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Corporate strategy to consulting

career progression
New answer on Mar 23, 2020
5 Answers
2.5 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Mar 12, 2020

Is it common to see people coming out from corporate strategy going into consulting? I am now interviewing with corporates' internal consulting department as a backup choice if I don't get into MBB.

Also, for experienced hire (I have 4 years of experience now), is it important to have specific industry expertise? My background is in finance, but now I am interviewing with a car manufacturing company (strategy role). How would the consulting firms read my background after 2 years? Would they expect me to be an "expert in the auto industry"? Or they would be open to taking me as a generalist role, given that I have experience in finance & auto industry?

Thanks!!!!!

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Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Mar 12, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

Yes, this is definitely a common way into consulting nowadays (which actually changed a bit in the last decade or so). So having some industry experience from corporate strategy certainly makes you an attractive hire.

Concerning the industry specialization - there is no clear yes or no. The main influencing factor from my experience is your level of seniority when joining MBB. The more senior, the more specialized the industry focus tends to get. With around four to five years of experience, I don't see the industry focus of overarching importance yet.

Hope that helps - if so, please give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Clara
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replied on Mar 12, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

To your first question yes, it´s a common path to transition from corporate strategy to MBB. However, it´s not the only way -for sure-, so make sure you also apply directly to MBB.

To the second topic, I don´t think there is an absolute truth here -some companies may have industry knowledge as a must, and some may not. However, if you already got the interview, it indicates that is not an "a-priori".

Good luck!

Cheers,

Clara

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Antonello
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replied on Mar 23, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Yes, it's pretty standard for experienced hires. If your goal is MBB choose the brand before the function and try to apply as soon as possible for MBB.

Best,
Antonello

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Anonymous replied on Mar 12, 2020

Hi!

In-house strategy roles are definitely a way in, but so are jobs in finance, marketing, etc. The thing that you'll have to consider is that you might work for 2-4 years and start from scratch when moving to an MBB (you might get 1-2 years seniority in a T2 depending in the office you apply to). Regarding your second question, MBB's wouldn't have industry specialists until manager level, so you'd join as a generalist and maybe be staffed on an automative project when it comes up.

Good luck!

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Luca
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Content Creator
replied on Mar 12, 2020
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Dear anonymous,

If your final aim is to join an MBB, maybe a tier-2 company is a bit better than a corporate company.
Nowadays also people from corporate consulting department are quite common in MBB but you have to consider that, if it happens, it's likely that you will be affiliated to a practice that is near to your previous background (in this case automotive/industrial goods).
If you like that field I would suggest to consider the corporate option, otherwise go for a consulting company.

Best,
Luca

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