My biggest fear

Hi,

I spent nearly 10 years at BCG in the Milan office, so let me give you my very honest view;:

Working hours: yes, you do work a lot. Southern European offices, including Italy, tend to be on the tougher side in terms of hours compared to other regions in Europe (especially the Nordics). That said, it varies a lot depending on the client, your team (PL/EM), and the partner. In my experience, long hours were more noticeable when working from the home office; when on client site, it often felt less heavy as you’re fully immersed and there’s not much else going on anyway.

Team environment: this is where I’d push back on some of the negative narratives. I’ve never experienced colleagues as competitors. There is a strong sense of camaraderie; if you’re overloaded, people step in and help. You’re all in the same boat. The pressure doesn’t come from internal competition, but from the fact that you’re constantly evaluated; performance reviews determine promotions, progression, and compensation.

There are many factors to consider, but the fact that I stayed for 10 years should tell you something; for me, the positives clearly outweighed the downsides.

If you want to go deeper, feel free to reach out.

Best,
Franco

Hello there!

Great question :) 
I’m replying because I also worked at an MBB in Italy and had the exact same fears. Tbh, I only partially agree with the other comments here on PrepLounge. My experience was incredible for opportunities and growth, and I made great friends and mentor. However, having studied abroad and worked on international projects, I can confirm that hours and hierarchies in Italian offices tend to be 1-2 standard deviations heavier.

It’s highly subjective: some thrive in it, while others prefer flatter hierarchies and prioritize work-life balance. As for any intense work environment, you can definitely prepare for it (mindfulness and therapy helped me a lot!). Regarding team dynamics, I never saw a cutthroat, one-against-the-other environment. What happens sometimes is that people with different core values struggled to integrate. Many of them (some who are now great friends) left within 1 to 2 years, but they still built amazing careers and are very happy and grateful they started in an MBB firm.

The beauty of starting young in such a prestigious place is the worst-case scenario. Even if you leave after 6 to 12 months, you've learned a massive amount, secured a top-tier brand on your resume, and can easily pivot to whatever is next!

Feel super-free to DM me if you want to continue this conversation. Un abbraccio :)

Tom

Hi there,

I would put Germany as the most feared from a worklife balance perspective. Italy is comparable. Asia and the ME come in close behind (in particular, Singapore, S Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China).

You should basically have 0 expectations for work life balance at MBB... that would just lead to disappointment.

But here's the bigger question: if work life balance is your biggest fear going in, you probably shouldn't be joining MBB. These firms are the marines. The hours are brutal and everyone who joins either knows this going in or finds out very quickly.

BCG was the best experience I never want to have again. If I went back in time, I would 100% do it again. But I will never do it again in this lifetime. That is the MBB experience.

This doesn't mean it's not worth it. But you need to go in with your eyes open.

Read this before you decide: The Pros and Cons of Working at a Top Consulting Firm.

And for the broader career thinking, search The Consulting Offer Blueprint on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Ciao,
Good question — and fair concern.

On working hours: yes, consulting (including MBB in Italy - and also tier 2) can mean long hours. There will be periods where you work late, especially close to deadlines or during intense project phases.

That said, it’s not every single day, and it’s quite project-dependent:

• some projects are more manageable
• others are more intense

Over time, you also learn how to manage your workload better.

On the environment: from my experience, it’s generally very collaborative.

In Bain there is a Motto: "A Bainie never let another Bainie fail". This was just... true.
People often expect a “cut-throat” culture, but in reality:

• teams work closely together
• there’s a strong sense of support
• colleagues help each other a lot, especially under pressure

At least in my experience, the idea that consulting is hyper-competitive internally is quite exaggerated.

So it’s a trade-off:

• you get steep learning, strong exposure, interesting work
• but you need to be comfortable with periods of high intensity

If you’re okay with that, it can be a great experience.

If you want, happy to share a more detailed view of day-to-day life :)
Happy to connect.

Mauro

hey there :)

hours in Italy at firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company are on the heavier side, typically around 55 to 70 hours per week with peaks above that during intense phases. it’s not dramatically different from other European offices, maybe slightly more traditional in terms of face time.

that said, the team environment is usually quite strong. colleagues tend to be supportive, social, and close knit, especially in Italy where teams often build real friendships. you’re rarely “alone” with your workload, there’s a lot of collaboration.

whether it feels healthy depends a lot on the project and manager, but overall it’s demanding rather than toxic. if work life balance is a top priority long term, many people use MBB as a stepping stone and then move to roles with better hours.

if you want, happy to share how to assess team culture during interviews.

best,
Alessa :)

Yes, that's anecdotally true. 

But it's not always like that. 

There are differences between firms, offices, industries and projects.

In the end, it comes down to three things, only 1 of which you can control

• the client / industry - some are more prone to working long-hours
• the leadership on your project - again, some are more work obsessed
• you and your ability to manage upwards and to manage your workload. I actually wrote a material on this and posting it below:

• • Expert Guide: How to Manage for Lifestyle in Consulting

If you need help, feel free to reach out. I've actually worked with several italian candidates just recently.  

Best,
Cristian

Good that you're thinking about this before you apply, not after.

Let's talk hours. MBB in Italy is demanding. Expect 60 to 70 hours in a normal week, and 70 to 80 during tough phases like a final pitch or board meeting. Weekends are mostly protected but not always. Milan is the busiest office. Similar to MBB in other European hubs, not uniquely worse in Italy.

But hours vary a lot by project and team. The same firm can feel very different across two cases. A good project manager protects the team. A bad one doesn't. Your project manager matters more than the firm logo.

What about colleagues? Smart, driven, and mostly genuinely nice. You'll make close friends. The apprenticeship culture is real. Seniors invest in juniors because that's how the model works.

Is it healthy? You'll work hard, sometimes very hard. You'll also learn faster than almost anywhere else and have real safety nets like counselor relationships and staffing conversations. It's not a sweatshop. It's a high-performance environment where hours are the tradeoff for the learning curve and exit options.

One tip. When you interview, ask what a typical week looks like and when they last took vacation. Their answers will tell you more than any forum post.

It's completely understandable to have this fear, especially when you hear strong regional sentiments about working hours in a place like Italy. The truth is, a career at MBB, no matter the office location, will involve demanding hours. As an Associate, a 55-70 hour week is a pretty standard expectation across the board. The perception of "very long" in Italy often comes down to cultural differences in work-life integration or how work intensity is discussed, but the fundamental commitment required for top-tier consulting remains globally consistent.

Regarding culture, MBB firms generally foster highly collaborative and intelligent environments. You'll be surrounded by exceptionally bright and driven people who are, by and large, supportive. However, the actual day-to-day experience of team support and a healthy environment can fluctuate significantly. It's often project-dependent, influenced by the client, the project scope, and critically, the partner and manager leading the team. You'll have amazing teams and others that are more challenging.

Your best bet is to use the recruiting process as an opportunity to gain insights into the specific office culture you're interested in. Ask pointed questions about typical project rhythms, how teams manage workload, and what resources exist for well-being. Try to speak with a few consultants at various levels in the Italian offices to get a nuanced perspective.

Hope this gives you some clarity.

Hi there,

Yes Italy office is known to be one of the more intense offices. You can imagine hours anywhere from 70-85 hours. Your colleagues really depend on the project and sector.

Mbb isn’t the place for wlb. If you can’t compromise on it I highly recommend pursuing a different career mate!