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Anyone ever try to exit to a HF?
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You always wanted to do tech PM.
Didn’t notice you saying you always wanted to do MBB. This feels like a no-brainer.
What’s your best case scenario here? You take the “easy” road where you don’t go back on your word so you work 60-80 hours a week at MBB for 2-3 years, got that slight supervisory promo maybe so you can try to exit into tech PM?
Worked at MBB - I recruited for one office, accepted an offer for a different office halfway though. Then before starting I switched to yet a different system - they didn’t care, you’re just one of hundreds of cogs.
Wasn’t really a target school - so had to go to the office recruiters, but yes.
It’s nice that you’re thinking about reputation, but that doesn’t count at your level. Everyone will move on very quickly.
Laying out all of the data, I think it is a no-brainer. Drop the MBB offer and move to the PM role - why?
1. You - this is what you want. What you’ve always wanted, why take an unnecessary detour?
2. Comp - most times, it’s hard to leave MBB to tech because of comp. You’ve already scaled that hurdle from what you mentioned. You might not get the same opportunity so quickly
3. Layoffs - it may be (slightly) true that the possibility is higher at FAANG, but performance type attrition is built in to MBB in any economy. Don’t forget
4. The work - will be exponentially more interesting as a tech PM than in MBB, trust me
5. Sustainability - depending on which FAANG, you will have much better WLB thank in any MBB
6. You (again) - this might be terrible characterization, but if you’re struggling with this decision in this way, I will highly recommend joining tech and not MBB
7. Other experiences (least important): I have worked on both sides and I really suggest you go with FAANG
Grass is always greener. MBB is the pinnacle of the consulting profession and is recession proof. You can always go from MBB to tech but going from tech to MBB will be difficult
Let me ask you why you wouldn’t renege the offer?
OP, you are too naive to survive in MBB. Better renege
Do it
I'm in HR and people renege offers all the time. Just give some emotional reason like you've had a chance to think about it, and you don't think this is the right fit, and want to follow your passion. You don't even have to tell them about the other offer, just say you're going to keep looking.
Take the thing your heart wants. But, I would challenge the “it’s hard to break in to PM at tech from consulting”—I’ve had several colleagues go into that.
It’s possible to do so but it’s very hard, especially in todays flooded market of PMs, and the level you want to start at.
But in your case, run to the FAANG opportunity if it’s at a company you want to stay at for a few years and you ultimately want to end up as a PM. Working at MBB for a few years doesn’t get you any closer to that opportunity, and if anything it’s an opportunity cost on beginning on that PM track now at FAANG vs starting from scratch again a few years from now.
In terms of burning bridges, tell your story the way you did and people will understand.
Of course you should renege
You aren’t that important and you can’t damage your reputation at a company where you haven’t even worked. People at MBB will forget about you after a few months. Harsh but true.
Also, anyone who holds it against you for declining the offer isn’t someone you want to stay in touch with.
A few months? That’s being generous. It’s outside everyone’s thoughts and conversation topic after the initial “OP has decided to go pursue other opportunities.” Then change topic to live deals at hand.
Renege and take the PM offer. Chances are your network in MBB will reach out for a referral down the road. Can't say the same vice versa.
MBB doesn’t give a shit about you and would fire you for *checks employment contract* “any reason and without warning.”
They’re faithful to their bottom line above all else. Do the same.
Exactly this. Any MBB would let you go in a heartbeat if they didn’t want you, ie you aren’t delivering results. That’s why you can’t feel bad for letting MBB go if you don’t want it either
If you want to do tech PM 100% then I think you should
Enthusiast
In a similar boat. Got a lateral offer from MBB and an Amz PM offer. Taking the Tech offer. Life is more important that “prestige” stints when I know I would prefer Tech.
You need to define prestige. My friends in the hospitality biz have no clue what MBB is.
Go into the profession you want. FAANG is better than consulting
Only do MBB if you want to be a generalist or have more varied exit opps
WHAT DID YOU DO OP
argh they went MIA
Renege. Alternative is accepting the PM offer and trying to delay its start date for 6-12 months so you can try out MBB. Get MBB on your resume and still have you PM exit lined up. But this path is quite unlikely.
OP if it’s Meta or Google you can usually defer your acceptance for up to a year. In that case you could work MBB for a bit and then switch over
It's not that hard to join as a TPM or Tech Product Manager. It's harder to join MBB than TPM at a tech company.
It may be harder but you won’t get two years of your life back. Your career will only stagnate from working on something irrelevant.
On the other hand, 2 years in tech and Op would be looking at a promotion vs having to start from the bottom doing a lateral shift coming from consulting
Is it program manager or product manager?
Make sure there is a clear career path or progression.
If you're able to get the offer now, you'll be able to get it at the same or even higher level in a couple years. Let the FAANG company know the dilemma, tell them consulting is a pit stop and will keep intouch and want to join them in the near future (no guarantees, but you wouldn't be worse off too). Then, go to your MBB, try to focus on product engagement, and if that doesn't do It for you, after year 1, restart conversations with the firm and like firms.
Don't worry you have a bright future awaiting you, just enjoy the non linear journey to it.
Best of luck
I agree if Op was able to get an offer now, and they even went to lengths to increase it by this much, there’s no reason why OP wouldn’t be able to get an offer again in an year or so
Do MBB then jump to tech. You’ll be more effective in the long-term with the foundational training.
At the end of the day, what matters is your own happiness. Renege the MBB and see what happens.. if it doesn't work out, then you get to take the tech PM offer you are clearly more excited for. If they do match the offer, then great! Now you have 2 great options on the table. But as someone who previously got what I thought was my "dream" job working for a HF, it turned out that I actually was miserable in that role and was busting my ass working crazy hours and sacrificing my happiness for "respect" and "prestige" .. which didn't actually matter to anyone except for the types of people I didn't truly want to attract in my life. My advice would be to sit down and envision yourself 3-5yrs down the line and really think about which role you'd regret not taking more. Good luck!!
Enthusiast
Wow you’re so lucky
At a certain point it isn’t luck