Any advice on switching from MBB to another consulting firm?

Hi,

First of all, thanks for being so open and candid about your situation. I can definitely relate to some of what you're describing.

It's difficult to give a definitive recommendation without knowing you personally, your priorities, and the severity of the health and lifestyle challenges you're currently facing. That said, my gut feeling is that moving from one consulting firm to another may improve your lifestyle at the margin, but it is unlikely to magically solve the underlying issues you're experiencing.

At the same time, I do think there is a risk that moving into economic consulting could make it somewhat harder to reach the exits you currently seem to prefer, namely corporate strategy or a small PE/VC fund. Since you already have a fairly clear view of where you'd like to end up, my instinct would be to try, if your health allows it, to hold on a bit longer and move directly into one of those target paths rather than making an intermediate stop.

The reality is that MBB will likely give you the strongest access to the types of opportunities you're ultimately targeting.

That said, I want to stress that this is a very outside-in perspective. If your mental health is genuinely suffering, your support network is far away, and you're reaching a point where the situation feels unsustainable, then the analysis changes. Career optimization is important, but not at any cost.

For what it's worth, I ended up leaving BCG as a Principal despite performing very well and having a high chance of being elected Partner, simply because I realized consulting was not the long-term path I wanted for myself. So I understand the tension between staying for the career benefits and recognizing that something isn't working anymore.

If you're comfortable sharing a bit more about your situation via DM, I'd be happy to offer a more tailored perspective.

Best of luck.
Franco

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your concerns openly. They are real concerns.. and abit of it is also why I decided to leave MBB. 

The one thing I've learnt is that at the end of the day - what is a good choice is something that you are conscious about and content with. And what is a good life is only something that you can define. 

Could you wait a while more and stay at MBB to try and optimize your potential future more? Yes you could. But then you'd still be in the optimizing mindset.. which if you ask me is the same mindset that makes so many people who are not happy in MBB stay in MBB and have a really hard time leaving.. because they receive many offers but none of these exits are 'good enough' or someone senior (usually a partner) tells them 'you can do better'. 

So.. I think it's not wrong to leave now, and worry about the future later. If you went to a good grad school, then I think with some years in MBB and the grad school, you are already in a better place than many of your peers.

Tried to keep my answer brief but happy to chat about this in more detail - just drop me a dm

hey there!

Leaving MBB after ~2 years is completely fine, and taking the economic consulting offer is a reasonable move if your health and personal life are suffering. You won’t “lose” your exits, your MBB brand stays on your CV forever, and 1–2 years in econ consulting won’t block a later move to corporate strategy or VC/PE‑adjacent roles. What matters most right now is getting into an environment where you can function, recover, and think clearly again. A slower pace, better location, and more stability can actually improve your long‑term options. You’re not closing doors by stepping out, you’re giving yourself space to breathe.

Alessa

Hi there,

Based on your description, I would take the economic consulting firm's offer. 

But needless to say, it needs to feel right for you. 

However, it's also worth noting that no offer or setup is ideal. So the decision should rather be whether this is the right decision at the moment. You can't really optimise for things that are in the future or beyond your control. 

I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling. I hope that whichever way you choose to go things will get better for you. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

taking into account your whole situation, I think the move makes perfect sense. The benefits are quite clear and you have the 2+ years of MBB experience (incl promotion on your CV --> that's important).

TBH health and personal happiness is not worth the marginally higher chance to convert faster to your ideal exit role. 

Best of success! 

Vincent

This is tough but you're asking the right questions.

Most important thing first. Your mental health is non-negotiable. Don't optimise career strategy at the cost of your wellbeing.

Read on the offer. Real pros, better pay, location alignment, slower pace, recovery time. Real cons, brand and exit narrative shifts. Economic consulting is less liquid into corporate strategy or PE/VC than MBB.

My take. Take the offer but with eyes open. Treat it as a rebuilding phase, not a permanent track change. Commit to 12 to 18 months max.

First 6 months recover. Months 6 to 18, network and pivot to corporate strategy or PE.

Don't drift. Set a hard timeline.

Good luck.