Corporate Strategy or Big 4 Consulting?

Hi there, 

Based on what you shared, in your shoes, I'd probably forego the offer (initial view).

Given your end goal being an MBB role and your current experience with a Big 4 also in consulting, I don't see a reason why you cannot take a straight attempt into management consulting.

Your concern about relevant experience is fair, but it seems your shows good brand name(s) and experience at least adjacent to management consulting - that's a good starting point. To alleviate your concern, it might be a matter of just positioning your resume the right way, rather than having to inject an additional career step. There are countless examples of candidates going straight from (various) Big 4 roles into MBB. Now that MBB firms (and select Tier 2s) are rapidly increasing their Tech capabilities & offerings, it has become even common over the last few years.  

Above is only a hypothesis based on initial observation, of course. Feel free to share your CV via PM - would be happy to take a look and give more concrete & tailored advice.

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

Ultimately you do need to determine your core values/needs, and from there think through this offer.

Now, given you say “the only reason I am considering the offer is to move into management consulting”, that does lean me towards you not taking the offer.

If you are switching only for the goal of being somewhere else in 2 years, not only is that a recipe for unhappiness and disappointment, but it's also the wrong switch (MBA for example would be a far more direct path).

I don't see this switch increasing your odds more than your current role. Get a promotion, build our your expertise, get more consulting-related exposure, and network your way into MBB from your current role!

Good luck with the decision!

Hi there,

I always discourage people from strategizing in this fashion. If your goal is MBB, go for it now!

Don't make choices now based on what may be in the future, and worst of all, sacrifice the present in the process.

It's just my opinion based on seeing people get miserable too many times by treating their life like a chess game…

Hope you make the right decision for you right now! Best of luck!

You are likely to have an experience (learning, peers, type projects) closer to MBB if you go to the Corporate Strategy role.

However, I don't really advise on taking a job you don't want to maybe later apply to a job you want. Taking a job that doesn't excite you is rarely a good option. 

In any case, a Corporate Strategy role should be at par with a Big4 role in order to get an interview at MBB. I don't think there's much value add in that transition.

Why don't you just apply to the job you actually want? What are you waiting for?

(editiert)

Hi there, 

It does sound like a good way to make a transition to MBB smoother, though I think it's not necessary. If you've already worked in Big4 within the advisory branch that's more than enough to prove that you have a consulting background and skills. There's little to lose in taking this offer and learning more about strategy, though I wouldn't see it as a pre-requisite for transitioning into MBB. 

Have a look at this article for guidance on choosing: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

Congrats & all the best.