Hi Everyone, after having a decade of work experience in oil & gas industry as a field engineer and supply chain coordinator, I am now preparing to transition into Consulting. With only bachelors of engineering and NON MBA background, what is a suitable role for me to start?

Hi,
 

This is a great and very doable transition — many professionals from strong industry backgrounds, like yourself, move into consulting successfully, even without an MBA. With a decade of experience in oil & gas and supply chain, you’re already bringing expertise that’s highly valuable, especially in regions where energy and industrial transformation are top priorities.

Here’s how I’d think about your next steps:
 

1. Target the Right Offices & Practices

Oil & gas is a priority sector in consulting, particularly in offices like:

• Middle East (especially UAE/KSA)
• Houston, Calgary, Norway
• Some Southeast Asian markets too
  You want to target offices where your experience isn’t just relevant — it’s critical. MBB firms list sector strengths by office on their websites.
   

2. Role Level: Senior Associate / Consultant Level

Given your industry tenure and leadership exposure, firms will likely bring you in just below manager level — titles vary, but typically:
 

• Senior Associate at McKinsey
• Consultant at BCG
• Associate or Senior Consultant at Bain
   

Getting in at this level allows you to learn the consulting toolkit while ramping up quickly.
 

3. Strengthen Your Positioning

Even without an MBA, you can stand out by showing:
 

• A clear progression in roles (e.g. team leadership, cross-functional coordination)
• Quantified impact (e.g. “Improved supply reliability by X%”)
• Client-facing, problem-solving traits
  I’d be happy to help you shape your CV and stories to reflect this — your experience just needs to be told in a more consulting-style language.
   

I’ve helped other industry professionals make this leap (I did it myself, from a non-target background). If you’d like help structuring your CV or want to talk strategy, happy to support.

Best,

Pallav

Hi! With your 10 years of experience, you’d likely be considered for an experienced hire role, typically at Senior Associate or Consultant level. Since your background is in oil & gas and supply chain, you should position yourself specifically for roles within the Energy or Operations practice of your target firms.

If you have previous leadership experience, you could even aim for an Engagement Manager role—especially if you apply directly within your industry’s practice area.

Not having an MBA isn’t a blocker (although an MBA would be an asset). Focus on showcasing your transferable skills and prepare thoroughly for case interviews like any other candidate.

Happy to share more insights if helpful. Feel free to reach out!

Cheers,
Kevin

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your career trajectory thus far!

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

• First of all, I would advise you to apply for experienced hire roles. Depending on the amount of leadership experience you have gained so far, you may even consider applying for a managerial experienced hire role.
• Moreover, I would strongly advise you to focus on consulting firms and offices where your domain expertise in energy and operations is most valued.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there, 

It is possible to make the move without going through MBA program. I had colleague who joined BCG with background similar to you. It would be most feasible for you to join in the Energy / O&G practice (not a generalist), probably at the consultant level. 

That said, given your engineering and operations background, you would need to (1) excel in the case interviews to convince the interviewers that you have the capability to transit into a business advisory role, and (2) build solid knowledge in business and finance so that you don't get overwhelmed when you start the job. 

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

It depends on what your decade of experience looks like. Specifically, if you had lots of managerial roles and you have strong evidence of leading large teams, you could probably qualify for a managerial role in consulting as well. 

If I were you, I'd start discussing with recruiters about your profile to get an understanding of where you would fit in their particular role structure. Do reach out to them directly with a consulting-polished CV to ensure you get the most out of the conversation. 

I've worked with multiple people doing transitions as an experienced professional into consulting, several of whom were from O&G in the Middle East, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need help.

Best,
Cristian