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Coach
I think y’all who are debating if BCG or Bain is stronger in CPG/retail are missing the important point: Bain’s heavy dependence on the generalist / home office model makes it harder to get cases in the industry you want (if you have an industry you want) before you’re, like, a partner.
The heavy expansion of PEG in the last couple of year only makes the situation worse.
B1 same here actually. I know it’s technically possible to say what you want to do, but with the home office model and business being as busy as it is I didn’t really see anyone being able to say “I want to do more work in industry X” and then actually getting a reasonable amount of that (pre-SM level anyway, a “reasonable amount” being even like two 2-3 month cases a year). I think right now it’s particularly difficult with how busy things are. Even if someone on leadership is pulling for you, I didn’t see lots of my peers getting the cases they want.
Very much agree that you’re going to get staffed as a generalist in the industries your office works in or put in PE coming in out of undergrad. Again, there’s not no agency, it’s not true at higher levels, and this may be a reflection of being currently understaffed.
1. Probably BCG edge for industry specialization
2. Probably same
3. Same
4. BCG faster except at AP level; similar time to partner
5. Same
Mentor
In the US BCG is bigger in CPG, but it’s close. In Retail it’s the reverse. EMEA/APAC Bain is stronger. Realistically it doesn’t matter, each has big marquee CPG clients, so if you want to work in it it’ll be fine at either
Question for Bain employees in the thread - I'd heard that post-undergrad hires are often reporting to recent MBA hires. Is that true?
Mentor
Rarely recent MBA hires. More likely it would be a Consultant who has been at Bain a while (e.g. direct promote). I personally prefer it to the flatter structure at BCG/McK as I think working with someone closer in tenure to you is better for picking up hard skills (e.g. slide making, excel)
3. Long-term exit opps: hoping to work in some sort of corporate strategy role in F500 companies (industry tbd, likely retail/entertainment/hotel)
4. Promotion timeline: on the associate level seems to be comparable between the two, what about afterwards? Is it easier to make partner in one firm over the other?
5. B-school placement: top choices are Harvard, Stanford, Sloan, and Columbia - presumably no difference between the two companies, but just want to confirm
Coach
1. BCG is larger company so more exposure to variety of industries. Plus Bain is half PE work to begin with.
2. Yes MBB do that (not sure if Covid affected anything lately) but in general pretty standard.
3. No difference
4. If ultimate goal is to make partner, then no notable difference. BCG hires significantly more laterals to fill more senior roles (principal, partner, MDP) so I’d imagine plenty of opportunity for homegrown.
5. MBB gets you the same amount of brand recognition. A Mck story isn’t going to be better than a BCG story in your app.
Coach
I wouldn’t get too worried in getting into specific sectors that you don’t like (it’s part of the consulting business) If anything, BCG has a more regional model (i.e. less local office model) than Bain so you would automatically have a lot more choices to choose from and more proactively align yourself with.
Mentor
1. In the US Bain wins in Retail, BCG in CP (but differences are marginal). Bain is actually stronger in both in EMEA and APAC for CPG and Retail. If you are trying to avoid Healthcare then maybe go Bain as BCG East Coast does loadsss of healthcare
2. Yes true, will be same at all MBB
3. No difference
4. Time to partner fairly similar. Bain is growing faster so in theory has more partner spots available. Realistically wouldn’t choose on this basis given it is 10 years away
5. No difference. Bain’s sponsorship package is the best of MBB though
1. A lot of BCG retail is in the south and has a bad rep for WLB, so honestly would go with Bain if that’s what you’re optimizing for. BCG Boston does a lot of healthcare, so another reason to go to Bain
2. Similar, but no experience here
3. Similar here, in the sense that exits will not differ. But if looking for specialized project work, would say that we are stronger in media and hotels
4. Both are ~8 years to partner I believe. Bain has an extra step at a junior level (their Manager is slightly more junior than our PLs, which are slightly more junior than their SMs) but I think they only spend 3 years at AP not 4
5. Same here
OP, curious to know what you wound up picking!