Government to Consulting (Middle East) – Am I a good fit?

Congrats on your strong track record in public service and your academic focus — you’re absolutely on the right path for a transition into consulting, especially in the Middle East where public sector experience is highly valued.

Here’s how your profile aligns and what to consider:

1. Strong fit for Middle East consulting: With your government background, leadership experience, and exposure to large-scale delivery programs, you’re well positioned for firms advising public sector entities in the region. Your Master’s in Public Policy and Data Analysis strengthens your analytical and strategic skill set.
2. Target post-MBA or experienced hire roles: With 5 years of relevant experience and a Master's from a top UK university, you should aim for Associate (MBB) or equivalent roles, not entry-level. Some firms may place you at the upper end of entry levels depending on structure, but you qualify for experienced tracks.
3. Focus on public sector practices first: Start with public sector teams, where your profile is a natural fit, but don’t hesitate to explore broader generalist roles if the firm values diverse experience. Many consultants in the region rotate across public and private sector projects.
4. Demonstrate commercial thinking: Emphasize strategic decision-making, stakeholder management, budget oversight, and data-driven problem solving in your government roles. These mirror consulting skills. Case prep will also help you refine your commercial thinking for interviews.

You're already doing the right things. Happy to support if you need help translating your story into a compelling application or prepping for interviews. You've got a strong foundation.

Hi there,

You have a really cool profile and a strong chance at joining one of the top firms. 

You have relevant professional experience with a focus on public sector. 

You have a proven track record of leadership. 

You have great academic credentials. 

It ticks all the boxes.

The main thing you need to do is massage the process the right way. Specifically, to build an application strategy that ensure you actually pass screening with sufficient firms to then have enough interviews that can convert into an offer. 

You can read more about how to do this here:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Regarding your specific questions.

Check in with the interviewers at each firm to confirm what role you should apply for. With McKinsey, it will indeed be Associate because you have 5 years of work experience (that's the typically cutoff, or having done an MBA or PhD). 

Check also with the recruiters whether there are any roles open within the public sector practice. I'm working now with a candidate in the US who is applying directly for an Associate role in the practice and who also has a strong public sector background.

Reach out if you have any other questions I could help with. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

You should definitely go for it, you have a strong profile, which fits the region very well!

To your questions:

1. Do I stand a good chance of breaking into consulting roles in the Middle East (MBB, Tier 2, policy advisory)?

• Firms in the Middle East highly value government experience, especially for public sector-heavy clients. MBB, Strategy&, and TBI all hire for this background.
• You'll need a compelling story connecting your public sector expertise to consulting value, especially in transformation, delivery, or policy strategy.

2. Should I aim for entry-level (e.g., Associate) or post-MBA/experienced roles?

• With 5 years of experience, you're better positioned for post-MBA or equivalent roles (e.g., Associate at McKinsey). Since you mentioned it, Associate is usually not the entry-level role but post-MBA.

3. Should I focus on public sector practices or apply broadly?

• Public sector is your strongest entry point, but showing flexibility for generalist work (esp. transformation, implementation, ESG, etc.) increases optionality and also chances in the current recruiting environment. You don't want to put yourself in a corner (e.g., if public sector project demand is down).

4. How can I highlight transferable skills and commercial awareness with limited private sector experience?

• Showcase work that involved delivery, KPIs, budgeting, inter-agency coordination, or external vendors, anything resembling client-facing, impact-driven work and specific outcomes.
• Demonstrate understanding of consulting's pace, client orientation, and business-first framing whenever you engage in networking efforts.

Cheers,

Florian

To your questions:

1. Yes, you have an attractive profile—especially for consulting firms in the Middle East, where much of the work is public sector–focused. Given your non-traditional background, applying through referrals will be key to ensure your resume gets reviewed and doesn’t get lost in the volume.
2. It depends on the firm. MBB would most likely consider you for a Senior Business Analyst or Junior Associate role, given your lack of direct consulting experience. However, Tier-2 and boutique firms (like Strategy&, Roland Berger, or Dalberg) are more likely to recognize the value of your public sector expertise, and it’s more realistic to aim for an Associate-level position there.
3. Be strategic. Use your public sector experience to your advantage and apply to public sector practices. These are among the strongest and most active in the region, especially in firms like McKinsey and BCG. Once inside, you may be able to pivot toward more generalist roles, though you should expect to continue working primarily on public sector projects for some time.
4. Those 18 months of private sector experience still matter. Even if they’re limited, there are likely strong, transferable skills—like stakeholder management, analysis, or operations—you can highlight on your resume. That said, this will be less critical if you’re applying to public sector practices, where your government experience will be your primary differentiator.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy

Hi!

I think you already got great answers which i completely agree with:

• Strong fit for Middle East: Your background and experience aligns well with the consulting demand in the Middle East, especially in firms that serve government clients like MBB, Strategy&, and TBI.

  I think you should also reach out to Delivery Associates, a Strategy consultancy - a small but mighty firm. I have a couple of friends who worked/work there with a goverment and public policy background and they loved it.

• Defintely aim for mid-level roles: With five years of experience and a relevant master’s degree, you’re better suited for Associate-level roles or equivalent. Don't forget your worth.

Good luck!!

1. Yes, you have a reasonable chance to be invited to interview

2. You should be looking at post-MBA roles / experienced hire

3. You can apply broadly. If they believe you are a better fit for public sector only, they will redirect your application

4. You have relevant transformation experience in a very challenging environment. I don't think you have an issue there. If you could take a quick degree / course on business essentials that could be helpful.

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your careery trajectory thus far!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, unfortunately, no one can seriously answer the question of whether you will be successful or not, especially since it is much more about thorough preparation than just your profile. However, I would advise you to polish your application files to perfection, get a strong referral, apply and see what happens.
• Moreover, I would strongly advise you to talk to recruiters about the right role for you, as only they know for sure. The same goes for applying for public sector or generalist roles.
• Lastly, whether or not you need to demonstrate commercial awareness is mostly a question of whether you are applying for public sector or generalist roles.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen