What is the experience of starting into consulting at age 35 with a decade of industry experience?

Hi,

Sharing some thoughts on your situation:
 

Is it realistic to switch to top-tier consulting?

• I have seen profiles with ~10-11 years of work experience making a lateral jump to MBB consulting
• Therefore, it is rare, but not unheard of
• Much will also depend on the strength of your experience - which is not clear without having a better look at your CV

What role should you target?

• You can either target a Generalist role, or an Expert role
  • E.g. if your revenue strategy refers to Net Revenue Management in FMCG - this could be an angle to try and enter as an expert for either the topic area or industry area
• Expect to start typically at the Consultant position (the role before Manager/Project Leader) 

Is this transition worthwhile?

• Really depends on what you want going forward and what trade-offs you are willing to make. There have been people who have felt it is worth it, and also equally as many who have felt it not worth it
• Typically, salary at MBB in the long run will be higher than staying in corporate
• However, are you willing to start at a junior role again? work long hours? potentially travel significantly?
• Are you ok to continue in an advisory role or support function role (basically what corp strategy is) versus something more hands-on and with more P&L responsibility?

Therefore, only you can figure out the equation based on the considerations above.

Lastly - if you are looking to apply as an Experienced Hire, i think the following articles might be helpful for you:

5 Reasons Why Experienced Hires Fail the Interview

Using AI for Case Preparation

Succeeding in Consulting as an Experienced Hire

Hi, 

some additional thoughts beyond what has already been said:

It does happen and there are opportunities. Where you will come in will ultimately depend on your specific profile and how you can position yourself. 

You will likely either come in as Consultant or Project Leader. Here I would both come with their own challenges: coming in at that age as Consultant I saw them sometime having a hard time (essentially doing the same work as a person 10y younger; you do have the advantage of experience, seniority, etc. but the work and the pace can be physically taxing plus usually outside of work also takes more of you (e.g., when kids come into play). What is more, some people did struggle with the fact that you might be working for a 20 something PL...

Then coming in as PL will be a better match seniority wise but it is a STEEP learning curve. I have seen that workout though, but mostly from corporate strategy teams. I remember one of my PLs came in after 7 years within the strategy team of a telco company. He is still with BCG - so it definitely is viable.

Best,
Lukas



 

Hi there, 

I've met a few people who joined McK as experienced / lateral hires, typically as specialists, in their mid-30s. 

Overall, some where happy and stayed, other moved on after 1-3 years. 

The best answers that you can get on this question would be actual life stories of people who went through that experience. In short, I recommend you do some coffee chats. 

In the guide below I explain how to conduct these chats and reach out to people via LinkedIn. Remember that cold reachouts to people are like a funnel - meaning, not everybody will answer, but the more you reach out to, the higher are the chances that some will.

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Best,
Cristian

Hi there

Sounds like you have some great experience under your belt. Speaking from experience I started my consulting journey after 10 years of professional experience as well.

I think what it boils down to is : a) what you're hoping to get out of your time in consulting and b)what you're willing to do to be in consulting

To break these down further here are some key considerations for each:

a)
-Advanced problem solving skills
-Get a certain brand name on your CV
-Use this as a launchpad for exits

b)
-Come in at a more junior level than you are in your current role
-Spend the necessary time and energy to prepare to ace the interviews
-(Likely) have more intense working conditions (Hours/intensity) than now

Is it possible - most definitely it is just important to ensure that it is all moving you towards your true objectives in your career and life.

Happy to talk further 1:1 about your specific situation!

 

Hey there :)

It’s definitely doable! I’ve seen many colleagues with 10+ years of industry experience successfully transition into consulting. With your background in revenue, commercial strategy, and analytics, you could target experienced-hire or senior associate roles rather than the graduate track. Top-tier and strong boutique firms value that kind of expertise, especially if you can show impact and structured problem-solving. It’s absolutely worth exploring if you’re motivated by the consulting path.

best, Alessa :)

That is a very realistic transition, but you need to adjust the lens through which you view the recruiting process. You are not a traditional entry-level candidate. Your decade of deep expertise is a major asset, not a hurdle, provided you package it correctly.

The core reality is that firms will not hire a 35-year-old into the standard Associate or Consultant role—you are too expensive and overqualified for the generalist work those roles typically entail. You must enter through the Experienced Hire or Specialist/Expert track. Your deep background in commercial strategy and revenue analytics is immensely valuable to MBB because clients need exactly that specialized guidance, and the firms are actively building out those specific capabilities.

Your target title is likely 1-2 levels above the typical entry point, most often Senior Consultant, Manager, or even a specialized Principal, depending on how specific your niche is and which firm you target. When reviewing your application, the recruiting machine cares less about your university pedigree and 100% about your immediate revenue-generating potential. You need to position yourself as an expert who can walk onto a project and immediately manage a complex workstream based on industry knowledge.

When structuring your resume and behavioral stories, focus only on quantifiable impact, stakeholder management, and highly structured strategic thinking. The transition is absolutely worthwhile if you crave a structured problem-solving environment and rapid pace, but be warned: the learning curve on internal consulting processes (deck writing, firm methodology) will be steep, even if you nail the content.

All the best with the pivot!

Hi there,

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

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

• First of all, your professional background could be quite attractive to consulting firms, especially for expert roles or industry-focused tracks. I would advise you to aim for such positions, rather than entry-level generalists, as this would better reflect your seniority and skill set.
• Moreover, opportunities in top-tier or strong consulting firms are definitely realistic, though not guaranteed. I would strongly advise you to focus your application on clearly communicating the impact you’ve made and your ability to work in fast-paced, client-facing environments.
• Lastly, the transition can be very worthwhile, but it depends on your goals. If you want a fast-paced, intellectually demanding environment with strong exit options, it’s a great move. But I would advise you to be honest with yourself about the trade-offs: lower title, potentially more intense hours, and a steep learning curve in internal processes.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen