CV Positioning for MBB After 3 Years in Big 4 (Non-Strategy)

Question

Hi everyone, I would appreciate advice regarding CV positioning for generalist strategy roles.

I come from a target school background and passed MBB CV screenings three years ago at graduation. I now have 3 years of experience in a Big 4 (non-strategy) practice and am applying to the strategy divisions of MBB/Tier 2 firms.

My work has included large-scale transformation projects (process standardization and implementation initiatives across multiple functions) as well as diagnostics covering IT operating model design, governance reviews, and organizational assessments within corporate IT environments.

When positioning this experience on a CV for generalist strategy roles, should I explicitly reference the IT department / IT governance context, or is it better to frame it more broadly in terms of operating model redesign and enterprise transformation?

Regarding extracurriculars, most of my leadership involvement was during university. At the 3-year experience level, is it preferable to keep only the strongest past extracurricular experience, or is recent involvement expected?

Regarding title calibration: my current formal title is Associate Consultant (with promotion to Senior Associate Consultant expected in the next cycle), but I am applying now. For strategy applications, is it better to keep the official Associate Consultant title, or simplify it to “Consultant” to better reflect 3 years of experience ?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated !

Answer 1

Hey!

I was in a very similar position, so sharing what worked and what recruiters explicitly told me.

1. Positioning Big 4 non-strategy experience:
For generalist strategy roles, I would lead with the enterprise model angle, not the IT label. Mentioning IT is fine only as context, not as the core framing. Recruiters screen for problem scope, seniority of stakeholders, level of ambiguity, decision impact.
So instead of (for example) “IT operating model” I would frame it as: “Enterprise operating model redesign and governance transformation across multiple functions, with IT as the primary execution layer”, or maybe a little bit shorter. Same logic for each project you had. You can still reference IT where it adds credibility (in terms of complexity, scale), but avoid making your profile look like a functional IT specialist. The story should be: enterprise transformation, not IT consulting.

2. Extracurriculars after ~3 years of experience:

At the 3-year mark, recruiters care much more about professional leadership, not extracurriculars.
I would recommend: keep 1 strong university leadership experience if it is truly distinctive (founder, president) if you had it. Do not force recent extracurriculars just for recency, as no one expects heavy involvement once you are working full-time.

3. Title calibration (Associate Consultant vs Consultant):

That’s a common problem for Big 4. Never inflate titles - MBB recruiters do background checks and value consistency. I would keep the official title (“Associate Consultant”). Use bullet points signal the seniority, not the title. If your experience reads like a Consultant, they will map you accordingly regardless of label. Also, expected promotion can be mentioned in the cover letter or recruiter conversation, but not on the CV. And mention it only if it is already approved.

Good luck with your application. I can help you with further consultation if you’d like.

Answer 2

It's completely normal to feel like you're trying to translate your experience into a different language when moving between firms – especially from Big 4 non-strategy to MBB strategy.

For your project descriptions, the key is to highlight strategic impact and transferable skills. While your work originated in an IT context, phrases like "operating model redesign," "enterprise transformation," and "organizational assessments" are spot on. Frame your bullet points around the problem solved, the actions taken (using MBB-style action verbs like "led," "designed," "optimized"), and the quantifiable impact on the business. Avoid deep technical jargon and instead focus on the strategic implications and business value derived from your IT-focused projects.

Regarding extracurriculars, at your level of experience, your professional achievements take center stage. You should absolutely keep 1-2 of your strongest university leadership roles if they demonstrate significant impact or unique skills. Recent involvement is a nice-to-have but definitely not a must-have if your professional experience is robust and your time is fully dedicated there. Recruiters understand that professional life limits these opportunities.

Finally, for your title, always use your official formal title. MBB recruiters are very familiar with Big 4 titling structures and progressions. Attempting to "simplify" or adjust it could raise questions later in the process. Your actual responsibilities and accomplishments on the page are far more compelling than a slightly different title.

Hope this helps as you refine your profile! All the best.

Answer 3

Hi! Would be good to understand what level of roles you're considering at these firms, and given the multi-faceted question, would be worthwhile having a CV review to determine what works best. Happy to help and wishing you the best!

Answer 4

you have some great advice here on how to position your CV- I think enterprise led framing on transformation and growth etc would be better suited. Something for you to consider is to see if it makes sense to enter MBB in a practice that will leverage your IT experience (e.g., Digital at McK) so you can actually stand out from other candidates in the interview process?

Once you are in, you can build relationships/reputation over time to transition to different project types which is quite common.

Best,

Udayan

Answer 5

You are in a good position. Target school, passed MBB screening before, three years of real project work. The challenge is making sure your CV tells a strategy story, not an implementation one.

On the IT context. Do not hide it, but do not lead with it. "IT operating model design" sounds narrow. "Operating model redesign across a major corporate function" sounds strategic. Same work, different framing. Focus your bullets on the diagnostic thinking, recommendations, and business impact, not the IT governance specifics.

On extracurriculars. At three years, your work should carry the CV. Keep one or two strong university ones if they show real leadership. Do not fill space with outdated items. A clean CV with strong work experience beats a cluttered one.

On the title. Keep your real title. Do not inflate it. MBB firms verify, and any mismatch raises a red flag instantly. They know Big 4 title structures. What matters is how you describe the scope and impact of your work, not the title itself.

The one thing most Big 4 laterals miss. Your CV needs to show you were thinking, not just executing. For every bullet, ask yourself, "Does this show I identified the problem, or just that I worked on it?" Strategy firms want to see judgment, not just effort.

You passed MBB screening once. Your job now is to show that three years made you sharper, not just more experienced.

Answer 6

Honestly, even if I would answer your questions directly, it wouldn't be helful.

And that's because to position a CV well you actually need the full context. It's meant to be a coherent one pager that gives a clear sense of your impact and what you're bringing to a potential firm both in terms of knowledge and skills.

My strong recommendation would be to get a professional review. If you're interested in that, reach out and I can explain how I work on this with my candidates.

Best,
Cristian