Got rejected from all top firms but got a boutique offer, what to do?

Question

Hi

I need some advice. I am 2 years out of university in the UK. I am a life science grad. I aimed to get into top consulting firms this year and prepped casing hard for months. But unfortunately got rejected before even getting to first rounds

However i have an offer for a AC position at life science consulting firm within medical strategy division. I ultimately want to exit into corporate strategy in pharma. The fact that I got rejected from any tier 2 and above significantly affects this.

What is the best way to work my way into these big firms as I have missed the 2 year cutoff for associate positions. I cannot afford a masters for now.

Please let me know

Answer 1

Hi there,

Firstly, I am sorry to hear that you did not get into your preferred firms at this time. However, stay optimistic - you'll nail it next time around!

Based on the information you provided, it seems that you did not get invited to interviews with the consulting firms. I assume this means that you either did not get past the CV/Cover letter screening phase, or in some cases you didn't get through the "online test phase" (e.g., McK Solve).

Since this is the case, it seems like there are 2 key aspects you might need to hone further:

1. Making sure your CV and Cover letters are as great and well-framed as you possibly can

a. Framing your CV & Cover letter correctly is a bit of an art-form, but it is an art that most coaches on this platform almost have down to a science - so might be worthwhile to get some professional guidance on this, if this was indeed the step where you struggled in the recruiting process

2. Acquire more relevant experiences

a. Framing your CV & Cover letter can obviously only take you so far. When you apply to Tier 2 and Top-tier consulting firms, you are competing with exceptional people with fantastic resumes. Thus, it may be needed for you to further enhance your own experiences to become competitive.

b. Joining a Boutique LS consulting firm is a great step towards bolstering your CV. Other ideas could for example be: A) Joining or creating a Case Club; B) Doing high-exposure strategic volunteer work; C) Furthering your education (if Masters is out of the question, then perhaps certificates in Data Science/AI could be a good idea?)

For MBB, there is no longer any real "cut-off age" for joining these firms. If you continue to build great experiences over e.g., the next 2 years, you'll definitely have a shot at landing the interviews.

I hope this helps!

PS: Of course feel free to reach out if you'd like any further guidance or coaching.

Sincerely,

Thor

Answer 2

Hi there

It would make sense to join the firm that gave you an offer.

Stay there for 2 years and perform well and collect evidence of this performance.

Then start applying for consulting firms as you approach the end of your second year. Apply broadly. The following guide should help describe the approach:

Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Then once you're in consulting you can pivot more easily between the firms.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 3

You accept the offer. Then you progress in that company to higher ranks.
Then you either try to transfer to a life science company of your choice, or you try to transfer to MBB/T2 in 12-24 months (wait until you actually get promoted).

By the way - quick favor. I have a mentee who's looking specifically for life sciences consulting opportunities - could you please let me know what is the name of that boutique (through Direct Message)? Thanks

Answer 4

Hi there,

You don't have other options on the table so my suggestion is you take the offer and leverage it to move towards your aim in the future. A life-science boutique can be a great springboard into pharma corporate strategy later, since the work is directly relevant and you’ll build real project experience. Plenty of people make that move without ever having MBB or Tier 2 on their CV. I would take the offer and keep the long game in mind.

Answer 5

hey there :)

Taking the boutique life science consulting offer is actually a smart move, it gives you relevant experience and a strong track record in pharma, which is exactly what top firms look for when hiring laterally. Focus on delivering impact, building relationships, and getting visible projects. In 1–2 years, you can target MBB or tier 2 firms for lateral hires or corporate strategy roles in pharma; your boutique experience will make you competitive even without a master’s. Keep networking actively and maintain a record of measurable results to strengthen future applications.

best, Alessa :)

Answer 6

Hi,

One path would be to go to the boutique.

You can still be considered for corporate strategy if the boutique is renown enough.

Otherwise, you can always try and lateral again to MBB after a few years at the boutique.

All the best!