Is age an issue to start a career as a consultant?

Hi,

For generalist positions, It's not officially an issue, but you would no join as an analyst role later that probably 30 and as an associate (consultant) later than 35-37. There is a number of reasons for that:

1. You will like to be led by Managers who are much younger (up to 10 years) than you - communication that is difficult both for you and for him
2. The older you are - the harder it is to survive long hours. When you are 35 overnights are not as easy as 25. Travel is not easy as well, but even partners have to travel.
3. The older you are the harder it is to learn and to change your existing knowledge and beliefs

On the other hand, there are lots of experienced people of elder age who are hired as industry experts, implementation coaches, agile coaches, etc. MBB companies are switching to a more specialized model and there will be more and more roles for older experienced people within the company. I recommend monitoring the websites or even proactively reaching HRs for these roles if you have the right competencies.

Best!

Hey anonymous,

there is no threshold at all in any of the MBBs, it’s more a matter of mindset - are you at certain age willing to be leaded by much younger people? And to restart from lower level in terms of profession? If so, there’s no issue with age - know a 35+ years old guy who joined McKinsey as associate

best

Bruno

As other stated, no age limit as you can be hired as a “lateral” in very senior positions. If you co-founded a company and company will be IPOed then I think the level of entry will be partner or it’s equivalent in the expert track, definitely not post-MBA role (e.g. consultant). To be considered for a partner role you need to demonstrate that you have wide and deep business connections that you can use as a client base or that you have significant topic/function/industry expertise that you can leverage to sell projects to current clients in partnership with other partners. Usual way to get consider for a lateral entry at this level is through headhunter or direct partner connection.

Hope it helps

andrea

(edited)

Hi,

it sounds like you should apply for an experienced hire role in your companies area eg pharma, health, science etc.

although there is no official limit, MBB most definitely like younger people for their roles and those either at school or just out of B school.

Firms generally assess candidates at their capacity level, so if you’re 38 you should have done ALOT compared to someone at B school who has already exited a start up (not uncommon).

this is why you should play to your strengths and try to advise in areas where you have deep knowledge.

chat to HR if you can and they will guide you, too.

cheers

It depends on the company. I have an impression that smaller companies tend to hire older applicants

For obvious reasons (discrimination) age is not an issue. However due to lifestyle of job it’s rare to see anyone 40+ joining at a consultant level. You see a lot of people joining at 45+ as partners or experts. In other words if you want to make career progression in consulting, it becomes really hard thing to do if you join after 30ish. If you want to spend your last working years in consulting and join at the top, that’s definitely an option.

hope it helps,

andrea