Off days in consulting?

This is a good question, and it is one where expectations are often mis-set.

Time off (PTO)

• PTO at MBB is actually quite generous (20-25 days per year depending on tenure)
• In practice, most consultants can take at least two proper 2-week vacations per year
• Additional shorter breaks are usually possible between projects if managed early with staffing

During projects

• True “off days” during a live case are rare
• You may get the occasional quiet day, but you should not plan around it
• Your schedule is driven by client needs, not a fixed weekly rhythm

Between projects (bench / beach time)

• Bench time is not time off
• It is often spent on proposals, LOPs, internal analyses, and partner-driven work
• The work can be just as intense as a normal case, sometimes more fragmented and less predictable

Why bench time matters

• Bench work does not count toward utilization
• You can be working long hours without it helping your performance metrics
• Extended bench time is generally something to avoid, not aim for

How strong performers manage this

• They actively manage staffing to avoid long bench periods
• If there is a gap, they either roll quickly into the next case or take real PTO
• They are selective about internal work, prioritizing visibility and relevance

Bottom line

• Consulting offers real, meaningful vacation time
• But it does not come passively
• The best outcome is being fully staffed or genuinely on PTO, not “half-working” on the bench

If you go in with this mental model, you will not be disappointed and you will manage your time much better from day one.

Congrats on the offer! Here's how time off usually works at MBB:

On paid leave:

Most MBB offices give around 20-25 days of paid leave per year, depending on the location. This is standard and you can use it like any other job. But timing matters. Taking leave mid-project is hard. Most people take it between projects or during slower periods.

On beach time (benching):

This is the time between projects when you're not staffed. It's not vacation. You're still expected to be available, do trainings, help with proposals, or support internal work. But it's lighter than project work. Some weeks you might have very little to do. Other weeks you're busy with internal stuff.

How much beach time you get varies a lot. Some people go project to project with barely a gap. Others might have a few weeks between. You can't really plan around it.

What to expect on projects:

During live projects, expect long hours and limited flexibility. Taking random days off mid-project is difficult unless it's an emergency. Most people plan vacations around project ends or natural breaks.

My advice:

Don't stress too much about this before you start. Once you're in, you'll understand the rhythm. Talk to your staffing coordinator or career advisor about how to manage your time. They can help you plan leave around your projects.

And if you have something specific coming up, like a wedding or a trip you've already booked, tell your recruiter or staffing team early. They'll usually try to work around it.

Hi! Based on my experience, 

• At MBB you should expect the normal oficial holidays (e.g., ~20–25 PTO days/year in EU) + public holidays. You can take them, but project timing influences ‘when’.
• Between projects (“bench”): often 0–5+ days of downtime, but unpredictable—junior BAs are usually staffed quickly.
• On intense projects: very demanding cases (esp. PE due diligence) sometimes guarantee 1–2 “compensation days” after the sprint.

I hope this is useful

Congratulations on the offer! That’s excellent news. This is a very smart question to ask before your start date, because managing your expectations around time off is absolutely critical for longevity in the firm.

Here is the reality check: While your firm has an official PTO policy (likely 3-4 weeks depending on the geography and firm), the theoretical maximum is rarely the operational norm. Your ability to take leave is dictated entirely by project windows. Taking five or more consecutive days while actively staffed on a case is a significant burden on the rest of the team, and it is highly discouraged unless you booked it months in advance, often before the project scope was even finalized.

Therefore, you should mentally plan on taking almost all of your major vacation time (trips of a week or more) during bench periods. If you manage two back-to-back six-week cases, you may find yourself using only a couple of individual days over three months. The best strategy is to become aggressive about scheduling leave once you have successfully navigated your first few projects and understand your typical roll-off timing. Use those bench periods, and strategically leverage long weekends (Friday/Monday) when you aren't traveling, or the often-mandated firm closure between Christmas and New Year’s.

The bottom line is that the firm gives you the days, but the timing is non-negotiable and dictated by client demands. For the first six months, keep your travel plans small.

All the best with your onboarding!

You have your vacation days, which you can schedule in advance.

Depending on where your office is, they might 'encourage' you to take holiday during periods when staffing is low.

When you join a new project, you should let them know about any upcoming holiday.

Between projects, you will be expected to work on proposals or other office initiatives. This time will not be off, but it might be lower intensity than actual project work.

If you have extra holiday days, you can also choose to take them between projects.

Also, sometimes you might be staffed from one project to the next with no break.

If you're looking to learn more about your first year in consulting, this article will help:

• • Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant

Best,

Cristian

hey there :)

Congrats on the offer, that is exciting. At MBB you usually get around 25 to 30 vacation days per year depending on office and country, plus public holidays, and in practice you might also get a few bench days between projects but those are unpredictable and not guaranteed. During projects time off is possible but needs planning and team alignment, so most people take the bulk of their days between cases. If you want specifics it is totally fine to ask the recruiter. Happy to help if you want to sense check expectations.

best,
Alessa :)

Yes, you can ask them about vacation period / paid time off.

Please don't ask about off days while on project or between projects that are not related to the above. Don't expect these to happen often.