Value of 6-month MBB stint?

Hi there,

1) Is there any value to this stint, in terms of Value on CV or Ease of rerecruiting at another MBB?

If the question is whether to keep it on your CV, in your case I would do so. They should see from the CV that you left for the top MBA right after the MBB period.

However, given it seems you are still interested in consulting, I would rather recommend the following:

1. Postpone the starting date of the MBA 1 or 1.5 years and ask the MBB if they could let you move to the MBA after that period and then come back, or
2. Ask the MBB if they would allow you to come back after the MBA if you leave after the 6 months, possibly completing the tenure needed for the next level after it

In this way you could have:

1. Longer track record with the same MBB, which will make the experience more valuable on your CV and avoid the risk of red flags
2. Already an MBB offer after the MBA

2) Additionally, by leaving this early would I necessarily be burning bridges with them, or would there be potential to return at a later point?

Following the above, I would definitely recommend to check with your current MBB if it is possible to organize a win-win situation where you come back there after the MBA.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hello A,

Congratulations on receiving an offer from MBB! 

In terms of your question, even a six-month stint at an MBB firm can be valuable for your CV as it demonstrates that you were able to secure a position with a highly regarded employer and that you have the skills and competencies necessary to work at this level. However, leaving after only six months may raise some questions in the minds of future employers, and it will be important for you to be able to explain your decision in a clear and convincing way.

Regarding your second question, if you leave after six months but have performed well during your time there, it is possible that another MBB firm may be willing to consider you in the future. However, it is important to keep in mind that each firm has its own hiring criteria and processes, and it is not guaranteed that you will be able to secure a position at another MBB firm.

As for burning bridges, leaving any job before a year is considered a relatively short tenure, and if you leave on good terms and provide a clear and well-reasoned explanation for your decision, it is possible to leave the door open for a potential return to the firm in the future. However, this will depend on the circumstances of your departure.

Best of luck with everything!

Hi there, 

Complex situation. 

Have you discussed with the MBB that you work for whether you could take an education leave? Why would just drop out of the firm? Usually, they are super understanding when people want to pursue additional education, especially when it's something like an MBA that helps improve the value proposition of their consultants. 

Referring directly to your question - no, it's not a problem that you left after 6 months as long as you have a good story for it. And this story should come across in your CV and cover letter. If you manage to clearly convey the idea that you left to pursue higher education, that makes sense, you will then only need to answer the question of why you are not returning to the same firm. Make sure that you have good answers to these questions and you should be in a good spot. 

Best,
Cristian

You should discuss this with them (first the MBB, then the MBA program). MBB may be fine and willing to take you back after the MBA. Or they may rather want you to stay for another year (and in that case, check with the MBA if they can defer your acceptance by one year).

You have to talk to them.

Regarding your question: while leaving after 6 months would in normal circumstances raise a red flag, the truth is that you are leaving to join an MBA program, and that is obvious from your resume (and you are accepted months in advance…). So as long as it is a top MBA program, there's no red flag here. 

Hi there,

Please make sure to have open and honest conversations with your current MBB!

In many instances they would allow you to return after your MBA (assuming you have performed well in the past 6 months).

IF you talk to them before leaving and get things organized, there should not be burnt bridges. If you do it wrong, well, there will be.

In terms of recruiting with other firms, this “should” be ok. In terms of MBB, it's hard to say. With networking, you could explain yourself (i.e. “I got into an MBA, and with the downturn in the market I figured it was the best time to go”), but will cold/regular applications it may be tough.

Ultimately, your best bet is getting your current MBB to agree to bring you back before you go ahead and quit.

***EDIT: based on Victoria's thoughtful response below***

I actually read your question as you have already completed your 6-month stint and are now moving on. If that is the case, then the original comment stands.

However, if the situation is as Victoria describes in her response, I would agree with what she has said with a personal caveat on recruiting with other MBBs: while your original MBB will have the details and more understanding should you wish to return, I can't see other firms being sympathetic…no matter what your original reasons were as they must consider that you could very well do the same with them.

 

***ORIGINAL COMMENT***

Dear Anonymous A.,

This is a tricky one and I fear you will mislike my responses. Assuming these personal circumstances were within your control, it would have been ideal to receive counsel on this question before making the dramatic move of an exit so soon. That said, the cow's been milked and there's no getting it back in the udder now.

I believe the majority of any ‘value’ this stint would lend for future opportunities would be negative:

1) Value on CV
I imagine this would raise far more questions than any advantage it might provide.

While MBB, and top-tier Consulting in general, are known for high attrition rates, it is not at all common for a new-joiner to leave after only 6 months.
In all my time in Consulting, I am yet to personally know of anyone to make such a move.

I recall a question asked in a townhall last year: the answer involved attrition rates and the respondent, a senior colleague, commented that the number of those who only stay to the 6-month mark is very rare. I wish I recalled his comparison, but it sounded like it was only 1 joiner in last 2 years which is definitely less than 5% for that regional cluster.

Such a short MBB stint is a red flag because it means either:
a) you entered into a massive commitment without considering the implications (bad), or 
b) you were required to leave due either to a great malfeasance (bad) or inadequate performance (also bad).

The last one in particular is quite bad because it would have required you to start setting things on fire and causing major disruptions almost from Day 1 to end up being ousted in 6 months.

2) Recruiting at other MBBs
More negative than 1).
This is because while most non-Consulting entities with whom you might later recruit could be less aware of what such a short stint likely implies, I can't see other MBBs being as flexible.

Lateral MBB → MBB moves are tough at the best of times, but your circumstances make things even more complicated.

3) Burnt Bridges?
It depends. But likely...yes.
You are in the best situation to answer this, though.
The manner of your exit can't have left your firm feeling good unless there were truly exceptional personal challenges.
The best case scenario for saving bridges is if you had been a superstar performer during your brief tenure but encountered a personal disaster of such carastrophic proportions that it made it impossible to continue in the role at the time.
Absent this, well...

It would be best to discuss this with the firm you signed with. You might be able to find an arrangement that suits both sides.

Hello,

Congratulations on your offers! You've gotten some great advice here on the thread, so I'll just give my additional two cents without repeating what everyone else have said - I recommend having a conversation with HR at your MBB firm about potentially deferring your offer post-completion of your MBA, or at least reaching out to them to discuss your situation and see whether they have any recommendations. They might be more forthcoming than you think.