Entry-Level or Senior Associate? Advice for MBB Applications in the Middle East

Question

I'm currently applying to MBB in the Middle East, and I'm unsure whether to apply for entry-level positions or Senior Associate roles (pre MBA). I’d appreciate some advice based on my background:

I hold a bachelor’s in management and a master’s in finance from top 10 European universities.
Total of 2.5 years of work experience:
- I completed a six-month internship at Amazon as a Business Analyst.
- I have two years of in-house consulting experience with major European banks (think HSBC, BNP Paribas, Banco Santander, etc.).
I also run an online business on my own, which generated multiple four-figure revenues. While this isn't corporate experience, I still consider it valuable.

So although I dont have external strategy consulting experience, i would say Im ok for Senior Associate role but maybe Im totally wrong. Looking forward to hearing from you :)

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, I would advise you to apply for the higher position. If the recruiter reviewing your application does not approve, they will tell you so and change the position accordingly.
Moreover, if in doubt, I would advise you to contact the recruiter directly, as only they know for sure.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi there,

With this profile, you would typically still be considered entry-level.

Associate positions are usually available after 3+ years of relevant full-time work experience and even then, sometimes people are pushed back to the entry level.

However, this would be a great discussion starter for your networking efforts in the region.

Cheers,

Florian