Is it true that some MBB offices in the states are easier to get in than the other?

Hello!

This is indeed a good question, and I am sure many people are thinking about the same, so thanks for asking. 

My two cents:

Is it true that some MBB offices in the states are easier to get in than the other?

It´s a pure demand and offer game. Hence, of course, as you mention, this generates that some offices are much more “desired” than others (e.g. NYC and SF versus some offices in the midwest/south)

And given that I have no attachment to any of the city, how can I justify myself when I apply for a consultant role for a specific office?

Most of the times, the questions will be focused on “Why McK”/"Why Consulting". However, you should also find a couple of arguments for the office: 

- The type of work they do

- Certain partners that are focused on things that you would like to try too

etc.

If you want to deep dive on the topic, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

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Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• Generally speaking, getting into selected not-so-sought-after US offices might solely be slightly easier from a comparative view - the absolute criteria will never get easier. Since most consulting companies have established regional as opposed to national US recruiting, 1) some offices simply fill faster and 2) for some offices, there is a bigger “war for talent” with competitors.
• Still, whenever a candidate succeeds in the application process, consulting companies will not hold back an offer. They will do everything possible to cater to his/ her office preferences and solely in rare circumstances, they would offer to join in a different office.
• From the experience of coachees of mine and my personal network, there is no strong necessity for a good justification for a specific office in the US (as opposed to, for instance, in Switzerland). As such, I would advise you not to worry about whether your choice of office might decrease your chances of receiving an offer.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your (supposedly) upcoming MBB interviews, please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Hello there, 

Hello there, 
yes it is true, there are always offices with imbalanced demand/supply of the new staff depending on the workload. I had a colleague applying in Miami and getting the offer to Dallas. 

You can apply for any city and you can specify in the cover letter that you would like to prefer a specific location OR that you are geographically mobile and open to any office allocation. If your CV is sound and you pass the interview but there is no position in the city you applied to, they will offer you a job in another city. The recruiting process is, however, same regardless for what office you apply. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any other/additional questions.
Good luck!
Lucie

Hi there,

1) Is it true that some MBB offices in the states are easier to get in than the other?

Yes. The likelihood of an offer depends also on demand and supply. Some offices have lower demand than others. Having said that, you have to meet a minimum threshold in any office.

2) And given that I have no attachment to any of the city, how can I justify myself when I apply for a consultant role for a specific office?

If they ask so during the interview (they may do so) you will need to have a rationale for that. Therefore it is good if you choose a city where you have a minimum kind of connection. At a minimum, if the office specializes in a specific industry interesting to you, you could use that as a motivation.

Best,

Francesco

Hi, I confirm the competition level in some offices (like NYC and SF) is much higher than other cities and it impacts the success rate during interviews

Best,
Antonello

Yes, it is true. In reality, it more “some offices are more difficult than others”. The bar doesn't go down, but it can go up if there's enough supply of talent.

You can justify based on Industry preference / industry mix of the region, or just because you like the specific characteristics of the region (e.g. you prefer to live in the South vs. North, you think you'll live in a better city - less traffic, nice weather, lower cost), or because you have family or friends nearby.

Hi there,

Yes, it's true. NYC for example is one of the most competitive.

That said, this is a market with imperfect information. At any given time you don't really know which office has high demand and low supply and vice-versa (even if you can get a bit of an idea).

I generally advise my candidates to apply where they're generally interested. 1) They are more likely to get invited to interview AND succeed in the interview (the employer can see them there) and 2) They are more likely to succeed once there.

Think about it, do you really want to apply and work in a city you've never been to before and doesn't match your values/lifestyle preferences?