Switch from Tier-2 to MBB after 3+ years or exit consulting ?

Hi there, 

This is indeed a frustrating situation - I feel you!

My reaction:

It is difficult for anyone else than yourself to give you a direct answer on whether you should exit consulting at this point in time, or switch to a consulting firm that could offer you a broader set of opportunities. It depends on how you feel, and what you believe you want.

As you stated, you feel that there are still lots of learnings you could extract from consulting, if you had the opportunities to attain them, which you are not being afforded by your current employer. That seems to indicate that you are indeed leaning towards wanting to continue your consulting journey. Conversely, the only reason you state for "exiting consulting" is a fear of limiting your exit opportunities if you stay. 

Thus, based on the limited information provided by your question and it's framing, I am inclined to recommend that you may want to set your sights on MBB (or at least a consulting firm that offers you the opportunities you desire).

That said, my main recommendation is: Explore your feelings. 

If you could wave a magic wand, what would you choose? Is one option on the table simply because of fear or the illusion of "doing what's practical"? Only you can truly find these answers - although chatting it through with a trusted friend may help you unlock your inner truths.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely, 

Thor

Totally fair dilemma — and not uncommon after 3+ years in a Tier 2. To be blunt, lateraling into MBB is possible but tougher in this market, especially at the post-MBA or Consultant-equivalent level. Firms are cautious with headcount right now, and they’ll usually want to see a very tight business case for the lateral (caveat that this is geography / firm - dependent).

That said, moving to another Tier 2 firm with broader staffing flexibility can be a smart interim step — especially if you're trying to escape a niche that’s boxing you in. It also gives you a clean restart, new narrative, and more shots at building the experience you’re missing.

The MBA route is still the most reliable way to break into MBB with a clean slate — especially if you want to reset your trajectory and avoid being typecast. With 3+ years of consulting under your belt, a strong story, and good academics, you’d be very competitive for top programs and MBB recruiting.

If you're asking whether it’s worth trying for MBB: yes, if you’re still hungry and clear on why. Just know that once you’re past the ~3–4 year mark, your specialization starts to define your brand — both inside and outside of consulting. So either make the pivot now or exit strategically before the window narrows further.

Good luck and let me know if you have further questions.

Hi there,

What you’re describing is something many consultants go through after a few years: Feeling stuck in a niche that doesn’t excite you and wondering if another firm or a full exit would reignite that curiosity. It’s completely valid to feel frustrated when your staffing doesn’t align with what you hoped to learn.

Switching to MBB can make sense if your main goal is to broaden exposure and work on a wider range of projects. The larger client base and deeper bench at MBB do create more variety, but it’s important to know that staffing challenges exist there too. You might still get pulled into similar topics at first because of your prior experience. The difference is that at MBB, it’s usually easier over time to rebrand yourself internally and shift practices if you’re proactive about it.

If you feel you’ve learned the core consulting toolkit and what you really crave now is ownership, implementation, or being closer to decisions, then an exit might be more fulfilling. In that case, look for roles that build on your consulting skills but let you apply them in a new way because strategy, operations, corporate development, or product roles often value Tier-2 backgrounds highly.

Best of luck!

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your career trajectory thus far!

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

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, I would strongly advise you to first ensure that your staffing coordinator is clearly aware that you are heavily dissatisfied with your staffing situation before considering switching consulting firms. You have built your network with your current employer, and since you'd like to keep working in consulting, you'd most likely have an easier path forward at your current firm.
• Moreover, I'm a bit surprised that you think MBB has a broader project scope than Tier 2, depending on which consulting firms you consider to be in Tier 2, since in fact they all cover more or less the same industries and topics.
• Lastly, I would advise you not to exit consulting merely out of frustration with your staffing situation. If you still think there is more to learn in consulting, I think you should at least try to pursue it.

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

Best,

Hagen

Hey there

After 3+ years at a Tier-2, moving to MBB can give you exposure to a broader range of projects and more intellectually challenging work, but there’s no guarantee you won’t end up in a practice you’re less interested in. If your main goal is learning across different industries and cases, MBB could be worth it, especially if you target offices/practices that fit your interests. Exiting consulting now is also valid if you want to pivot to industry while your experience is still broad and versatile. It really comes down to whether you want to invest more time in consulting for variety or move on to secure a new career path.

Best,
Alessa

It sounds like you want to stay in consulting but just explore other industries. If that's the case, then I wouldn't leave. 

I do believe it's a good idea to switch firms because that will give you a clean slate.

Alternatively, if you haven't discussed this directly with your staffer at the current firm, I would make it crystal clear that you don't want to keep doing projects in the same area and that you want their support to diversify. You can also make this clear to the office manager. At least this way, you know you tried everything before leaving.

Best,
Cristian

Hello,

If your main goal is to broaden project exposure, an MBB move can help, since their staffing pools are often larger and more diverse, BUT it is not guaranteed. What you've described happens at the MBB level as well, especially if there are limited projects to choose from. Given the current economic climate, that is definitely more likely the case. 

1. If you move to MBB, you'll have a say in your staffing. At this point in your career, I doubt your previous experience will have a strong influence on the types of projects you will be doing.

2. If you don't want to specialize in that type of projects, leave that firm.

Hi,

This is exactly my path.

I spent 3 years at Kearney, and then switched to MBB.

Drop me a DM - happy to share more perspectives.