Career Move: Move to MBB Knowledge Team or M&A Firm

Hi OP, Can you tell us more about the M&A role - is it a similar capacity as the Knowledge Team role (e.g. Research Analyst)? Or is the M&A role more deal-side?

If the M&A role is more deal-side then M&A role will be a better choice. If M&A role is comparable research-based then it is a tough choice because neither option will necessarily be less or more open in terms of exit opportunities.

Research role in M&A will keep you hyper-focused on the research & sectoral aspects - and removed from front-line experience. But a research role in Consulting will still give you chances of client exposure if you are staff with a project team, and you will also have the ability to internally interview for the consulting team at a later date.

Hope this helps! Pls do share other points/questions over messages if you wish.

Hey there 😊

great dilemma to have – both are strong moves! 🔥

If your goal is to keep doors open, go with the M&A role:
🔹 Stronger for finance, investing, and ops roles later
🔹 Adds hard skills + deal experience to your CV

The MBB Knowledge Team is great, but more niche – less flexible for classic exits like VC, PE, or corp strategy.

Happy to help weigh it more if you’d like! 💬

Best, Alessa

Hi,

Congrats!

Regarding:

MBB Knowledge Team (Org Design)
– Excellent brand and network, especially in consulting and corporate strategy
– Less transferable to investing or financial roles compared to generalist consulting or M&A
– Exit opportunities strongest in corp strategy, HR transformation, or internal consulting

Infra M&A (Renewables) – EMEA
– Builds hard finance and deal skills highly valued in PE, infra funds, corp dev, or MBB later
– Keeps your positioning in the investing ecosystem, which is harder to re-enter later
– Stronger immediate exit options if you want to stay in renewables, ESG, or broader infra

If your priority is keeping the widest range of exits, especially finance, investing, and strategy, the Infra M&A role is likely more versatile long-term. MBB Knowledge roles are excellent, but often more specialized and with fewer exits into investing.

Let me know if you'd like help framing your decision to either firm.

Best of luck!

That's fair. It's a tough choice. 

Really, it depends on what your long-term aspirations are and what are you willing to place your bets on. 

You could also start in the MBB Knowledge team but after 1-2 years transfer into a full consultant role working in the industries that you're interested in. You could then stay in that role and grow in seniority, or get out into the industry in something like the M&A firm you were mentioning but now in a more senior role. 

My advice would be to speak with 1-2 people from each firm and get a senes of the vibe and whether you would thrive there. 

Both are great options though.

Best,
Cristian

Double-check what the exact knowledge role involves. These positions are usually non–client facing, which means you might not get the same opportunities to build your problem-solving toolkit. Also, they tend to be less visible in the market when compared to traditional consulting roles. 

The M&A opportunity could make more sense, especially if it’s hands-on and gives you broader exposure.

Also think about geography—where you want to build your private equity career might influence which option sets you up better long term.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: TitanTrail - Operations Outsourcing

Hi,

You've got some great answers already, but I do want to add that you said " rejecting an MBB not always is easy" and my takeaway from this is that you find the MBB appealing for the brand. 

Ask yourself: What would you do with the MBB brand once you got it?

If the answer is go into M&A - then skip the MBB. Most people use an MBB as a stepping stone, and if you already have the opportunity in hand - go for it. 

Good luck!

Without knowing too much about your interests and the knowledge role in detail I'd say the M&A role is better for keeping options open and for career progression etc. Knowledge positions tend to be viewed as less prestigious which limits exit opportunities and career progression within the firm as well.