From Associate (Bain Capability Network) to Consulting Position possible?

Bain
New answer on Jan 21, 2021
8 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Jan 20, 2021

Hello everybody,

Is it possible to transfer internally from Associate PEG (BCN) to Associate Consultant after a couple of years? (Interview scheduled - 25th Jan)

Also, I have been referred by EM in Mckinsey (London Office).

Should I take the Associate PEG position, considering in the long term I would like to switch to Consulting? Obviously, I will go with Mckinsey if I get a chance but the interview is not scheduled yet.

Please guide me.

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Francesco
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replied on Jan 21, 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

At least at McK and BCG it is quite difficult to move from a research position to a pure consultant position. I helped a person recently that after working at McK in the research division had to do an MBA to be able to move to a pure consulting role.

It is not impossible to do the transition, but it is definitely better to start in a pure consulting role from the beginning.

Best,

Francesco

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Ken
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replied on Jan 20, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

I am slightly surprised that someone with a profile that has led to a McKinsey London referral wouldn't be considered for a consulting position at Bain. I don't know specifically about Bain but having seen many try to make a similar move at McKinsey, I would be very careful about settling for the Capability Network role. Once you start in a non-client facing role at an MBB, you definitely can build a network and reputatoin but you do also get labelled as a non-client facing person which makes the transition very difficult. Considering the volume of people who attempt to make the transition, the success rate is extremely low and limited to exceptional performers. If you are set on a client-facing consultant career, it may be worthwhile joining outside MBB to start with and attempt to make that transition which is much easier, especially once that firm has acknowledged your performance with a promotion. Good luck!

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Vlad
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replied on Jan 20, 2021
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

the critical factor with this transition will be having brilliant feedback records from PEG and ideally having a Bain partner who will support your transition. This is usually quite tough, that's why it's often easier to move to another company. I would try to apply to a consulting role directly from the beginning.

Obviously, if you have a McKinsey interview scheduled - do your best to get the offer.

Best

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Gaurav
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replied on Jan 20, 2021
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there,

seems to me that McKinsey would be a better and safer match for you here. Go for it and do your best!

Cheers,

GB

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Clara
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Content Creator
replied on Jan 20, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I agree that moving to McK is the winner move here, if you can.

Cheers,

Clara

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Ian
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replied on Jan 20, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

If you want consulting, and get the McKinsey offer, take it.

It'll be quite tough to mvoe from a support role to consulting...I'd almost prefer a route where you work elsewhere (i.e. a tier 2 for example).

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Denis
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updated an answer on Jan 20, 2021
Goldman Sachs Investment Banker NYC | Ex-Bain 5 yrs| MBA Chicago Booth | Passed > 13 MBB > 20 IB interviews

Hi,

you can surely switch from the BCN to the consulting side - having worked in BCN should allow you to have very differentiated and superb responses for your Fit questions. However, BCN is not the client-facing, regular operations business. You are in a support role, I would not do it. So if you want to work in the trenches along other consultants, apply directly for regular Bain or go to BCG or McK (which you intend to do it seems). Only if McK does not work out and you have not other options (BCG, Tier-2 consultancies, Corporate Dev Strat roles), I d take Bain BCN.

Best,
Denis

(edited)

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Henning
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replied on Jan 20, 2021
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

Agree with Denis here. It is possible to swtich, but it's not a very easy road. Typically it goes through doing an MBA a few years down your career and then going through an internal referral. However, that only opens the door to the interview, it will still be a regular interview process.

If you have a referral for a regular consulting position in a separate, that would be the much more direct path.

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Francesco gave the best answer

Francesco

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