Does it make sense to go for consulting at my age?

Hello thanks for your question.

Happy to chime in as a fellow CPA, industry hire, MBA and someone in the Middle East :)

Before diving into your specific sub questions it is important to think about your personal / professional goals/values right now and see if that aligns with moving into consulting. In my opinion this has nothing to do with age but maybe more life stage.

Would you be ok being at a more 'junior level' than you're use to? Do you already have a family / planning to start a family soon? Are you open to going into niche consulting (considering both your finance and retail background)?

1)Considering you have an MBA the most likely level would be coming in as a post-MBA level (perhaps slightly higher if you can demonstrate your strategic experience) but I would have to see your CV and progression to answer further.
2)In terms of demand, consulting firms are always looking for good talent.
3)For reaching out, start with your MBA Alma Mater - see if they can connect you. Then next step use your MBA network to connect with other alumni working in consulting and move from there.
4)Things are a bit slower in the middle east at the moment, but it doesn't mean that they don't hire (maybe focus your efforts more on Doha, Riyadh instead of Dubai for better results).

Happy to connect further 1:1 should you wish to!

Why Middle East?

Unless you have a clear connection to the middle east, I don't think this is feasible at this stage with your profile, unless you are applying to a more technical role where you will leverage your data analytics skills. These non-client facing roles exist. You will find them at their website.

Reason for my answer is the number of degrees of separation, although also some lack of information (e.g. is there a good reason for a 38y.o. only having 9 years of work experience? Please note that having been in the army, professional sports, etc., counts as professional experience). Your profile, given the information we have is average. A bit old with lack of experience, a decent MBA but not a top school. A lack of clarity in your career decisions (CPA, MBA, right now doing Data Analytics only to apply for consulting... ), no mention of fast progression (still doing analyst work after 9 years in business and 5 after the MBA).

If there's no clear connection to the Middle East, they will believe you are only applying because you think it's an easier office to get into. And that perception, combined with the rest of the profile, may be too much to grant you an interview.

Thanks for sharing your profile. 

In short, it's not clear why it would be problematic to go into consulting at your age. You would be joining as an experienced hire, most likely in a practice that is most closely affiliated with the industry you're most knowledgeable about. 

Regarding you applying to the Middle East. This could be tricky. Unless you can demonstrate a clear motivation for being the ME (you studied there, are from there, worked there, have family there, something) then you are likely to get screened out at the application stage. 

A referral would help increase your chances of the application going through. Feel free to reach out to me and I can provide more tailored advice. 

Re high and low seasons for hiring - this is not really applicable if you're applying for an experienced hire role since recruiting is not done on a cohort-basis. You can reach out to the recruiter as soon as possible to get clarity over whether they are actively recruiting. 

Best,
Cristian

Although age per se is not a barrier to entry - there are many considerations on whether or not consulting is the right move for you now. 

Based on my experience, 38 is bordering on the end of the spectrum that I've seen people apply to consulting, and most of the time the bigger hurdles or obstacles come from the applicants themselves, rather than the firms

• e.g. are you willing to work under someone who is 5-10 years younger than you? Managers in consulting (if home grown) can be as young as 26-27 years old
• e.g. are you able to put in the hours required and compete with younger colleagues?

In terms of your profile - IMO this would not be a target profile for MBB, but it could work for maybe a T2 or T3 firm.

Hey there :)

At 38 with your background, you can absolutely target consulting, especially roles that value functional expertise like finance, analytics, or retail strategy. In the Middle East, firms often look for experienced hires for senior consultant, manager, or specialist roles, where your CPA, data analytics skills, and retail strategy experience are a strong fit. There’s demand for candidates who bring both technical skills and industry experience, particularly in finance, analytics, and digital transformation.

To reach out to recruiters, be direct and concise, highlight your MBA, analytics expertise, and strategic impact in previous roles, and explain why you’re interested in consulting in the region. Networking through LinkedIn and alumni connections from your MBA or Georgia Tech can be very effective. Hiring is relatively continuous in the Middle East, though summer months and around major local holidays can be slower, so it’s good to plan applications outside those periods.

best, Alessa :)