Hi, I am from India and I am looking to pivot into strategy consulting. Currently working at ACN as an analyst since a year, got lucky enough to bag 2 strategy on-site projects in the Middle East with one of the leading banks.
Education details:
B.E from University of Mumbai
MBA from tier-1 school (IIM ABC)
I'm looking to apply for international roles, how should I go about it and how likely is it to be successful? Should I rather consider for strategy roles in India itself.
Hi there,
Having an MBA is definitely an asset to make it into interviews, and your professional experience can also be helpful, provided you had exposure to strategy & analytics. However, a 1-year experience is not enough to position you as an experienced hire .
My advice to you would be to first clarify your own priority: is it about going abroad or is it about moving into strategy consulting? If it's the latter, you should definitely consider applying in India as well, as your background will hold more value locally, but nothing stops you from applying to multiple offices/locations
Happy to discuss this further during a free intro call!
Best,
Oussama
Hi,
You’ve got a solid profile with IIM + ACN and already some strategy exposure. Realistically, breaking in directly into international roles is tough unless you have a clear tie (work rights, language, prior study). Most offices prioritize local candidates. What I don't know - can you maybe leverage contacts made during your 2 middle east engagements?
The more practical route (that I have seen work well many times) is to aim for MBB or tier-2 in India, where your chances are strongest. Once you perform well, transfer abroad after a year or two (and then convert to perm transfer).
Reach out directly if you want to further bounce! Happy to.
Best,
Lukas
Hi there,
With your background, you already have a strong foundation. An IIM ABC MBA is highly respected, and adding Accenture experience plus direct strategy project exposure strengthens your profile further. Moving into top-tier strategy consulting internationally is possible, but it is not guaranteed because firms typically prioritize local candidates or those with work authorization in the target country. This means that the main barrier is not your capability, but visa sponsorship and regional hiring priorities.
A practical approach is to apply broadly but strategically. Leverage your Middle East project experience by targeting offices in that region first, as they already value IIM candidates and are more open to international hires. At the same time, apply in India, where your odds are naturally higher due to alumni presence and fewer visa constraints. Networking with consultants in your target offices will also significantly increase your chances.
Best of luck!
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing your background. It’s clear you’re on a good path. With only one year of experience though, it’s still early too pivot. At MBB, post-MBA Associate roles usually require ~3 years of experience, so it will be tough to not only switch, but also apply to an international location. Also, many geographic transfers tend to happen immediately post-MBA, which sounds like it's too late for you now.
I’d suggest focusing on building experience and international exposure in your current role, then applying in ~2 years when you’ll be more competitive. In the meantime, strategy roles in India can be a strong stepping stone and help strengthen your profile for global opportunities later.
Hey :)
With your backgroung, you are definitely competitive for MBB or other tier-1 strategy firms from my point of view. The main hurdles for international roles are usually language (many European offices require fluency in the local language for client work) and work permits. English-speaking hubs like Dubai, Singapore, London or even the US (if you can secure sponsorship) are more realistic than, say, Germany or France without the language.
If you’re open to India, you have excellent odds given your school and current experience. If your goal is international, then target English-speaking or Middle East offices first, build referrals, and highlight your strategy project track record.
best, Alessa :)
Your profile is fine. Given that you just did a couple of projects in the Middle East, if you apply to an office in the country where you did the projects, that can improve your chances of being invited to an interview. Once you have worked reasonably in one country, you are able to justify wanting to stay working in that country.
