Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!

Anonymous A

on Jul 11, 2025

Middle East

Oil and Gas Exploration to MBB

Hi gents

I am currently working in major Oil and Gas company in Saudi as an Explorationist with almost 3 years of Experience.

[Geophysics degree ( high GPA)]

[Current full package 30k SR / month - 96k $ / year]

[ intense 40 hours a week , extremely safe, Slow progression, almost zero exit opportunities]

I read a lot about Management consulting in the past few months. I liked it and I understood the work life balance I am putting at risk relative to my current job. I already networked to understand the business in the region more.

Before committing to that career shift, I have few concerns related:

- Technically, I am qualified to the entry level roles. That means I am expecting a slight drop in my total compensation relative to my current job. Can I negotiate using my previous salary here?
- Am I still going to be hooked by my prior consulting experience ( Oil and Gas Exploration \ Earth science)? when considering exit opportunities after a career in MBB + MBA ( degree).

I would love to hear your insights.

I already applied to McKinsey and received + prepared well for the Solve assessment game.

< 100

Be the first to answer!

Nobody has responded to this question yet.

Top answer

Mihir

Coach

edited on Jul 11, 2025

McKinsey Associate Partner and interviewer | Bulletproof MBB prep

I did a large amount of O&G work at McK and worked with several people with similar profiles to yours.

To your questions:

- You can try to negotiate but if you’re coming in as an Associate, it probably won’t be successful. Pretty much all first year Associate are paid the same within each office.

- To some degree, your exits depend on the role you have chosen, as well as how you approach your career within McKinsey. If you’re coming in as an O&G specialist consultant, then almost all of your work will be O&G. If you’re coming in as a generalist, you can shape your own path completely, and your exit opps will shift accordingly.

Good luck. Let me know if you’d like some help preparing.

Jeroen

Coach

on Jul 12, 2025

Ex-Netherlands Recruitment Lead OW | 5+ years of coaching experience | Great Price/Value | Free Intro Calls

Adding to the points above, career /salary progression at strategy consulting firms is typically quite steep so even if you’re taking a slight pay cut now you’ll likely make up for it soon again.

In terms of success, I have worked with many experienced hires over the years and being successful in a consulting firm can be slightly more challenging for them than for new grads. Reach out if you’d like to talk more about that so I’d give you some pointers too.

Mariana

Coach

on Jul 12, 2025

Hello there,

Congratulation on moving to the solve game! It means your CV was already well received!

1) most likely not, unless you have some leverage, like another offer from BB for instance.

2) it depends on the needs of the region, if you’ll be attached to a specific practice or follow a more generalist path. Your exit opportunities will be broad, but of course, if you develop an expert path within O&G, that’s where your perceived value will be.

Best,

Mari

Benjamin

Coach

on Jul 13, 2025

Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

Hi,

In terms of salary negotiation, in my experience there is no room for negotiation as the base & bonuses (variable %) are standardized based on cohort within a given system
In terms of being limited in exit opportunities, this will really depend on what you end up working on during consulting. If you enter in an expert track and get staffed only on O&G cases, then typically yes the exits are to O&G. But there are many experienced hires who pivot industries even after joining. So I would worry about this later.

Given your current background and situation, you may find 2 of my articles useful as you prep and also start the job:

Breaking into consulting from a non-traditional background

Succeeding on the job as an Experienced Hire

All the best!

Cristian

Coach

3 hrs ago

#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Hi there,

The transition is possible and I've already worked with several profiles from SA transferring from O&G into consulting.

The role you're going into depends a lot on your experience. I suggest you actually discuss this openly with the recruiter and follow their advice. Don't push for a more senior role, even though that might initially sound appealing.

In terms of being hooked by previous experience, yes, this is likely to happen, esp since some of the clients you might work for are in the same industry as the one that you were part of. But that is an asset, something that you can already offer by having a clear value proposition. And then, with time, you can branch out to other industries as well.

Best,
Cristian

Top Answer by

Mihir

Coach

McKinsey Associate Partner and interviewer | Bulletproof MBB prep

10 Rumors About Management Consultants

View article

Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

As an aspiring consultant, you will quickly realize that a company's success is closely linked to its ability to differentiate itself from the competition. Here, just like the business model, the Unique Value Proposition (UVP) plays a crucial role. Understanding and applying the UVP in various contexts, especially in case interviews, can give you a significant advantage in grasping problem situations. What is the Unique Value Proposition?The Unique Value Proposition is a clear statement that describes why a product or service is unique and valuable to customers. It answers the question, "Why should a customer choose this product over a competitor's?" A strong UVP communicates specific benefits and explains how these benefits will meet the needs and desires of the target customers. Why is the UVP important for you?As a consultant, you must be able to quickly grasp and assess the core aspects of a business model. The UVP helps you identify a company's unique selling point. This is especially important in case interviews, where you are often asked to analyze problems and propose solutions. A well-defined UVP allows you to accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of a company compared to its competitors.How does the product-market fit look? Do potential customers and the product match, or is something off? Similarly, you can see early signs of pricing and the market size of the case at hand. Only when all these factors are considered can long-term growth be ensured. Application of the UVP in Case InterviewsIn case interviews, you can use the UVP to structure your analysis. For example, a case might involve developing a strategy for a company operating in a saturated market. Here, you could use the UVP to propose innovative approaches that distinguish the company from the competition. You could also use the UVP to assess whether a proposed strategy has the potential to improve the company's perception among customers. Practical ExamplesImagine you are analyzing a startup that has developed a new app (e.g.: market entry). Your task could be to formulate a UVP that highlights the unique features and benefits of the app. Or you could be working on a project for a retail company that wants to stand out from large online retailers. Here, you could develop a UVP focused on personalized customer service or a unique shopping experience. The Goal of the Unique Value PropositionThe ability to develop and communicate a compelling and differentiated UVP is invaluable for you as an aspiring consultant. It enables you to understand and convey the true value of a company, whether in a case interview or in your future consulting activities. By mastering the art of the UVP, you equip yourself with a powerful tool that helps you succeed in business consulting.

View article