Assessment of Profile for Big3 Consulting Firm Interview

Question

Hello Prep Lounge community,

I have a referral that could potentially help me secure an interview with a Big3 consulting firm. However, I'm concerned about whether my academic and professional background is strong enough to secure a callback from the interviewer.

Here's a brief overview of my credentials:

Double MA degree in International Relations from the University of Turin in Italy (not a top-ranked university).
Attended MA degree in China Business Studies at Zhejiang University Business School, ranked 76th globally, 9th in Asia, and 3rd in China.
I am currently in an Associate position at Deloitte Hong Kong, with previous experience at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Given this background, do you believe my CV is competitive enough to warrant a callback for an interview at a Big3 consulting firm? I am contemplating pursuing an MBA in a few years, which I hope will further bolster my qualifications.

Any insights, advice, or experiences shared would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Answer 1

Hey Francesca!

I would say that your background appears to be solid, especially with international exposure and experience at Deloitte Hong Kong, which could strengthen your profile. While your academic institutions aren't top-ranked, the double MA and specialized knowledge in China Business Studies are assets. The referral can help boost your chances of securing an interview, but pursuing an MBA from a top school could further enhance your competitiveness for Big3 consulting firms.

Good luck :)
Alessa

Answer 2

Hi Francesco,

Generally, it looks okay - it also depends on the details (GPA, leadership and impact besides work and academia, job experience besides Deloitte).

I would network and see where you stand now. If your resume does not open doors, you can still consider an MBA in the future.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 3

Your profile is going to struggle for a few reasons

HK consulting market is getting decimated at this point, and will likely not recover until 2026. Many MBB Associates and Junior Associates (where you will be calibrated at) are getting managed out
There are candidates with stronger on-paper qualifications than you

Here is what may help you

Do you speak mandarin/cantonese?
are you in relevant sectors in hongkong or greater china region that is in demand? e.g., finance, elements of tech/product management, logistics to a certain degree

I'd recommend you do your MBA or alternatively leverage your referral significantly; the latter will put you on equal ground as academic qualifiactions dont matter once you enter the interview rounds

Answer 4

Hello there,

Your background information does not give a clear indication of an almost sure yes or no but in a challenging market, it could steer more towards the negative.

My advice for you is to take the referral offer despite your lingering doubts. To maximize this opportunity, ensure you curate your professional achievements impressively, highlight your extracurriculars to show strong leadership experience and include any additional data points that could boost your positioning (highly selective scholarships, 90th+ percentile GRE/GMAT, etc.)

If this attempt does not work out, you can always go for your MBA and retry.

Feel free to reach out if you need specific tips on fine-tuning your resume.

All the best,

Fathu

Answer 5

Hi Francesca,

Q: Given this background, do you believe my CV is competitive enough to warrant a callback for an interview at a Big3 consulting firm?

Your profile looks ok. The biggest question mark seems to be your university, as it is not a target school. In general, if you find on LinkedIn that previous alumni from your university have been successful in getting into MBB, you should have a chance, if not, it is unlikely.

Regardless, there are no downsides to applying - worst case, they will reject you and you can apply again after the MBA you are planning to do. At the same time, you might want to consider Tier 2 firms as well (eg, Strategy&, Kearney, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger), as after a few years there you might be able to switch to MBB without an MBA.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 6

Ciao Francesca,

The consulting market in Europe is tough right now, but applying for next year might improve your chances due to quotas. It’s worth trying - if you don’t, it's a "no" from the start, but if you take the risk, it could turn into a "yes."
Since you have a referral, it’s smart to talk to them again to understand the current hiring situation and the profiles/teams they're targeting.
Tailor your application accordingly, combined with a referral, you should at least be invited to interview. Highlight why you're a valuable asset specifically for the firm.
Your diverse background sounds very interesting, so go for it!

Have a great Saturday,
Kairavee