Hi there,
There isn't a strict, hard-and-fast rule for this thing. It's highly dependent on office, time period (i.e. bad times or good times), etc. etc.
I do remember a partner promotion party where a few of us were talking. One of us turned and said "Do you think they made it because they're better, or survivors?" All of unanimously responded "survivors".
So, getting promoted at MBB is as much about persistence, hardwork, determination, and drive as anything. There's an implicit table-stakes assumption that you're doing your job, but you absolutely have to "outlast" the others.
=======================================================
Now, how do you do well in the role? I have a few tips:
First: Read the 25 tips in my consulting handbook here: https://www.spencertom.com/2018/01/14/consulting-survival-guide/
----------------------------------------------------------
Second: In terms of things you can learn/do to prepare beforehand:
1) Daily Reading
- The Economist, The Financial Times, BCG/Mskinsey Insights
2) Industry deep-dives
- Learn, in-depth, how the industries/companies your office advises, work. (PM me for an industry overview template)
3) Analytics tools
4) Excel
- Pivottables
- Working with data
- Key fuctions (vlookup, Index match, count and sum if/ifs, sumproduct, concat, etc.)
- Hotkeys (i.e. use keyboard more than your mouse)
- Financial modeling
5) Powerpoint
- Wireframing
- Lead-in titles
- Best practices/standards
- Different layouts
- Quickly editing/updating slides
- Thinking in PowerPoint
6) Presentation skills / sharp communication
- There are some online/virtual classes for this
----------------------------------------------------------
Third: In terms of doing well in your role when you're there:
1) Understand the context/prompt (what role are you in, what company, who's watching, etc.)
2) Understand the objective (what, specifically, is expected from you...both day to day, and in your overall career progression)
3) Quickly process information, and focus on what's important - Take a lot of information and the unknown, find the most logical path, and focus on that.
4) Be comfortable with the unknown, and learn to brainstorm - think/speak like an expert without being one
In summary, there will always be a flood of information, expectations, competition etc. and not enough time. Find out which ones matter when. (i.e. be visibile and focus efforts on the things that people care about)
Some Excellent Q&As
What to expect in the first 90 days (and how to thrive) - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/first-90-days-as-associate-business-analyst-consultant-7185
What to prepare/learn beforehand - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-best-preppare-for-a-consulting-position-if-you-have-a-couple-of-months-of-free-time-7164
How to improve your ability to remember details - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-improve-ability-to-remember-details-is-it-important-in-consulting-6998
How to be confident - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-build-up-confidence-and-look-smart-and-sharp-in-a-consultant-role-6955
Notetaking effectively - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/note-taking-7215