Which roles to apply to based on years of experience?

Question

I apologise if this question comes across as uninformed or lazy.

I'm in an awkward position where I have too much work experience for entry level roles, but underqualified for more senior roles. For context: I have around 4.5 years of work experience, primarily in the HR and Rewards space, and I’m applying for consulting roles in the Southeast Asia region.

From my research on MBB roles, I’ve come across the following requirements for external hires:

McKinsey

Business Analyst: <4 years of experience (source: McKinsey website)
Junior Associate: >5 years of experience (source: LinkedIn profiles)
Associate: >6 years of experience (source: LinkedIn profiles)

BCG

Associate: <3 years in top-tier firms (source: BCG website, friends)
Consultant: >6 years in top-tier firms (source: BCG website)

Bain

Associate Consultant: <4 years of experience (source: LinkedIn profiles, friends)
Consultant: >6 years of experience (source: LinkedIn profiles)

Since I fall somewhere in between these experience ranges, I’m not sure how to position myself. Should I still be applying for entry level roles? At the same time, I don’t feel fully confident applying for more senior positions. It could be that years of experience may not be a major factor that matters in these decisions, but I'm not privy to hiring decisions. I’m also wondering whether recruiting teams might consider candidates for alternative roles even if they did not initially apply for those specific positions (e.g., applied for Associate, considered for Consultant).

Would appreciate any input on this. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi,

Years of experience alone don't determine your entry level. What matters is the quality and relevance of what those years actually built.

Ask yourself honestly:

Is your company recognisable? A strong brand (top-tier corporate, well-known firm) signals credibility and carries weight in the room.
Have you had client-facing exposure? Stakeholder management and the ability to navigate complex relationships are highly valued in consulting.
Have you developed problem-solving and communication skills? These are the core consulting muscles, if your current role has sharpened them, that translates directly.

If your experience ticks those boxes, 4.5 years in a strong, recognisable role with real client exposure should position you as a Junior Associate / Associate at McKinsey and Senior Associate / Consultant at BCG and Bain.

If your experience only partially ticks them, expect to be considered for a more junior entry point.

If your role hasn't developed skills directly relevant to consulting, applying at entry level is the more realistic and strategic move.

One more thing worth knowing: recruiting teams do sometimes consider candidates for adjacent levels, especially if your profile is strong but doesn't fit the exact mould. It's not guaranteed, but it happens, so apply at the level that feels like the honest stretch, and let them calibrate from there.

Best,
Franco