MBB Offer - Relocation

Question

Hello -

I was wondering if the relocation bonus is all what MBB pay to assist candidates to move from one state to another or will they take care of the whole move ?

One of my colleagues told me that Mck took care of their move, sent a company for packing , assigned an agent to find a house etc. when they accepted an offer with them in a different location (however, it was a relocation from the US to the ME).

Thoughts?

UPDATE: based on the answers received below I thought it would be good to update the thread, the offer was made to my friend who is fresh out of HBS (harvard business school) not relocating after joining the firm. Some of the answers below are not 100% accurate. Upon checking with him, Ian has the right answer, it is a ME culture.

Answer 1

From what I've seen, it really depends on the office, region, and whether the move is tied to joining the firm or transferring internally. In North America, many MBB hires receive a relocation allowance or a choice between a lump-sum payment and a managed move, while some international offices (especially in the Middle East) may provide much more hands-on support, including housing assistance and relocation coordinators.

A fresh MBA hire can sometimes receive a more comprehensive package than an experienced hire making a routine move, so the details in the offer matter a lot. That's probably why experiences can differ so much from person to person.

When evaluating the value of a relocation package, it can also help to compare the actual cost of movers and settling-in services. Canadian companies such as Real Estate Movers publish useful information on moving logistics through their website:realestatemovers.ca, which gives a good sense of what a fully managed relocation can involve versus taking a cash allowance and arranging everything yourself.

Based on the update, it sounds as though the more extensive support your friend received was tied to local ME practices rather than being a standard MBB policy everywhere.

Answer 2

What you're describing happens when you move offices when already at the firm. Otherwise it's usually a relocation amount to spend as you wish.

Answer 3

Hi there,

This sounds like a ME cultural thing. Personally, when I signed with BCG Australia, I was simply provided a relocation budget. The rest was up to me (finding the shipping company, accommodation etc.)

Answer 4

Hello!

Yes, that happens when you transfer inside the company.

Usually they give you two relocations options, one that is some lump sum and the move, and one that is only money. then you choose which one works better for you.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 5

Usually they won't take care of the move. I understand that in some locations, particularly when they deal a lot with expats, and navigating the local culture / city may be hard for a newcomer, and also to avoid rookie mistakes, they may decide to take care of that for you in order to make the transition smoother. This is likely to be specific to the Middle East in particular.