Move from Tier-2 consulting to MBB

First, moving from a Tier-2 consulting to an MBB gives you a couple of good arguments:
1) You already know that you actually like consulting
2) You already proved that you “know how to be a consultant”

There are a couple of common red flags:
red flag #1 - harming the image of your previous employer
Consulting companies have their employees as their main “product”  and main source of marketing. Hence your behavior and ethics is key element. Hence, talking bad things about your employer can be very dangerous, since might make the interviewer question if you would do the same with the company you are interviewing for.

red flag #2 - harming the clients of your previous employer
As mentioned in red flag #1, ethics is a key element of any job and in consulting respect and compliance with client information is key. No company wants to have a consultant that it saying that its client is not worth their time or are not interesting.

red flag #3 - reducing your on accomplishments because of the company tier
I've seen many times people from Tier 2 consulting describing incredible projects as less incredible because they were not MBB projects. You should tell your projects in a proud way and make sure you give yourself the credits you deserve.

red flag #4 - focusing on the brand vs actual role

There are also good more specific reasons that you could reflect upon:
good reason #1: Industry reach or client profile reach - going from a niche consulting to a broader consulting
good reason #2: Geography reach - going from a national company to a multinational company
good reason #3: Carrer progression
good reason #4: Community and training 

Hi there,

The likely question you may get is “Why company XYZ”. It is unlikely they will ask for a direct comparison with your previous employer.

You can choose 3 points out of those below to structure an answer:

• Sectors of interest: specific focus of the company in areas/products interesting for you
• People you met and culture: specific people of the company you talked to, and the things they shared on the company
• Your growth opportunities: specific programs of the company you heard about to enhance your growth
• Company potential: how much the company grew in the last year and its recent development in new areas, which is a good guarantee for your future career as well
• Size/reputation of the firm: smaller companies usually offer a more entrepreneurial culture, with higher growth potential internally. Bigger companies have more resources and support staff, and more prestige in terms of exit.

If they ask specifically about your previous firm, say it was great, but it is not offering the same level of opportunities in that area as your new target company, so that’s why you are more interested in them. In general, if you don’t say anything bad about your previous employer you are going to be fine.

You will have to do your own research on the points you choose. If you use predefined answers, the interviewer will very likely feel you are not sincere.

Whatever topic you choose, you should apply a simple rule of thumb: if you can change the name of the company you are targeting with another and the answer still makes sense, it means your answer is not specific enough and you need to provide more details.

Best,

Francesco

Hey there,

You won‘t be asked this question!

That’s because the answer is so obvious and it’s a waste of a question (still good you’re thinking about it though).

There are 1,000s of people wanting to change from all backgrounds to MBB and there’s no point in asking ‘why’ leave the current job for this one, especially when you’re coming from a Tier-2 firm. Interviewers and recruiters are well aware of the attractiveness of an MBB career.

And should you ever be asked, only talk about the positive aspects of the firm you’re trying to get into and don’t even mention the current/old one - simple.

Best of luck!

Hi there,

Try to avoid harping on the negative.

Say there are a, b, and c great things (which make you look good) but that you just missing d and e.

Basically, don't overly badmouth your firm!

Some examples:

1. I don't like my boss
2. I don't get along with my colleagues
3. The work is too hard
4. I don't like the work

Some good answers already. Basically red flags would be anything that says that you don't really like or didn't adapt to the job, your employer, your team mates, your clients, the workload, the job requirements… So whatever you say it has to be something positive about the NEW company. An exception would be them wanting you to specialize on something you don't really want (e.g. a specific industry or practice). 

But why don't you post your answer so we can give some feedback on that?

 

This is true for any job interview where you want to avoid speaking badly about your current employer.  Additionally, also true for any interview, avoid sharing superficial reasons (e.g., brand, pay, etc.).  

Frankly, I think most MBB interviewers “kind of get it” and so I wouldn't worry too much even if asked.  There are many ex-T2 consultants who eventually become very successful in MBB! 

You will be on the backfoot if in your mind you consider Tier 2 as something a bit less and MBB as something a bit higher. Dont do this. 

There are so many people who love being in non-MBB firms and are as successful as those from MBB. It all boils down to mutual FIT. If you and the firm are good fit for each other, success is inevitable. So, focus your answer on talking about why MBB is the right move for you now in terms of type of role/work, industry focus, skills match, culture and values etc. Have a look at this article for more tips- https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

All the best.

Dear candidate,

dont say its because of salary, because of working hours or because of not getting along with colleagues or clients. :) best regards