MBB in Eastern Europe versus Oliver Wyman in Western Europe

Hi there,

Ultimately you can't go wrong - well done!

If it were me, I would take MBB. That said, it does depend on how risk averse you are (there is a non-zero chance you do not get a return offer…it happens).

Good luck with the decision - trust your gut here!

Hello,

I think there are pros and cons to each option. Think about to what extent you are excited about each job (e.g., you say you are not as excited about finance and retail), whether you prefer to live in Western or Eastern Europe, how much the salary differential matters to you, and how comfortable you are with the risk of the internship. So I don't think there is a clear winner.

Personally, I would agree that internships at MBB generally lead to full-time roles (unless something goes very badly wrong - as long as you are professional and do your job, it shouldn't be an issue). I recommend talking to HR at your local office and some people at the firm to confirm that this is their understanding of the situation too.

I think some of the considerations Cristian mentioned about the relative prestige of OW vs MBB are also useful to think about. Ultimately, they are both great firms so there is no wrong choice. The MBB name carries a bit more weight than MBB, and may yield a broader network for exit opportunities, but you will certainly have great opportunities at OW too. 

Hi there, 

You're in a very fortunate position! Good job on getting these offers. 

In short, I would choose MBB, but of course, I am also biased having been in McKinsey myself. At the end of the day, if you want to be in consulting long-term, both are going to give you access to highly international careers working on top projects with some of the biggest clients in the world. I also think that in the analysis you did already you are covering most elements that are worth considering. 

The other element that is crucial and that will follow you for the rest of your life, is the prestige that is associated with each of these firms. MBBs are seen by most clients / consultants / people in general as being the absolute top firms in management consulting, the cream of the crop, and whatever you choose to do after you leave MBB, having been a part of one of these firms is going to be a major advantage (for instance in getting better offers to work in the industry). 

And as a one last point, you really can't go wrong whichever way you go. It's easier to go from MBB to OW, so in case you don't feel comfortable in MBB, you could always move to OW or something equivalent. 

Best,

Cristian