier-3

*Big4

* Accenture

* Boutique firms

* Inhouse consulting

Best,
André

Hi Akshay,

this Vault ranking for Europe is a good start. All of these firms are present in Germany.

https://www.vault.com/blogs/consult-this-consulting-careers-news-and-views/the-vault-2020-consulting-25-europe

If you read German (or use google translate), this website also provides a similar listing:

https://www.staufenbiel.de/magazin/jobsuche/arbeitgeber-rankings/top-25-beratungsunternehmen-in-europa.html

Regards!

Tier 1, 2 etc. is not an official neither a good definition. Therefore, if I were you, I would not take it into account too much. When choosing a company to apply to, the most important thing to focus on is understanding which firm is right for you based on its culture and its business focus.

A very good way to differentiate consulting firms is their business focus. To make a very simple distinction: 

- Some firms provide clients with a very high level strategic advice (here there are the so called MBB and other smaller firms);

- After the high level guidelines are defined, other consultants must help the client at executing the initiative in the day to day business (there are here some big names such as Accenture, pwc and other firms).

Of course the line that differentiate the two groups is not rigid.

In addition, within each of these two groups, subgroups by the dimension "industry focus" can be identified. However, these largely vary from country to country. 

Hi A,

Top tier - MBB - McKinsey, BCG, Bain

Tier2 - Roland Berger, Strategy&, AT Kearney, Oliver Wymann

Tier3 - all other companies, so-called boutique companies


Best,


André

Hi Akshay,

I truly hope you're able to better research on the job, else consulting isn't for you!

This should help :) https://lmgtfy.app/?q=top+management+consulting+firms+germany

Hi there

not a stupid question at all, and to be clear - there is not standard definition to this. Ask 10 different people they will give you 10 different answers, especially for T2/3 distinction.

The way you can roughly look it…

• Tier 1: the MBBs → McKinsey, BCG, Bain
• Tier 2:  other major player with large strategy exposure such as (in no particular order) Kearney, Strategy&, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, Accenture Strategy, EY Parthenon, LEK, Monitor Deloitte, Alix, A&M etc
• Tier 3: smaller, often specialized boutique consulting firms, inhouse consultancies  and non-strategy branches of Big 4 (e.g. PWC consulting, KPMG consulting etc)

Note also that the percieved tiers will vary by region, as different firms have different geographic footprint / focus.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi

Don't spend too much time looking at informal sayings and classifications. You should look for the business culture you feel more confortable with. Having said this, the industry can indeed be classified in three groups, according to salary, type of work and exit:

1) Tier 1: MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)

2) Tier 2: Accenture Strategy, AT Kearney, Oliver Wyman

3) Big Four: Monitor, Booz, Pantheon

Coming from Monitor Deloitte, one important aspect in considering Big4 vs. MBB/ Boutiques in the breath of topics and size of project, you as well as the firm will work on / offer. 
Consulting units of Big 4 firms tend to offer a wider range of services. Therefore, even as a consultant in their strategy arm (such as Monitor) you can offer your clients specilized insights into almost every business problem by bringing the right expert to the table. 
My personal benefits from that are constantly learning about areas outside my focus as well as resting assured that you'll be covered whatever the client is asking for.

For further questions feel free to reach out.

Hi!

To add on top what´s been said, the geography is a key thing here. What is not so relevant in one market, can be industry leader in another one. 

Clara

Tier 1 (global leaders): BCG, McKinsey, Bain
Tier 2 (global players but not strong/present in every geography): Roland Berger, Kearney, L.E.K., etc.
Tier 3: Local boutique firms

Hopefully this helps.

well, the chart of top ten management consulting firms are available in almost every business journal and the top-notch players like Accenture, Deloitte and MC Kingsley are well-known names. We have the list of top ten management consulting firms check here - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-business-consulting-firms-india-chandrani-jana/

But, many companies want to hire services of different companies who are no less than the above-mentioned names for obvious reasons.

Often start-ups and mid-sized companies want to hire management consulting firms who have rich experience and are spread all over the country as they have the potential to seep inside the client’s issues.

In this regard, Gyaanmart is the true winner in this regard. With a strong client base and the right amount of experience they have clients of all sizes and from every sector.

Hi there, I have been director in strategy consulting - for anybody new to the industry: If you seek to work in Germany/ Austria/ Switzerland: Please go and check the rankings of Brand Eins/ Statista where clients evaluate consulting firms into tier 1/2/3 by type of work and industry sector, not the HR marketing departments of the consulting firms. Think out loud where you want to be in 5 - 10 years, and research which firm has the strongest footprint in this specific sector / field.  You will be surprised that some so called "tier 1 powerhouses" will not be your top pick after this excercise. 

Hi,

At least in South East Asia there are several categorization but again this only a broad generalisatin and not rigid at all:

• Tier 1 is the MBB - McKinsey, BCG, Bain
• Big 4 - PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte
• Tier 2 - Strategy&, Oliver Wayman, Kearney, Roland Berger, LEK

Best,
Iman

Dear Akshay,

do add to this - in Germany there are also several Inhouse Consultancies that are considered T2/T3, some of them are even directly competing (projects, but also salaries) with T1 consultancies.

You can find details / a ranking in the following:
https://www.squeaker.net/de/Karriere/Branchen/Consulting-Unternehmensberatung/Karriere/squeakernet-Ranking-fuer-Inhouse-Consulting/p/2/t/Inhouse-Consulting-Ranking-Analyse-Event

BR,
Simon

Hi,

Tier 1 are mainly the 3 top strategy firms, the MBB - McKinsey, Bain, BCG

Tier 2 are e.g. Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Accenture strategy, strategy divisions of Big4 like Strategy&, Monitor, EY Parthenon,

Tier 3 are the Big4 (KPMG, PWC, EY, Deloitte) and other consultancies like Capgemini etc.

Cheers

Welcome! Your question is not at all stupid; it's essential to understand these terms when exploring the consulting world.

The terms "top tier," "tier 2," and "tier 3" consulting firms are used to categorize consulting firms based on various factors such as reputation, size, clientele, and global reach. These terms are not specific to a particular country and are used internationally, although there can be some regional variations.

Here's a general breakdown of what these terms mean:

Top Tier Consulting Firms: These are the most prestigious and well-known consulting firms globally. They typically have a strong global presence, work with Fortune 500 companies, and are highly competitive in terms of recruitment. Examples of top-tier firms include McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company. These firms are known for their high-impact projects and rigorous interview processes.

Tier 2 Consulting Firms: These firms are also reputable but may not have the same level of prestige or global reach as top-tier firms. They often work with large corporations and offer a wide range of consulting services. Examples of tier 2 firms include firms like Oliver Wyman, Kearney, and EY-Parthenon. Tier 2 firms are still highly regarded and provide excellent career opportunities.

Tier 3 Consulting Firms: Tier 3 firms are smaller or more specialized consulting firms. They may focus on specific industries or niche areas of consulting. These firms might not be as widely recognized as top-tier or tier 2 firms but can still provide valuable consulting experiences. The reputation and size of tier 3 firms can vary widely.

It's important to note that the classification of firms into tiers can be somewhat subjective and may vary based on factors like geography and industry focus. Additionally, the consulting landscape can change over time, with firms moving up or down in the tiers based on their performance and market presence.

When considering a career in consulting, it's essential to research and understand the specific firms you're interested in, their areas of expertise, and the types of projects they undertake. Your career goals and interests will also play a significant role in determining which tier of consulting firm is the best fit for you.

Welcome to the consulting world! There are no "stupid" questions here, so feel free to ask anything.

The terms "top tier," "tier 2," and "tier 3" consulting firms are used to categorize consulting firms based on various factors, including reputation, size, and market presence. These categories are not rigidly defined and can vary in meaning depending on context and location. Here's a general overview:

Top-Tier Consulting Firms: These are typically the largest and most prestigious consulting firms in the industry. They have a global presence, work with Fortune 500 companies, and are known for their high-quality services and top-notch talent. Examples include McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company. These firms are often referred to as MBB, representing McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

Tier 2 Consulting Firms: Tier 2 firms are also well-respected and provide excellent consulting services, but they may be slightly smaller or have a more regional focus compared to top-tier firms. Examples include firms like Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG, which have strong consulting practices alongside their other service lines.

Tier 3 Consulting Firms: Tier 3 firms are generally smaller or more specialized consulting firms. They may focus on specific industries, niches, or regions. While they may not have the same global reach or brand recognition as top-tier and tier 2 firms, they can still offer valuable expertise in their areas of specialization.

It's important to note that these categories can vary by region and can be somewhat subjective. A firm considered top tier in one country may be viewed differently in another. Additionally, the consulting landscape is dynamic, with firms constantly evolving and expanding their services.

When assessing consulting firms, it's essential to consider your career goals, the specific industry or practice area you're interested in, and the firm's reputation and opportunities in your target location. Don't hesitate to ask more questions as you navigate the consulting world!