Seeking advice: Once you are in a big 4 for MC consulting, is it hard to move up to MBB? If you went to MBA school and then tried recruiting into MBB with Big 4 experience? Thanks in advance.

MC = Management Consulting, yeah I get it I said consulting twice in "Management Consulting consulting" but my question is still valid? Still at work here, I don't think fish bowl is a heaven for perfect grammar.

Not really. Everyone coming out of MBA is interviewing for Consultant role and has to do well on personal fit and cases. Having done consulting, cases should be easier for you.

^ very rare - happens occasionally, but you'd be looking at a pre-MBA role for the hire. I'd estimate that somewhere around 1% of our associates would have that big 4 experience profile

I was big 4 tech implementation into a top ~15 MBA and then interned MBB. It was a god awful experience for me, though they would clearly say the same. Ended up Big 4 Management Consulting and am much happier. The work is mostly as interesting, the culture (at least of my PwC group) is infinitely better, but the pay isn't quite the same and not sure the exit ops will be either.

@OP. My team was awful. My "boss" didn't sit with me and didn't even tell me if I was to go to the client or our local office each day. When I swallowed my pride to ask for help I got no response, and the local office "mentors" I thought I had identified took my inability to connect with my team as a reason to write me off after less than half the internship. At PwC folks are way more supportive and generally enjoyable to be around as you slog through long consulting days. My days at my internship were much longer, but that was mostly a function of having 0 direction and 0 opportunities to collaborate on problems and roadblocks. Ultimately I still tell folks to go MBB if they can. Odds are you'll leave consulting anyways so might as well build the resume as much as you can. Just don't be thinking the work is guaranteed to be that much sexier. All MBA do PMOs, implementations/transformations, etc. They just package and sell it better.

Wtf is MC consulting?

You need to get invited and then pass the interview process. That's as hard as it is.

BCG 1 - I'm assuming the interviewing process gets harder the more experience you have in consulting? As in they expect more from you when applying with 2 yrs experience rather than straight from undergrad?

^thanks BCG 1, have you seen people come from Big 4 into MBB without an MBA after 2-3 years experience? Or not very likely?

^thank you BCG2!

^PwC1, why was your experience so awful if you don't mind sharing? Why are you much happier with big 4 MC, in regards to work life balance or culture in general? Currently interning at KPMG MC and debating recruiting full time MBB when I go back to school (undergrad). Personally not sure if I want that intense of work load at this age at MBB though. Thanks a lot in advance.

@PwC1, damn that's unfortunate you had that experience but great advice on your end, I appreciate it. About the hours part, how many hours do you work now versus when you were at MBB? Or how many hours did the typical associate work at MBB versus what one works at the group your with now? I think that's the one thing holding me back the most from pouring hours of practicing casing to go MBB then just staying within big 4 MC for full time and going MBB when I'm older after an MBA. I feel like at this age 20-23, you are living years of your life you don't get back, and may want to have less work now and more later, but I also do realize I've chosen a career that is a little the opposite. Just not too sure how extreme the differences in hours are between big 4 and MBB (in regards to strategy type consulting full time). I appreciate the help once again! ✌🏼️

I get your concern on hours but it varies too much to say. Some people at Big 4 have it as bad as any MBB and some MBB folks have incredible work life balance because of the way they've managed their project choices and personal/professional goals

You are always living life that you don't get back. Long hours are much easier when you are younger and your body recovers more quickly and if you don't have a spouse/family waiting for you at home. Same as investing - start early and benefit from compounding. Go for MBB now, makes it easier to go for MBA, etc.

Thanks PcW1 and Consultant 1!