Does joining a boutique help in joining MBB down the line?

Hi there,

1) Does this sound like a good plan?

In general, this could work. However we don’t know (i) the name of the boutique and (ii) your opportunity cost (ie what else could you do in the meantime). Assuming you have no other option and you see exits from the boutique to MBB on LinkedIn, the plan could work.

2) If I'm successful, will it mean I could join MBB with 1-2 years tenure?

Normally at MBB you don’t have full seniority recognized even if you come from consulting. However they could recognize some (eg if you join after 2 years, you might get 6 months or 1 year of seniority recognized).

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, while it is great to see that you have a mid- to long-term career plan, I would highly advise you to work at your future employer for some time and reassess your career plan again. Boutique consulting companies are great alternatives to major strategy consulting companies and might even be a better fit for you. For further reading, please have a look at this article I wrote on boutique consulting companies.
• Moreover, I would highly advise you to consider having your application files reviewed by an experienced coach since Middle Eastern offices are normally one of the few ones to always recruit. As such, your assumption that you were rejected because of a recruiting freeze does not seem comprehensible, and chances are high your application files were not strong enough.
• Still, generally speaking, working at a boutique consulting company certainly is a good mid-term career plan to make your profile stronger for future applications at MBB.
• Lastly, regarding tenure, unfortunately, it is standard practice for most strategy consulting companies to discount the experience of candidates coming from outside the company. As such, please be prepared to not have your whole work experience recognized.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

This is exactly why we network! It's important to learn these things through networking prior to applying. Lesson learned :)

Congrats on the boutique position! 

In terms of plan, well, is there an alternative? Is this firm is the offer you have and you accepted, then go in there and do your best! Take things 1 step at a time and see how it goes.

In terms of joining MBB, sure, of course you can join. If you work hard, network, and build your resume.

 Just make sure to set expectations. The odds aren't high (they never were)

And, don't lose the forest for the trees here. As in, don't spend the next 1-2 years pining about MBB, and not commiting to/enjoying the current firm.

The best firm I ever worked for was a boutique. It was so much better than my time at BCG.

Hello A,

It sounds like you have a solid plan in place. Joining a boutique firm in Munich will definitely give you valuable experience, which can increase your options for MBB offices in the future and make you a stronger candidate when you reapply to them.

In terms of timing, it's possible to join MBB with 1-2 years of experience, but it ultimately depends on the needs of the firm and the specific office you're targeting. Keep networking and building relationships with current and former MBB consultants to increase your chances of getting a referral and landing an interview when the time comes.

Overall, it's important to stay focused on your long-term goals while gaining valuable experience in the meantime. 

Best of luck with your new position at the boutique firm!

Does this sound like a good plan?

I don't see any obvious downside. I think it is a good plan.

If I'm successful, will it mean I could join MBB with 1-2 years tenure?

It is a possibility, but not a certainty. Most likely you will lose 1 year of tenure. But if you are a strong performer, you should be able to recover at least partially.

Joining the boutique is unlikely to have any impact on your MBB application. They are more interested if you've worked in industry as you'll bring industry knowledge to the company, but working at a boutique won't be a positive. It won't be a negative either, but it won't propel your application. 

That being said, it sounds like you're interested in consulting, so why don't you work for the boutique, see if you like it and see where it goes? You might find out that you're happy there, you may decide to move into industry, or you may decide to give MBB another go. All of these are good options. 

Good luck!

Congratulations on securing a position at a boutique in Munich! Your plan to gain more experience and improve your language skills before reapplying to MBB sounds like a solid one.

Joining a boutique will allow you to gain relevant experience in the consulting industry, develop valuable skills, and expand your network. It's great that you are aiming to reapply for offices in Dubai and Munich, as these are both key locations for MBB.

In terms of your timeline, it's possible to join MBB with 1-2 years of tenure, but it ultimately depends on a variety of factors such as the demand for consultants in those offices and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. However, gaining additional experience and continuing to develop your skills will certainly increase your chances of successfully reapplying to MBB.

In the meantime, I would recommend continuing to stay in touch with your MBB contacts, networking with current and former MBB employees, and keeping up-to-date with industry news and trends. This will help you stay informed about potential job opportunities and make the most of your time at the boutique. 

Good luck with your new position!