MBB after counselled out at Tier 2?

Hey,

They will for sure ask in the interviews, for which you need a honest, strong & convincing story- it didnt work out for both parties. Not sure which region/country you are based in, but without your permission & authorisation for references, they cant go digging behind your back. 

Just because you are unsuccesul in this firm, doesn't mean you are not made for consulting. But you must be true to yourself and assess what didnt work for you. I have seen many examples of people moving/asked to leave and being successful elsewhere. For this fit is so important- both parties. So please invest the time to research and assess this fit. Dont go to MBB just because everyone else is going there or you want to make more money etc etc.

Key question is- are you joyful in Consulting? Are you able to enjoy and give your best? If not, there are so many other options & companies you can work for. Dont let this put you down and don't make it overly personal.

Hi there,

They won't find out if you were not fired. Your reason for leaving is for you to know only.

I actually left BCG after 1.5 years because other opportunities presented themselves. I was on track for promotion and not being counseled out, however, 1.5 years could look like that's the case. Not a single company I interviewed with during this time asked about this!

Of course, they asked "why leave" but there was never a question as to me being forced out. Now, granted, I wasn't being forced out, but they could have easily thought this/asked! Instead, I was very convincing in my reasons for leaving, and that's all you need to do as well! No need to lie or anything of that nature. Just articulate the things you liked about the company but the things that were also missing.

In regards to your "leave consulting" question, that's for you to figure out. Feel free to create another Q&A laying out your thoughts here (pros, cons, etc) and we can help advise there as well!

Good luck.

Hi,

You have nothing to worry about:

• It depends on the country, but in the US most employers would not share reasons for leaving during background checks
• MBBs is not asking for feedback from your previous bosses, so you are fine as well

Several things to consider though:

1. You should have an explanation of why you left. You should not necessarily tell them the truth
2. If you had issues with Tier 2 - you'll probably have even bigger issues at MBB. thus I strongly recommend working on your weak points first

Best

No, they will not find out. And yes, if your profile is strong enough, you should have a chance, but it makes sense to prepare a convincing story why you would like to switch from Tier2 to MBB.

The best approach would be to identify why you were counselled out, and work on your weaknesses so that this situation does not repeat at MBB.

An interesting story I came across some time ago: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/5-years-ago-i-was-fired-from-oliver-wyman-this-is-what-i-learned-from-it

Hi there,

They won’t necessarily find out. However, if you are applying to the same office, someone in MBB may know someone in your old firm. I would say it is not likely though.

I would apply to MBB if you are still interested in consulting. Just prepare a solid answer on why you left. Don’t lie, but structure an answer saying you understood you did not fit that particular culture and are still interested in consulting. Prepare also an answer to "Which mistakes have you done while working in your previous company" in case they want to dig deeper.

Don’t leave consulting simply because you were counseled out if you still want to work there. You can be successful in another firm. Most successful people in the world had huge failures before winning big. I am sure you learned a lot from your Tier 2 experience, even if it was not a great one, and can definitely do well in your next opportunity.

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

Nobody will actually ask whether you are forced out or not. However, I would suggest to find a strong background story that could be a push factor for you to leave the firm. In the end of the day, if you pass the interview process and you work hard in the new firm, I am sure you will be succesful :)

Hello there!

You definitely have chances for MBB and there is no need to leave consulting only because it didn't work out in Tier 2 firm. They won't find out whether you were forced to leave, but be ready to be asked about the reasons.

Think about things that really lead to this outcome. It's a sign that you need to master and improve something, so take some time to dig deep into yourself, maybe you faced some rebellion inside, maybe you are not as motivated as you expected to be? Is consulting really what you want to accomplish?

Hope it helps.
Cheers,
GB

I can feel your anxiety!  I have quite a few anecdotes about this, so feel free to PM me if you'd like to hear them.

Hello!

They cannot find out, but for sure you will get the question of why did you quit. 

Hence, just be ready with a convincing argument and you will be fine. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Will they find out?

• They will not ask this to the former employer
• Even if they do, the former employer will not answer
• If it is an office in the same location and it is a small office, there's always the possibility that someone asks someone they know at the former employer. This is unlikely to happen during the recruitment process, but may happen once you join
• If you lie on this during the recruitment process, and give a different reason for leaving, it would be considered perfectly acceptable (as long as the reason to leave is not outrageous)

So no, they will not find out during the recruitment process. They may later on, but that does not impact your chances of being recruited (but may hurt a bit in how they perceive you…).