Career advice for pivoting from a boutique firm

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

Some of the things you have mentioned are not clear. Have you interned a Tier 1 consulting firm or in industry? Did you do your MBA from a target school in your own country? Where are you located now?

Anyways, irrespective of the unknowns, since you have some consulting experience, I would suggest doing a few things:

1. Networking - network with your ex-school/company alumni who are working in your target firms. Share that you still want to do consulting but not in a niche industry. Most consulting firms look for smart people who can learn quickly and have transferable skills they can bring to the table. So if you have relevant experience and background in consulting, that should help your story. Perhaps target both T1 and lower tier firms, since the work will still be similar as a generalist. You have to decide what is more important to you - role or company.

2. Start preparing for consulting interviews in parallel.

3. Keep a timeline for your self. May be 6 months to a year to make this transition. That will help you track your progress and also know when to think of other options if it does not work as you want it to.

4. If the switch to generalist does not work out, consider may be internal consulting roles in industries of your interest.

Hope this helps,

Soh

You definitely haven't ruined your career - you're just at the beginning of it, and many consultants make several moves early on before finding their fit.

Your boutique aerospace experience is actually valuable, especially combined with your T1 internship and target school background. Specialist knowledge can be leveraged as a differentiator when applying to generalist roles.

For pivoting to generalist consulting, I'd recommend:

1. Stick it out for at least a year if possible - leaving too soon could raise questions about commitment
2. Focus on developing transferable skills in your current role - client management, analysis, presentation skills
3. Network with contacts at your target firms, especially leveraging alumni connections from your university
4. Frame your experience positively in applications - highlight how your specialist knowledge provides unique perspective, but emphasize your desire for broader business exposure

The international student aspect adds complexity but isn't insurmountable. Many firms have international transfer programs or can sponsor visas for strong candidates.

70+ hour weeks are unfortunately common across much of consulting, though weekend work varies by firm culture. If work-life balance is a priority, be selective about where you apply next.

This is a minor career adjustment, not a catastrophe. You've gained valuable experience and insights that will help you make a more informed choice for your next move.

Hi there,

Q: I'm not sure what to do at this point, have I ruined my own career this early on?

I don’t see particular issues with switching to another firm - worst case, in the long term:

• If your boutique has a good brand name, you should be able to move to a Tier 1 or Tier 2.
• If that’s not the case, you can wait 1-2 years, do an MBA and switch after that.

To maximize your chances to get interviews, I would recommend looking for referrals, you can find some tips about it below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Interview

▶ The 3 Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

You have definitely not ruined your career. In fact, you're in a strong position to make a move.

If your goal is to transition into generalist consulting at an MBB or Tier-2 firm, start networking as soon as possible while continuing to perform well in your current role. Your boutique experience in a specialized industry, combined with your T1 internship and target-school background, makes you an attractive candidate.

Begin by reaching out to consultants at your target firms - especially alumni from your university or individuals with a similar background. Use these conversations to gain insights, express your interest, and build relationships. Once you've established a network, follow the standard application process, ensuring your resume and cover letter highlight transferable skills and your motivation for the shift.

Your early-career choices are not permanent, and many consultants successfully pivot industries. The key is taking a strategic approach and executing your move thoughtfully.

Happy to help!

Cheers,
Florian

Hey there ?, first off, you have not ruined your career at all! Pivoting from a boutique firm to generalist consulting is very doable, especially since you have a T1 internship and a strong academic background from a target school. Here’s how to strategically transition:

1️⃣ Leverage Your T1 Internship & Target School

• Highlight your past experience at the T1 firm—even though it was an internship, it signals that you have generalist consulting exposure.
• Your target school background is an asset—firms recruit from these networks, so tap into alumni connections at MBB, Tier 2 firms (OW, ATK, RB), or strong boutiques (LEK, EY-Parthenon).

2️⃣ Frame Your Boutique Experience Strategically

• Instead of focusing on disliking aerospace, position your role as having built strong problem-solving, analytical, and client-facing skills.
• Emphasize transferable skills like strategy, operations, market analysis, or financial modeling—things that generalist consulting values.
• If possible, try to work on projects with broader applicability (e.g., supply chain, market entry, digital transformation) to make your pivot easier.

3️⃣ Start Networking & Exploring Exit Options

• Use LinkedIn & alumni networks to connect with consultants at MBB & Tier 2 firms—target those who also transitioned from boutique firms.
• Apply for lateral moves into generalist roles at consulting firms—especially experienced hire roles, which are often less rigid than entry-level ones.
• If generalist consulting is the goal, firms like OW, RB, ATK, or consulting arms of Big 4 might be good stepping stones before MBB.

4️⃣ Be Strategic About Your Next Move

• Time your transition wisely—most firms prefer candidates with 6-12+ months experience before switching, so if you’ve just started, plan ahead.
• Consider a short-term exit before applying—some people move into corporate strategy, internal consulting, or operational strategy roles before jumping back to generalist consulting.

5️⃣ Don’t Stress—Your Career is Still Early!

Many consultants pivot industries and firms early on, and you’re in a good position to course-correct now rather than later. Firms value the ability to adapt and grow, so as long as you position yourself well and network strategically, you’ll find your way into generalist consulting.

You’ve got this! Let me know if you need help refining your approach. Best, Alessa ?

Hi there, 

Is the working hours the main concern, or is there anything else?

If is mostly the working hours, T1 doesn't necessarily guarantee a better experience. Some cases could also require 70+ hours and some weekend work. It is not always better. 

Nonetheless, there is nothing wrong about pivoting, and I wouldn't consider a pivot to generalist consulting as "ruining career". 

Best,

Emily

Hi there, 

first off: You have not ruined your career but you might have made it a bit harder for yourself ;) I have myself made the move from Financial Institutions M&A to General Consulting. Would it have been easier to apply for Consulting right after university? Maybe. But it worked out anyways for me. 

For targeted next steps, we would need to understand your situation a bit better, i.e., which region are you in? What company did you intern at before? What relevant Consulting experience do you have that you can leverage for your storyline when applying? 

Happy to chat. 

Best, 
Sebastian

A few points on my end:

• You can consider going to MBA, if you havent yet, to try and pivot back to generalist consulting or a different industry
• You can also try to apply as an experienced hire, this happens and not infrequent
• However, not sure that your life will necessarily be better hours wise - its very office/system specific

Lastly, careers are long, and go through different twists and turns. You have not ruined your career yet - the future is still ahead of you.

You are overthinking this. People switch jobs the whole time...

All you have to do is... to apply to a different firm of your choice. If that doesn't work, then "network + apply"; if that doesn't work, then either consider additional companies or "MBA + Network + Apply".