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Big 4 Strategy > M7 MBA > MBB

I'm currently a McKinsey Associate-equivalent on the strategy team at by Big 4 (5 yrs experience) and I'll be going to get my MBA next year at an M7. I plan to move upmarket to MBB post-MBA. What role will I be likely offered? Engagment Manager? Junior EM? Will I be placed at the same level as MBA grads without prior consulting experience?

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Top answer
Sidi
Coach
on Sep 14, 2020
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 400+ candidates secure MBB offers

Hi!

You would be hired as an Associate. Probability for Engagement Manager is zero.

Just to give you some more perspective - a friend of mine did the opposite switch and left McKinsey as a Senior Associate (not yet JEM) in order to join a Big4 company as a Senior Manager.

Cheers, Sidi

Vlad
Coach
on Sep 15, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Post-MBA roles are always Associate level (McKinsey track). It doesn't mater whether you had consulting experience or not. Your prior experience will probably help you secure the interviews. However, I still recommend you applying via the referrals of your classmates (ex MBB consultants) who are in contact with on-campus recruiters.

Best

Anrian
Coach
on Sep 14, 2020
Ex Kearney Senior Manager | Ex McKinsey Engagement Manager | Interviewer & Case Coach at McKinsey (200+ Real Interviews)

Hi There,

Yes, realistic scenario - you will be offered Associate for McKinsey/Consultant for BCG/Bain role. To be directly hired as an EM, coming from big 4, you need at least Senior Manager or even Director level (>12 years experience). Even with that scenario, you will only get the title & salary, but your role in the project for at least the 1st year will still be an Associate role.

Hope this helps.

Ian
Coach
on Sep 14, 2020
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hey there,

Unfortunately, it's unlikely you would come in as Engagement Manager. Those graduating from MBA's generally get hired as Consultants (BCG/Bain) and Associates (McKinsey)

Clara
Coach
on Sep 15, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Cograts for the MBA. 

Unfortunately, you will start just as all other post-MBAs offers: as an associate. 

Having consulting experience is for sure positive and would help you perhaps advance faster, but will under no circumpstance grant you a higher start. This is super standarized. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Deleted user
on Sep 15, 2020

EM, Manager are littlerally impossible. If you'll be promoted to manager before starting your MBA, you might be able to negotiate somewhere below that on a Senior Associate level. Everything else is not realistic, as MBB usually grade Big4 or Tier2 consultants down a rank when hiring them.

0
Emily
Coach
on Sep 30, 2020
9 years in MBB Southeast Asia & China| 8 years as MBB interviewer | Free intro call

You will get the same role as other MBA grads, i.e. Associate for McK and Consultant for BCG/Bain. 

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