Joining MBB or Tier 2

Hi there,

Your chances of securing an interview at Tier 2 strategy firms like EY-Parthenon (Strategy), Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, and Kearney are quite realistic after one year at a Big 4 firm in the Middle East—especially if your work is in strategy consulting rather than operational or implementation-heavy projects.

Likelihood of Moving to Tier 2
    •    High if You’re in Strategy Consulting – If your current role focuses on market entry, corporate strategy, or growth strategy, you have a strong case.
    •    Moderate if You’re in General Consulting – If your work leans toward operations, digital transformation, or finance-heavy projects, transitioning directly to strategy may be harder, but still possible.

What About MBB?
    •    Moving directly to MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) after one year is more challenging but not impossible.
    •    You may have a better shot after 2+ years of experience or by moving first to a Tier 2 firm and then later to MBB.

Best Steps to Maximize Your Chances
    1.    Target Tier 2 Strategy Firms First – EY-Parthenon (Strategy), Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, and Kearney are more receptive to Big 4 consultants.
    2.    Highlight Strategy Work – If your projects are execution-heavy, frame them in a strategic way (e.g., impact, recommendations, and problem-solving).
    3.    Leverage Networking – Connecting with consultants at these firms can significantly improve your chances of landing an interview.
    4.    Prepare for Case Interviews – Tier 2 firms have case-heavy interview processes similar to MBB.

Final Thoughts

Your path to Tier 2 strategy firms is very realistic, and with the right approach, you could transition to MBB later. If you don’t land MBB now, spending a couple of years in a Tier 2 strategy role will make the jump much easier in the future.

Let me know if you need further advice - happy to help!

Best,

Evelina

Hi there,

lateral transference from big4 is not unusual for both T2 and MBB. What will set you apart is the quality of your overall achievements and what you have built in the last year. That is translated into a strong CV and preferably a referral from a consultant from your targeted companies.

I can help you with both, DM for a free 20min alignment call so we can discuss how you can succeed in this endeavor!

Best,

Mari

Hi there, 

It is possible to move from Big 4 to MBB or Tier 2, though 1 year might be a bit short. I've seen more examples with 2-3 years of Big 4 experience before moving to MBB or Tier 2. To make it work, you'd need to show that you have learned and grown a lot and made significant achievements within 1 year. 

Best,

Emily

I don’t see one year in a Big4 significantly increasing your chances of landing an interview at MBB or a tier-2 consulting firm.

With that level of experience, your academic background, GPA, and extracurricular projects will play a more important role.

That starts to shift after 4–5 years, once you’ve built expertise in a specific business function or industry.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy

Hey there ?,

Great question—and honestly, if you're already at a Big 4 firm in the Middle East with 1 year of consulting experience, your chances of getting an interview at MBB or Tier 2 are definitely realistic—especially if you play your cards right. It’s not a guaranteed pipeline, but it's a well-trodden path ?

What helps a lot:
– Strong performance reviews and ideally fast progression
– Referrals from within MBB or T2 (especially in the region—network is key here!)
– A clear, compelling application story with results you can speak to
– Preparing early for cases + personal fit

I’ve worked with many candidates who made the jump after 12–18 months at Big 4, particularly in Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha. So if MBB is your goal, it’s absolutely doable—happy to help with your strategy if you want ?

Best,
Alessa ?

Hello,

It's possible, but you need properly craft your CV, network well, time your application right in the recruiting cycle, and target consulting firms that are still expanding, as this year the growth has not as been as good as previous years and not all firms have performed consistently. 

Best,
David

Hi there,

Q: I would like to know the probability of getting an interview at MBB or tier 2 after 1 year consulting at big 4 in the middle east

You can get an idea of the likelihood as follows:

1. Go to LinkedIn
2. Look for alumni of the relevant Big 4
3. Check how many moved to MBB/Tier 2 

If you find a good number of alumni who moved, it means the move is doable. Regarding the timeline for doing so, you can check how long those who made the transition stayed in the Big 4 to get an idea.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there, 

yes, it is doable. 1 year is probably a bit on the shorter end, see this happen more often in the 2-3 year time period. 

Important to note, the longer you stay with the Big4 the less relevant your previous experiences get. I.e., if you did not get into MBB or Tier 2 after university because of the grades, getting some distance to that might be helpful. 

Best, 
Sebastian

If you have a CV that is strong enough to get into a Big4, you have some chances of being able to secure an interview with an MBB or T2.

The additional experience you have (1 year at a Big4) doesn't add much to that chance.

So at this point it is really a function of your CV.

Hi there,

Possible but depends on other factors (your previous job experience, universities, degrees, GPAs, extracurriculars, networking). Since you are already IN the region, that definitely counts as a plus.

Please reach out for more information if you are interested. I have written a detailed guide on that (B4 -> MBB).

Cheers,

Florian