I got fired from a T2 and struggling to find a job

Hi,

I’m really sorry you’re going through this,  it’s completely normal that it’s hitting both your confidence and your clarity.

That said,I’d try to separate emotions from decisions as much as possible right now.

First point: don’t jump to harsh conclusions about yourself.
You got into a T2 firm,  which means you passed multiple interview rounds and were selected among many candidates. That alone proves you’re not “not good enough.” Something didn’t work in that specific environment or context; that’s very different from your overall potential

Short term: prioritize stability (financial + visa).
Given your situation,securing a job now is the priority, not optimizing the perfect move. If nothing stronger comes through, I would take the boutique offer.
Moving from T2 to boutique will not “kill” your career. You can absolutely shape the story later; many people make non-linear moves early on

Mid-term: reset and target what you actually want
You mentioned tech / strategy & ops; if that’s your real goal, then in a way, this could even be a forced but useful pivot point.
What I would do:

• be more structured in your applications (not just sending CVs)
• build internal contacts through networking
• apply broadly (10+ companies), even if not all are perfect fits

Right now  the goal is to get closer to the role you want, not to land it immediately.

On interviews:
If you feel cases/quant are a weakness, that’s something you can fix.Don’t treat it as a  permanent limitation; treat it as a skill gap you can work on. Coaches here on Preplounge can help a lot with this! I am happy to support you if you want. 

Big picture:
This feels like a major setback now, but it’s very often just a short detour, not a closed road.  The key is to stay pragmatic in the short term and intentional in the next step.

Hope this helps;happy to chat more if useful.
Franco

Take a breath. Let's get practical.

Take the boutique offer. Unemployment while your visa clock ticks is a much bigger risk than a boutique stint. You can spin it easily: smaller teams, more ownership, direct client exposure. A 6-12 month gap is much harder to explain.

T2 to boutique isn't career-ending. For tech Strategy and Ops, they care if you can structure problems, work with data, and drive outcomes. Your story is "2 years at T2, then a boutique for more ownership before moving into tech." Own it.

Don't mention the PIP. If asked why you left, say you wanted a different environment or more ownership. Recruiters know most year-2 leavers aren't top performers. Don't volunteer it.

• On interviews, 3 in 3 months with visa constraints isn't bad. Fix three things.
• Case skills. Spend 30-45 minutes a day on case math and structuring. Fundamentals, not full cases. Pays off fast.
• Your stories. Rewrite your CV around ownership, impact, and measurable outcomes. Tech cares about what you did, the impact, and what you learned.
• Product sense. For PM-adjacent roles, read Lenny's Newsletter and Reforge. Practice product sense questions.
• On visa, use the UK Home Office sponsor list to filter applications. Target big tech, scale-ups, fintech. This alone will change your hit rate.

One more thing: You are not your job. A PIP doesn't define your career. What matters is the next 6 months.

hey there :)

don’t over-interpret the PIP, it usually reflects a specific fit issue, not your overall ability. your exit options aren’t gone.

take the boutique offer, you need the stability and it won’t block tech later if you position it as more hands on and operational.

for tech interviews, focus less on classic cases and more on clear thinking, basic metrics, simple quant, and strong storytelling from your projects.

be very targeted with applications due to visa, aim for companies known to sponsor and start with Strategy and Ops roles, then move internally.

if you want, happy to help you prep or structure a quick plan.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi, Tough situation.

A few points to help you reframe things.

1. Take the boutique offer
Given your situation (timeline + visa + finances), this is the right move.

Going from T2 → boutique is not a “failure signal” in the market. It’s a very common transition, especially when people are figuring out next steps or repositioning.

What matters later is:

• what you do there
• how you position your story

Not the label itself.

2. PIP doesn’t define your potential
Being put on a PIP often means:

• mismatch with the team / project
• specific skill gaps (e.g., quant, structuring)
• sometimes just bad timing

It doesn’t mean “you’re not good enough.”

Also, the fact that you got 2 years in T2 already shows you have a solid base.

3. On tech / Strategy&Ops interviews
Your intuition is probably right: if you struggled with consulting-style cases, that can impact these roles too.

The good news is: this is fixable.

Focus on:

• basic structuring (simple, clear logic — nothing fancy)
• core math (percentages, quick estimates)
• communicating your thinking step by step

You don’t need to become amazing — just solid and consistent.

4. Visa is a real constraint
This is important and often underestimated.

Fewer interviews is not just about your profile — sponsorship reduces the pool significantly. So don’t over-attribute everything to your performance.

5. On “closing future doors”
You’re overthinking this.

People don’t look at CVs like:
“T2 → boutique = downgrade, reject.”

They look at:

• skills
• trajectory
• story

If in 1–2 years you move into tech or a stronger role, no one will care about this step.

6. What I’d do in your position

• Take the boutique role
• Stabilize your situation
• Spend the next months improving core skills (cases, math, communication)
• Start targeting tech roles again once you’re more confident

Last point: what you’re feeling (ego hit, doubt) is completely normal. But don’t confuse a setback with a long-term limitation.

Plenty of people have bumps like this and still build great careers.

Focus on the next step, not the whole path. Happy to help if it is needed.

Good luck!

Hi there,

There are actually two separate issues here that a forum post isn't going to solve.

First: a performance issue. Something went wrong at T2... and you need to understand what and why before walking into the next role and facing the same outcome.

Second: a recruiting issue. You're trying to navigate a complex career transition into tech and PM, with one offer on the table and limited interview traction. That's a real problem that deserves real guidance.

Neither of these gets fixed in a Q&A. Get a career coach ... not for moral support, but to properly diagnose what happened and map out the right next step.

The boutique offer is real. Don't dismiss it. But don't make a big decision without proper guidance.

Feel free to reach out: Book a session here

And for the broader career thinking: search The Consulting Offer Blueprint on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

I'm really sorry to read this. This must be really heavy on you. 

Nobody is born a consultant, and even if your skills are not the best, you can always get better. There's not much use in being hard on yourself. 

It also sounds like you have some beliefs that might not be helpful, like 'T2 to boutique' not being a good idea. The whole point is WHY you're doing it. I know lots of people that move into boutiques because they want to be in consulting long term but they also want other things in parallel, like more time to spend with their families or pursue other interests. 

So I recommend you find whatever makes things work for you now, and when you're in a more stable situation, you can switch to something that makes you even happier. 

All the best,
Cristian

Hi there,

Sorry that you're going through this. It is definitely a challenging market right now and there's no magic advice that guarantees to solve things.

Something that I've found that helps me when I'm in a difficult situation is asking myself whether there's anything else that I can do, that I haven't done yet?

If there are things that you can think of, focus on doing that.

If there is nothing that you can think of, then be at peace that you've done your best with the things that you can control and the rest is out of your control.

Good luck.

It might be more appropriate for you to reach out to a career counselor or recruiter in this situation. 

Sorry about your situation.