MBB Consulting and Applicant Age

Hello,

Agree with the other coaches here, age by itself is not a factor. However

1) If you already have 10+ years of experience, it will be hard for you to do things yourself without having a team of juniors to support you.

2) The firm may think that you have a set way of thinking and may find it difficult to do things their way.

3) You naturally tend to prioritize work-life balance more as you are older. This tends to be a misalignment with what you are expected to do as an Associate.

4) However - these are personal choices! If you are ready to potentially report to people younger than you, get hands-on and do the ground work, are fine with sacrificing family time for a couple of years - then make sure that you convey all this in your motivation to work for consulting in the cover letters/interviews to pre-emptively alleviate any concern that the recruiter may have!

All the best!

Rushabh

Hi there, 

There is no set age. 

I've met experienced hires coming in as Associates that were late thirties, even early forties. Though, it's fair to say that most of them were hired by a specific practice because they had knowledge in a particular field. 

I wouldn't worry about age. It doesn't help being older, but it also doesn't have to stop you. What makes it harder being hired at an older age is two things:

1. Firms have higher expectations from you. They believe that my your mid-thirties you should have some sort of value proposition and experience in a field. So they are particularly interested in your if you can provide that. If not, it might be more attractive to hire younger, fresh talent that is also comparatively cheaper because it can be hired in a more junior role.

2. Firms think you're less flexible / coachable. Even from my own experience, I've found this to be true. Most people who come in at a later age into top consulting firms struggle to adjust to the firm and the working culture and often times they leave. They also sometimes find it uncomfortable being managed by someone who is 27-28 which I totally understand. 

In short, just apply. You have nothing to lose. Just make sure you develop a good application strategy and get a referral to boost your profile. Happy to help.

Best,

Cristian

Hi there,

That always depends on the circumstances and is hard to answer. I personally knew an Associate who was way in his 30ies.

Same as with everything else, this is a matter of supply of suitable candidates and demand for specific skills. If you apply for a specific practice where expertise is desired, age matters less.

I would not worry about age (something you cannot influence) but focus on things you can actually influence (networking, referrals, etc.)

Cheers,

Florian

Age is not a primary factor (in some geographies it is even against labor law to inquire about an applicant's age). 
However, the older you are when you enter consulting, the more of an otherwise relevant track record is expected from you to be of value to the firm. Often this is specific industry or functional knowledge/skill-set obtained in your previous career. 

Candidates entering consulting at a later stage should also expect to be reporting to managers several years younger than themselves. Some people might have a problem with that.

I have personally known people that started their consulting career at McKinsey in their late 30s and early 40s. They are however exceptions to the rule. Both had PhDs and extremely successful careers prior to that and brought with them a wealth of knowledge that the firm desired.

Practically, your last best shot at getting into MBB is post MBA or around that age (28-34 ish). After that it gets harder as the career is very demanding and most people want more control over their professional and personal lives as they age vs less.

Will age stop you from getting in? Not entirely on its own - but it does play a part after a certain time. Your best bet is to network and have a really good answer on why now is the best time for you to start a demanding new career and why your life allows for it at this stage.

Best,

Udayan

Hi there,

Depends on your background and what role exactly you’re applying for. Here’s two examples that should give anyone hope who feels too ’old’:

• I was 33 when I successfully applied for the ASC role at McKinsey. This may seem old for some but I applied for the Operations practice who generally look for people with experience, which means higher age.
• One of my McKinsey Ops colleagues had his own consultancy prior to joining the firm and was ‘demoted’ to ASC at the age of 40 (to learn the McKinsey way first before becoming part of the firm’s leadership). Three years later he was AP.

These may look like isolated cases but it’s more common than you might think. MBB value experience and that generally comes with a certain age. More importantly, MBB try to be very PC, which includes not being ‘ageist’.

Hope this helps a bit! Best of luck!

(edited)

If you are older than 35 I would just personally advice you to reconsider if it's what you want. You can still get in, but just think about whether it makes sense or not.

In some geographies, rejecting people based on their age is not legally allowed.

This is a personal choice. If you are comfortable with your peers being significantly younger than you, can face being told that most of what you learned was wrong, and be managed by someone significantly younger than you, go for it!