Inquiry on Experienced-Hire Opportunities in Strategic Consulting

Hi,

Sharing a couple of thoughts:

• Fit for Strategy Consulting
  • I'm not sure what you mean by 'strategic consulting', if you refer to the broader realm if consulting firms, then yes there are specialized risk consulting firms that do exist e.g. FTI, Control Risks etc
  • If you are referring to 'strategy consulting' i.e. MBB, Risk is a functional topic/capability that these firms do have, but in my experience the need for these are really small / not a core focus versus other industry topics/functional areas
• Navigating the process
  • I don't think a headhunter is going to incrementally help you navigate the process, with regards at least to MBB consulting. Anyone of the experienced coaches here can give you a better idea of what the requirements are and the process might look like, versus a headhunter
  • What the headhunter can do - is potentially open doors i.e. get an interview for you. But frankly the pool of global/large consulting firms is not that big, and I think this is quite doable yourself. Just find out the recruiter/HR names within these firms and reach out yourself
  • On a related note, MBB firms DO hire headhunters to help with experienced hires, and sometimes even have dedicated in-house sourcers, so if there is a really big need for it AND if you are an obvious fit, you are likely going to get called up sooner or later (But of course you can be proactive)

In addition, you might find the following articles helpful for you in your preparation journey:

5 Reasons Why Experienced Hires Fail the Interview

Using AI to Enhance Your Case Prep

All the best!

Hmm, I'm not sure you actually need a head hunter.

If I were you, I'd ask ChatGPT to give you a list of all the consulting firms in Italy. 

Then I'd go through each of them to figure out if they have a Risk practice and whether they are hiring. I'd pair this up with quick chats with the recruiters. 

Once you have clarity over the open opportunities and the timelines, then you can apply. As a prerequisite here - make sure you have a well-prepared CV (only 2-5% of the CVs I see are actually ready to be sent out). 

In terms of how to approach an application strategy, you might find this guide useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

A headhunter might only benefit you if they have contacts specifically in your industry. Otherwise, they are not going to be of much help. 

If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out. 

Best,
Cristian 

Hi there,

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

• First of all, with your experience in risk and regulatory topics, strategy consulting can be an option - at least at firms that value deep expertise in those areas. I would advise you to define whether you're aiming for pure strategy consulting or broader management consulting firms, as this changes the relevance of your profile.
• Moreover, while headhunters can help, I would advise you to first try direct outreach to HR teams or partners in relevant practices at target firms in Italy, which gives you more control and insight.
• Lastly, I would advise you to make sure your application files reflect a consulting-relevant angle, which would make you more visible to recruiters and headhunters alike.

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

This is a smart approach. For Experienced Hires (EH), especially those with highly specialized domain expertise like senior Risk & Regulatory, leveraging a strategic headhunter is absolutely a viable, and often necessary, shortcut.

Here is the reality of how the EH recruiting machine works: For generalist EH roles (Associate/Engagement Manager track), MBB firms prefer direct sourcing via their portals and internal referrals because it’s cheaper and they want cultural control. However, when firms rapidly scale a specific capability—like a specialized FS Risk or Regulatory technology practice—they often turn to external partners to find the needle-in-a-haystack candidate that their internal HR isn't structured to find quickly. Your background fits perfectly into that specialist capability bucket.

To maximize your success, you need a headhunter who specializes in placing into the CapTech/Financial Services segments, not just general executive search. You are not looking for a generalist strategy role; you are looking for the dedicated practice areas within McKinsey, Bain, and BCG that focus on transformation within regulated industries. This knowledge is key—the best firms will know which specific Partners or practice leaders in Milan or Rome are currently under headcount pressure to staff their regulatory teams.

My advice is to simultaneously pursue two tracks: direct networking with Partners who lead FS or Risk practices in Italy, and strategic engagement with 1-2 highly specialized boutique search firms that focus exclusively on placing consultants within those niche areas. The top-tier global firms are almost always too broad for this level of specialized EH placement, so focus your energy on specialized boutiques with deep local partner connections.

Hope it helps!

Hi,

first question in these situations is to see whether you have anyone in your network at any of the consulting firms in Italy. Exp Hire recruiting does have a big element of network - many times former clients are being brought in to MBB. 

Beyond that, engage with the recruiters of the top 10-20 firms directly. No need to go via head hunter. 

And just in case, make sure to have a polished linkedin profile - so that in case there is a head hunter mandated to find someone with your profile they are likely to find you.

Best,

Lukas

They won't help you navigate the process, but they may present your profile to the consulting firm. I don't think that will improve your chances that much vs. applying directly.

Additionally, head-hunters don't always do a good job in this area. Honestly, one thing is you being approached by a head hunter for this, but you taking the initiative is a risk I would avoid.