"Rejected at final round – looking for next step into consulting

Sorry to hear about the interview. Consulting recruiting can definitely be an intensive process. I think Mihir and Kevin both gave great answers on some pathways. Another path that I would propose is looking to get an MBA.

You have 2 years of experience and if you apply this cycle and are able to find employment you would be at 3 years of full-time work experience (at matriculation) which is definitely doable for MBA apps. Also, getting a more formal business background and being able to leverage the resources and pathways of a business school could make the recruiting process easier since strategy consulting is a fairly popular post-MBA career.

This path is definitely a commitment from both a cost and time standpoint, but could serve as a good stepping stone and give you a bit more of a defined pathway into MBB/Big4 Strategy.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Hey — first of all, congratulations on making it to the final round at Kearney. That’s already a strong signal that you’re ready and very close. Don’t let one case throw you off — every consultant has a story like this at some point.

I’ve worked in consulting across regions and cracked interviews in multiple geographies (Middle East, Australia, Europe) despite being from a non-target background, so I totally get the frustration around slow timelines and uncertainty.

Let me offer a few practical thoughts that might help right now:
 

1. Consider “Bridge” Roles Strategically

You’re right to look for something starting in September — and you don’t have to abandon your consulting goal. Here are a few roles that can keep you close to strategy while you continue applying:

• Corporate Strategy or Business Analyst roles (especially in tech, fintech, or scale-ups)
• VC/PE portfolio operations teams (these often work like mini internal consultancies)
• Boutique consultancies with faster hiring cycles (e.g. QVARTZ, Simon-Kucher, OC&C, L.E.K., or sector-focused shops)
• In-house consulting arms (banks, telcos, pharma firms often have these)

These roles give you client-facing, problem-solving exposure and make a great story when you re-apply in 6–12 months.
 

 2. Target Mid-Tier / Boutiques with Shorter Cycles

You’re already strong enough for Tier 2 or top boutiques, and many of these firms hire on shorter notice, especially in London and Spain. Try:
 

• Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, L.E.K., Simon-Kucher
• Local boutiques like Nae, everis, Kea Partners, Delta Partners
• Internal strategy units at Santander, Telefónica, or BBVA in Spain
   

Also, don’t underestimate LinkedIn outreach — many smaller firms don’t post roles and hire opportunistically.
 

3. Polish & Rebuild Confidence

Since you’ve done the hard work already (and clearly came close!), now is a good time to:
 

• Refine your story: Psychology + fintech + consulting prep = unique. You just need to frame it in terms of business impact + structured thinking.
• Work on resilience: Most candidates hit a wall just before they break through. This is that moment.
   

Happy to give feedback on your CV or help you angle your story better — I coach candidates often who are transitioning from non-traditional backgrounds.
 

You’ve clearly got the drive, you just need to adjust the approach slightly. One rejection doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made.

Let me know if you’d like to connect for a quick mock or career strategy chat — always happy to support.
 

Hi there,

Sorry to hear that, but on the other hand: great to hear that you are still motivated! That is the mindset that will get you an offer in the end. Given your situation, I’d think about three options:

First, boutique consulting firms: ideally those with a fintech or digital focus, where your background could be a strong advantage and hiring processes are usually less competitive.

Second, inhouse strategy or corporate development roles, especially in banks, fintechs, or larger corporates: great stepping stones into consulting later. Could also become a long-term option if you grow to like it. Better WLB with solid career options.

Third, strategy or business operations roles in fintech scale-ups – your startup experience makes you a strong fit, and the work will build skills directly relevant to consulting.

In parallel, and if you're still interested, keep applying to MBB/Big4 once you’re in a role – lateral moves are very common as early as 6–12 months.

Happy to discuss if helpful!
Cheers,
Kevin

Sorry to hear about this. There are many available options, with a couple of (non-exhaustive) examples below:

- You could try re-joining the tech industry (incl. potentially a return to fintech). If you can get a promotion in your first year or an opportunity to manage some more junior staff, that could put you in a good position to reapply for a consulting gig.

- Alternatively, you could also join a large corporate company in either a strategic or operational role, but you'd likely need to come in at the entry level with 2 years of non-consulting experience. This might not be the fastest way, as it will take a bit longer to get promoted / show meaningful leadership experience.

Best of luck.

Hi there, 

I'm sorry to hear. Luck also plays a big role in this process, and it's frustrating when it works against you. 

Basically, if you want to get into consulting, and are looking for an intermediary stepping stone, you should be looking at any jobs that will enable you to develop and display consulting like skills - e.g., project based work where you co-create with others, tight deadlines, fast paced, involving data analysis, structured thinking, etc. 

Then once you're on the job make sure that you perform distinctively so you build a library of achievements that you can point to in future applications.

Best,
Cristian

Hey there!

You're super close, and your psychology + fintech mix is actually quite unique. For faster-entry roles that can still lead to consulting, look at in-house strategy teams, boutique consultancies, or VC/PE analyst roles. Also check scaleups hiring for bizops/strategy roles, great stepping stone and quicker processes. Spain and London both have many boutiques (like FTI, QVARTZ, Simon-Kucher, etc.) with rolling hiring.

Start something now, then reapply for MBB/Big4 strategy in a few months with stronger experience.

Happy to help with a shortlist or prep!

best,
Alessa 

Hi,

You could consider any reputable, big brand company in almost any field. If you are anyways going to make a switch after 1-2 years of working, then you are coming in less as an industry 'expert', so having a big reputable brand can signal that you are capable and a high performer.

The other alternative is to do an MBA - this is still the largest recruiting cohort for consulting firms. If you want to be faster, go to INSEAD - 1 year program.

All the best!

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection from Kearney!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, have you applied broadly - ideally with polished application files and strong referrals? In any case, please have a look at the Vault Consulting Rankings to explore more interesting consulting firms.
• Moreover, while I'm really sorry to hear that the application process with Kearney took so long, you're unfortunately not the first to report this issue. That said, consulting application processes are typically quite swift, so this one bad experience shouldn't discourage you from applying to other consulting firms.
• Lastly, if you're still unable to secure any consulting offers, I would strongly advise you to also pursue strategy or business development roles. These often provide direct exposure to strategic work that is highly valued by consulting firms later on.

You can find more on this topic here: How to deal with a rejection from a consulting company.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen