Which career track is more attractive for MBB now and in the next 5 years - boutique consulting experience or analyst/project management roles at large tech companies?

Hi there,

Both paths can get you into MBB, but they signal slightly different strengths, and the “better” one depends on how you position it.

Boutique consulting gives you a more direct narrative: client exposure, structured problem solving, and familiarity with consulting-style work. It’s often the safer route, especially if the projects are strategy-focused and you can show clear impact.

On the other hand, analyst or project roles in large tech companies can be very attractive if you’re close to product, growth, or operations. These roles tend to signal strong business judgment, data-driven decision making, and exposure to real-world scale — which is increasingly valued.

Looking ahead 3–5 years, MBB is clearly moving more towards digital, product, and data-heavy work. So candidates coming from tech environments, especially those who understand growth, experimentation, and user metrics, are becoming more compelling.

In my opinion, roles at companies like Revolut are particularly strong right now. They combine the pace and ownership of a startup with real scale, and the problems you work on (pricing, growth, product launches, market expansion) are very aligned with what consulting firms are doing more of today.

So in short:

• Boutique consulting = more traditional and predictable path
• Tech / product roles = increasingly attractive, especially if you show impact and ownership

You can get to MBB from either, but the edge comes from how well you translate your experience into structured thinking and business impact.

Happy to help you think through positioning depending on your situation

Best
Evelina

I am not sure I fully understand your question. however, I will try to help you:

IF you are asking what you should be doing for the next 5 years to have a shot at MBB in 5 years; Apply to MBB every single year until you get in.

MBB career is much easier if started as soon as possible. for so many reasons among which the most important one is - you get your "toolkit". outsiders/experienced hires are rarely performing well in MBB and they suffer more than average for the first years.

IF you cannot do MBB - boutique consulting is usually better than tech companies. obviously if you compare GOOGLE strategy team vs an unknownd boutique consulting firm my answer is different. 

usually when too many IF scenarios are involved at this stage, my first suggestions would be for you to stop over thinking and start focusing on the preparation instead.

if questions/doubts - ping me for an intro call

I get this question a lot. Let me give you a clear take.

Boutique consulting has the edge, and I think it will stay that way. MBB interviewers see you as someone who already speaks their language. You have done client work, structured problems, managed workstreams. Shorter learning curve. Safer hire.

Tech PM roles are respected, but they come with a translation problem. You have to convince the interviewer your skills transfer to consulting. Most candidates underestimate how hard that is in a 30 minute interview.

What I see in practice:

• Boutique consultants clear behavioral rounds more easily because their stories naturally sound like consulting stories.
• Tech candidates often have great experience but struggle to frame it in a way that clicks with MBB interviewers. Different work, different pace, different client exposure.

Looking ahead five years, MBB is hiring more tech talent, yes. But mostly for specific practices like digital transformation or product strategy. For generalist roles, which is still the bulk of hiring, they prefer consulting DNA.

One scenario where tech wins. If you are at a Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, and you have led cross functional initiatives with real P&L impact, that can be very compelling. Especially for a tech or operations practice within MBB.

The real question is not which track looks better on paper. It is which one gives you better stories, sharper problem solving reps, and more client exposure. For most people, that is boutique consulting. But a strong tech PM can absolutely make it work.

That's a really good strategic question, and it's easy to get conflicting advice here. Looking at how MBB recruits experienced hires, the reality is they prioritize a very specific set of transferable skills, and often, one path provides a more direct route to those.

Generally speaking, boutique consulting experience tends to be a more straightforward pathway for MBB recruiting. Firms understand the nature of the work, the client exposure, and the structured problem-solving mindset inherent in consulting. It often means less "translation" for the recruiter to figure out how your experience aligns with what they need. You're demonstrating direct client-facing impact, analytical rigor, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations.

However, certain roles at large tech companies can be incredibly competitive, especially if they involve significant ambiguity, strategic decision-making, and heavy analytics (think product strategy, corporate strategy, or high-impact business operations roles at top-tier firms). If you're solving complex, unstructured problems that impact the business at a strategic level, and doing so with data and structured thinking, that can absolutely be a compelling story. The key is demonstrating that consultative muscle within a corporate setting – influencing stakeholders, driving cross-functional initiatives, and presenting data-backed recommendations.

Ultimately, MBB isn't just looking for a prestigious company name; they're looking for individuals who can hit the ground running on day one with clients. Evaluate each role less by its industry label and more by the scope of problems you'd solve and the skills you'd build.

Hope this helps clarify!

Hello!

This is a difficult question, but based on what I’ve seen (including 4 years at Altman Solon, a TMT boutique), transitions from boutique consulting to MBB are generally more common than from tech roles to MBB.

Boutique consulting trains you in the core consulting toolkit:

• Structured problem solving
• Executive-ready slides
• Financial modeling
• Client communication

These skills translate directly into what MBB tests and values.

In contrast, analyst or project management roles in large tech companies focus more on:

• Execution
• Stakeholder management
• Product thinking
• Operational delivery

While valuable, they are less aligned with traditional consulting skill sets.

Also, top tech firms (e.g., Netflix, Revolut, Spotify) are extremely selective. For example, many people in Netflix’s strategy team are ex-MBB, ex-boutique, ex-IB, or very experienced industry hires — so tech is not necessarily an “easier” route.

If your goal is to maximize your chances of moving to MBB, boutique consulting is usually the more straightforward path. That said, geography and role specifics matter.

As a coach, I’m here to help you — we can assess your specific situation and choose the path that maximizes your long-term positioning.

Wow! If only we knew such things :) 

Honestly, impossible to know. 

I would approach things differently:

Ask yourself what is important for you. What a sort of career do you want. What firm would you ideally be in. What sort of industries or expertise you'd like to focus on.

Then just move in that direction with whatever opportunity brings you closest at that time. 

In short, it's impossible to know whether in 5 years from now boutique experience is going to be better than having a large tech company on your CV. At the end of the day, consutling firms care a lot about WHAT YOU KNOW and also WHAT IS THE IMPACT you've delivered already. Where you did all of this is of second priority. 

Hope this helps!
Best,
Cristian

hey there :)

both tracks can work for MBB, but they signal slightly different things. boutique consulting shows hands-on problem solving and client exposure, so it’s immediately “consulting ready,” whereas large tech roles (analyst/PM) demonstrate business impact at scale, data-driven decision making, and product/tech fluency, skills increasingly valued in strategy consulting, especially for digital or tech-heavy projects

over the next 5 years, tech experience is likely to gain even more weight given the demand for digital transformation and tech strategy work, but boutique consulting remains a strong, safe path if your goal is classic strategy consulting

best,
Alessa :)