Thanks for taking the time.
- UK based, 25, BSc Comp Sci, 3 years at a BB bank as a software dev in a Sales and Trading team.
- I wish to change from coding and I feel like Strategy Consulting is something I would really like. Concurrently, I am recruiting and have an offer for a tech Product Manager role in a top 3 US BB bank. Reason for this is so I can get more commercial exposure as a PM rather than a pure software dev. I don't otherwise know how in a corporate role I can move away from coding apart from PM or tech sales.
- I have trouble with two things - > 1. Figuring out what is the right job for me; 2. Structuring (pun intended) on where exactly to join.
My issue is I want strategy consulting but not sure which companies are real strategy consulting companies(beyond MBB) - I just do not want to get stuck into an Accenture type of tech implementation role.
Moreover, I want to see what entry points I can use to enter - undergrad/bachelor graduate schemes are closed off due to me being a bit late from graduation. Then, more experienced (Associate etc) require some sort of commercial/strategy type of experience. So it is a bit of a locked cycle.
There is MBB Digital (Strategy extension) Junior Associate and I got a first case there but it as it was my first case I blew it. I can reapply of course and then after 2 years more of experience I will even qualify theoretically for Associate and I can recruit for there with or without MBA.
I can also try BGC Platinion or GAMMA, which would allow me to be a some sort of consultant in BCG and then try to network into Strategy/Digital Strategy? Or an internal tech role there like PM? Tier 2 like OW, LEK, KEARNEY, Ronald Berger etc. I do not see where I can plug myself in as they are smaller with no digital capabilities.
Then there is Big 4. Definitely worth going into their Strategy Houses. Again, here in the experienced I do not see how I can break in into non-entry level roles. Or I can do something similar as MBB above -> go into their Tech Consulting and then move into Strategy. What worries me here if there is a Chinese wall between them as they are quite detached and not sure if Big 4 tech consulting to MBB Strategy is possible (compared to just sticking to industry).
- Then there is the question of whether I should save up from my new job and consider an MBA to maximise chances for Associate MBB, Big 4 Strategy and Tier
or
Put my current irrelevant experience to the side with a Masters in Finance or something to branch out and reset myself to a graduate level where I guess it is easiest to earn offers as an analyst.
Thanks!
Company case by
Many thanks for your response. A couple of clarifications if possible as I still have difficulty figuring out which paths to target.
"The definition is fluid and region-dependent" Agree, but there must be some way to have a list because I can fit into tech consulting specific firms quite well with my background but I do not want to get stuck into false-advertised "strategy roles".
"This is quite different from generalist strategy (both in terms of job and interview process)." I understand that GAMMA and Platinion are quite different than BCG Strategy/Digital Strategy. But the idea is GAMMA and Platinion are more suited towards my background (to get that interview) and since MBB are classic strategy houses maybe it can be easier to transfer to the Strategy pipeline later. That is because I guess everything in MBB is built on top of their strategy houses (compared to Big 4). That is why for example McKinsey Digital and BCG Digital are on the Strategy pipeline and not separate (interviewing and work). Feel free to correct.
Obviously, a Strategy house role or Transactional services in Big 4 might better if end goal is MBB Strategy. But both Strategy and Transactional Services in Big 4 recruit like this:
- Graduate scheme -> I am too much time out of bachelors for this
- Free-floating Analyst roles -> Haven't seen much of these but they would want something like the below.
- Associate -> They want strategy/growth experience for Strategy houses or financial modeling / finance experience for Transactional Services.
Big 4 Technology consulting is still an option but even in a brand like Big 4 not sure how I can make the case to jump from their tech consulting houses to their strategy houses or MBB Strategy.
"Can’t see why you should reposition yourself as a new grad" Because if I do a MiM or MiF I will make myself qualify for graduate schemes that I have missed years ago (MBB, Big 4 Strategy houses, OW etc) where I supposed the applicant to places ratio is the best chances. Might be stupid however and better to stick to saving up more money and go to an MBA (which I guess would be a more natural timeline as it is for people with experience).
And just something still relevant - do you think my jump to tech product management from software dev is a better move given my goals?
Thank you very much.