Moving from Big 4 Strategy to MBB: Is It a No-Brainer?

Hi,

First of all, congrats on the MBB offer! That’s a big achievement after 6+ years in strategy. A few thoughts on your key concerns:

Probation risk: In practice, very few people fail probation at MBB once they’ve made it through recruiting. The firm has already invested heavily in you and will work hard to support your ramp-up

Transition from Big 4 Strategy: Since you’re coming from strategy, the skillset overlap is large. You’ll find the frameworks, problem-solving, and client settings familiar. That said, MBB typically runs at a faster pace, so expect higher intensity, longer hours... The cultural shift is noticeable, but many before you made it work

Upside vs. trade-offs: The “no-brainer” part is the brand, network, and career acceleration. Downsides are the intensity of travel and hours, which can be higher than what you’ve experienced, especially less predictable. It’s worth reflecting on whether that’s aligned with your personal and lifestyle goals

Best,
Lukas

Hey there :)

It really depends. MBB will give you stronger brand, faster learning curve, and usually better comp, but the working hours are longer and less predictable. At Big 4, the pace can be steadier, and you often get paid for extra hours, which MBB does not do. Some of my friends at Big 4 would never switch because they value that lifestyle more. So it’s not a universal no-brainer, it’s about what fits your long-term goals and the way you want to live.

best,
Alessa :)

Congratulations on the offer!

There are many people like yourself who switch from Big4 to MBB in search for a better brand, greater exposure, higher pay, more learning, and an improvement in their career trajectory.

If these are also your objectives, then it should be a relatively easy no-brainer decision. The only major downside might end up being longer work hours, steeper learning curve, and smaller room for error.

If you are concerned about any of the above, then you can contact me about my on-the-job performance programme and we can discuss how to prepare you to be a solid consultant from day 1.

Hi there,

Moving from Big 4 Strategy to MBB is generally seen as a clear step up: stronger brand, higher pay, more international opportunities, and broader exit options. That said, there are a few things worth considering:

• Work intensity: Hours and travel can be more demanding than Big 4, depending on project and office culture.
• Level match: Sometimes seniority doesn’t translate directly—six years in Big 4 might put you at Manager, but in MBB you may enter as Consultant/Associate. Be sure you’re comfortable with that reset.
• Learning curve: Expect a steeper curve—more pressure, but also much faster development.

Overall, it’s usually a great move if you’re ready for the intensity and potential level adjustment. The brand and career upside generally outweigh the risks, which is why many see it as a “no-brainer.”

Best,
Evelina

Congrats!

I honestly haven't heard of people not passing probation. 

As long as you don't do anything massively wrong, it's virtually a formality. Be open to feedback, do your job, respect the firm and it's rules and it's all fine. 

If you have specific concerns, feel free to also ask the recruiter.

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

that will heavily depend on your expectations both in terms of the job as your personal life.

On one hand, you have better salary, a great brand in your CV that will open many doors in the future and a steep learning curve.

On the other one, you'll have way less time to spend with your family and friends, will endure a significant amount of pressure and won't have much control about the type of work you'll be doing (industries / scope).

Best,

Mari

It's a no-brainer. I

You will become a better professional, training will be better, feedback will be better, peers and managers will be better, you will get a better brand on your CV, you will have a faster career, you will have a much better payout, you will work at more challenging projects and less on implementation / transformation.

But will be much harder, you will feel you have less oversight over junior team members, quality expectation is much higher (i.e., 100% of content is evidence based, backed up with solid analysis, slides are 100% client ready and no mistakes). This is difficult to convey, but you will understand this while on the job. Teams will have more presence of senior members and much more frequent feedback, time pressure, etc.

What is the downside? None, really. If you don't like it and decide/have to leave, another Big 4 Strategy firm will be super happy to have you on their team.

It is a no brainer. 

I switched from a T2 to MBB, best decision in my career. Happy to share more insights just drop me a dm.