my 2 cents as a PL in BCG:

[exit opps]: here it depends on what you are considering as exit opps - industry, PE, finance etc. Personally I'd say that McK has a stronger brand globally - so you can leverage to find opportunities across the globe. Within the region, I'd say MB places equally well in most of the roles, and Bain has a better positioning in PE. But honestly, if you have both offers I would stress too much about this

[mobility]: here I think McK has a clearer advantage... not only the global staffing policy, but also in exit opps as mentioned above. If your goal is to relocate to Europe, then McK is a stronger contender. IMO BCG is always under the water in Dubai, internally recruiting consultants from Europe and South America. If you want to relocate to Europe, you must have a strong rationale behind it if you're in BCG

[other trends] IMO nothing major to highlight here... maybe McK have more travel cases in KSA than BCG, which means if youre in BCG you'll have a higher chance of spending more time in Dubai/Doha.... but it is marginal.

Hi, congrats on the offers! I would like only to add that also your feeling about the people is important, both in your experience during the interviews and with all interactions you have had with consultants/friends in the 2 firms

Best,
Antonello

Hi there,

Some great answers so far!

I agree with Clara, in that, the differences between the two across these categories is a bit hard to comment on generally - your specific situation affects all of this much more!

That said, Anonymous B is exactly right, in that BCG tends to transfer into the Middle East (we had lots of projects staffing people there from our office, but never had transfers into our office from the Middle East).

Ultimately, I really do think you should compare these two based on what you value. I highly highly recommend that you talk to multiple people at the firm. Try and see where YOU fit. Can you see yourself becoming friends with the other consultants? Do the Principals/Partners inspire you and are you excited by the idea of working under and learning from them?

Optimizing your performance is the route to success here. To do so you need to be in the right place/fit for you personally. This matters much more than the nuances between the two top firms!