Received an exit opportunity before MBB start date

exit MBB
New answer on Apr 04, 2021
9 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Apr 01, 2021

Hi everyone,

I was a summer intern at an MBB last year and received an offer to return, which I was thrilled about. A couple of weeks ago, I've recevied a wonderful exit opportunity at a tier-1 firm (that I'm personally really excited about) with a start date of Jan 2023. That's a year and a half after I join the MBB in June. Of course I know that I could wait for other opportunities, but this is the 'exit' that I've been waiting for.

Is it okay for me to sign the exit offer now? Will MBB's HR be unhappy about this?

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Florian
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replied on Apr 01, 2021
Highest-rated McKinsey coach (ratings, offers, sessions) | 500+ offers | Author of The 1% & Consulting Career Secrets

Hey there,

That is no problem.

  • First, you don't need to tell anyone now.
  • Second, MBB HR is well aware that people leave for other opportunities once they arise. This is the business model of MBB and good for the alumni network.

Win - Win --> Congrats

Cheers,

Florian

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Anonymous B replied on Apr 01, 2021

I don't see why not but not really sure I understand your circumstances. What is the difference between an MBB vs. Tier 1? It's quite surprisng that company is already looking to sign someone for 2023(!?)... could you not just join them directly if they are keen to have you join?

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Antonello
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replied on Apr 02, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, first of all, congrats on the offer. I would accept it without any problem, it is totally standard in the day-to-day situations

Best,
Antonello

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Franco
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replied on Apr 01, 2021
Ex BCG Principal | INSEAD | 10 yrs in consulting | Interviewed >200 Career Switchers, MBAs, Undergrads in Europe and USA

First of all congrats on both the MBB and the "dream company" offer! It's the first time I read of a person exiting consulting before even starting :-)

Anyway, if that exit opportunity is what you are really looking for, sign the contract with no hesitation!

No need to tell the consulting company about that at all and I actually wouldn't recommend you to do that for one single reason: 2023 is pretty far away, things can change (also if you have a signed contract in your hand) and the last thing you want is to blow the MBB career and at the same time see the other dream opportunities disappearing for whatever reason.

I wish you all the best with your dream job but until the start date comes close in time, I would approach the career in the MBB as your only focus. Worst come to worst you will have a steep 1 year and a half learning curve that will be beneficial also for your future dream job.

Hope it helps,

Franco

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Clara
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replied on Apr 04, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

A priori there is no problem at all and you don´t have to tell your MBB firm yet.

The only problem that I can foresee is in case you end up "loving" the MBB firm and then don´t want to leave, since you would have "given them your word already, 1.5 years before"

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Udayan
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replied on Apr 01, 2021
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

Yes absolutely okay - just inform HR few months before leaving

Congrats!

Udayan

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Ian
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replied on Apr 01, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

This seems perfect timing-wise! A few notes:

  1. Yes, sign the offer (If this is what you want)
  2. Tell no-one. Mention this to no-one at the firm until 1 month before you start with the other firm. Don't even tell colleagues. It will just change your entire experience
  3. Don't change your attitude. Make sure to approach this MBB role with the same intensity as if it were your permanent job. I do see a risk here that, when times get tough, you'll be tempted to just go "ah, well, I don't care anyway becuase I have this other job"
  4. Double-check your assumptions/desires. Why do you want this tier 1 firm over MBB? If you have reasons, awesome! Just double-check...

Well done and enjoy the roles :)

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Henning
Expert
replied on Apr 01, 2021
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

2023 is a bit of a stretch. If you're excited about joining them, go ahead and sign the offer. Just don't tell anyone else and stay in touch with that other firm. Sigining someone 2 years out is pretty uncommon (checking the date today) and you should ensure they don't forget about you and will be surprised when the time comes. You'd be surprised how many firms still manage such things in excel files that might get lost when a recruiter leaves the firm.

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Adi
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Content Creator
replied on Apr 01, 2021
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hey, I want to be a bit cautious for you...how come they have given you a start date in 2023? Have you properly qualified this?

If you are really keen on this opportunity then best thing will be to rejoin MBB, kick off your career (no need to tell them anything at this stage) and assess the situation closer to the 2023 start date for this new company. So much can change during this period and with COVID, we live in a very unpredictable world.

Long story short, dont mess up the opportunity you have NOW for a potential future event which could look very different.

All the best.

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Florian gave the best answer

Florian

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