am thinking of applying for an MBA 2022 when I will be almost 36 years old and if everything goes to plan I will be 37 when I graduate. do you guys really think is possible to break into MBB? mark you I have worked in only one NGO in my whole life which is a local one with no recognizable name. What do you suggest I do between now and then to increase my chances? I really want to work in MBB because of the learning curve but at the same time am feeling time is not on my side.Also is the exit opportunities bad for people who join when they are old? any advice on the above matters is highly appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance . Be blessed.
is 37 too old for MBB with no prior solid experience having only worked in NGO


Hi there,
I once helped a candidate who did an MBA and applied at the same age you will be when you finish the MBA. He managed to get invitations for an MBB for a generalist position.
Your profile is unusual, but it is not completely impossible to receive invitations for MBB. You will need:
- A top MBA, ideally of 1 year and with focus on consulting exit (Insead would be ideal)
- Professionally reviewed CV and Cover
- Strong referral (ideally from a partner) in your target geography
- Strong extracurriculars showing the standard skills required in consulting
- Willingness to be led by people a lot younger than you (they will test this in the interview)
Please feel free to PM me if you have additional questions.
Best,
Francesco


Hey,
Just ignore the age for a moment..its not about that but about the skills & experience you can bring. Its about how well you perform in the interview process & justify your value. But to get that interview a solid CV & referrals are a must given your profile. In my view, MBA is not required given you have so much life experience already. If you are convinced on MBB being the next right career move, then go all in. Otherwise, there are so many other options you can pursue which can also accelerate your learning curve- Accenture/BIG4/Boutique/Tech firms/Google/Amazon etc etc.
I have seen people from all sorts of backgrounds get into Consulting firms (MBB and others)- armed forces veterans, NGO Directors, atheletes etc. These firms have become more open in recent years to build inclusive & diverse teams. So play to this angle.
Feel free to reach out if you want personalised coaching & plan
All the best.


My advice: Don't get distracted by the other comments. I was 34 when I joined Bain and my age was never an issue at all.
Having said that, you'll need to work hard to make sure you'll get the interview invitations. Key things here are:
- Make sure you do your MBA at one of the key schools. You'll probably want to do a 1-year MBA at a school that has a strong reputation with consulting firms. INSEAD is the one that comes to mind immediately, LBS also strong (though a bit longer than 1 year)
- Do network extensively to build contacts with the firms and offices you want to apply to get a referral and get past the CV screening directly to the interviews. Once you're in the interview, the age won't matter at all.


Hi there,
Quite frankly, I don't think you really stand a chance :/ Sorry to be so blunt. It has nothing to do with age though, and everything to do with what you've done to-date.
Unless you founded this NGO yourself and/or rose up the ranks to be the current CEO (or top-level exec), this just isn't a background that will work for MBB (if this is the only thing on the resume).
That said, you have 2 options if you're really serious above this:
- Networking (you never know, if someone high up really likes you, you could get a foot in the door)
- MBA - this is the surest way to get directly plugged into the recruiting pipelines. That said, you'd also want to bolster your resume during/before the MBA recruiting process (1st year) as this still matters.








Hey there,
While the age is not an issue at all (I have coached candidates that were slightly older than you for specific positions), I believe the resume is.
At that age, you would need to demonstrate
- considerable leadership experience
- have a few reputable companies on your resume
- established a strong network of business professionals
Based on the information you provided with the NGO as the sole job experience, I don't think it will be possible, unfortunately.
All the best for your future!
Cheers,
Florian


Personally - I believe you can give it a try but the chances are not high. This is a client-facing business and the context of applicants is important. I d much rather do something else.


Hey there!
The age is definitely not a problem. Focus now on developing of your CV and MBA. You need to outline your leadership skills, your abilities which will show that you are a perfect candidate.
If you have any questions - feel free to reach out!
GB










