Would MBB be understanding of my disability needs?

Question

I am interested in joining MBB and if unsuccessful other management consultancies. I hope to live in central London. The only thing is I have a mild physical disability (registered as disabled by the government). Would MBB be understanding and would the following be considered 'reasonable accommodations':

Minimal travel - I am happy to travel sometimes (maybe 1-2 weeks per month Max), but would struggle to travel for 2/3 days every week to client sites outside London. Do you think MBB would staff me on more local projects to account for my difficulties here?
Adjusted hours - consulting involves very long hours and most days I can work these hours. Occasionally if my conditions flare up I may not be able to stay late after 7pm. Would they be understanding of this?

Answer 1

Hi.

100% - teams will accommodate (they are considerate and caring in general).

With regards to travel, that might be client specific, hard to tell categorically, but please do not hesitate to apply. There's a place for everyone at the Firm!

A great friend and colleague of mine made slides with just his left hand (right hand disability) and went from Associate to Associate Partner in 3 years at McKinsey.

Lastly, there is also an option to work at 80% (meaning 4 days a week) - these are options you can always discuss

Worry not - There is a place for everyone at the Firm (if you want to make it happen!)

Good luck
Jimmy Joy
(I spent 7 years at McKinsey Brussels, until leaving as an AP three months ago)

Answer 2

Hi! This is a very fair question.

MBB firms do take disability seriously, especially in the UK. That said, there’s often a gap between what’s possible on paper and how the job works in practice.

If we focus on client-facing roles, this is my view:

On travel: hybrid work has made things more flexible, and lower-travel staffing is sometimes possible, but not guaranteed. It usually requires a conversation with HR and staffing.
On hours: teams can be understanding of occasional constraints if communicated clearly. Leaving early sometimes is manageable; strict daily limits are harder.

The key question is whether you can consistently deliver at the required level. Expectations remain high; accommodations typically adjust logistics, not performance.

If, on the other hand, we also consider less client-facing roles (e.g. research or support teams), then I don’t see any issue at all.

Also, you don’t need to disclose this during recruiting unless you want interview accommodations; many discuss it after receiving an offer.

Best,
Franco

Answer 3

hey there :)

yes, MBB & Company are generally supportive.

reduced travel can be possible but not guaranteed, some travel is expected
adjusted hours are usually easier if you communicate it clearly

happy to help if you want to position this in recruiting

best,
Alessa :)

Answer 4

This is a hard answer for any of us to give. Every country AND company is going to be different. Look, ultimately, you need to ask THEM. Network with the firms and talk to the recruiters + people at the firm. That said, I'd flag two things:

1) Do YOU want to work here? BCG was very bad for my health. I've seen friends gain weight, go bald, age prematurely, etc. And they started out "healthy". There's a cost to this job - is that cost worth it to you?

2) If you were them, who would you choose?

Not here to discourage you - it sounds like you can go 80% of what your competition can (which, to be honest with you, was me as well!) .

But just have a deeper think about the career path :)

Answer 5

Hi there! :)

MBB and others are generally very professional regarding disability needs. From my own experience with peers, I can tell you it is definitely manageable, yet very individual.

While you don't need to communicate this during your interview process, I recommend speaking with HR after you have received the offer. MBB firms have dedicated disability networks (like BCG AccessAbility or McKinsey Enable) where you can exchange with peers - trust your gut feeling there.

Once you are in, I encourage you to be open about it. Ensure your team is aware. Since the focus in consulting remains on your output, proactive communication is the key to managing your health while maintaining high performance.

I hope this helped! :)