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What is the carreer path in the different MBBs?

career path
New answer on Mar 26, 2020
6 Answers
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Milagros asked on Mar 25, 2020

Hello!

What is the career in all 3 MBBs? Only the partner word is comparable in all 3 of them!

Thanks

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Daniel
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Content Creator
replied on Mar 25, 2020
McKinsey / ex-Interviewer at McKinsey / I will coach you to rock those interviews

Hi! it's very similar across:

You have an analyst (BA, Fellow) –> associate or consultant –> project leader (engagenment manager) –> junior partner (associate partner) –> partner

Best,
Daniel

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Francesco
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replied on Mar 26, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Milagros,

here they are:

McKinsey

  • Analyst
  • Associate
  • Engagement Manager
  • Associate Partner
  • Partner

BCG

  • Associate
  • Consultant
  • Project Leader
  • Principal
  • Partner

Bain

  • Associate Consultant
  • Consultant
  • Case Team Leader/Manager
  • Principal
  • Partner

In some countries there are also some intermediary roles as well.

Best,

Francesco

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Anonymous replied on Mar 26, 2020

Hi there,

BCG has actually recently changed the title a bit at the senior level. So here is how it works now, with the average duration of the role.

BCG:

  • Business Analyst (This is only in certain developing countries, e.g. Indonesia. Not existent in developed countries)
  • Associate (2Y)
  • Senior Associate (1Y for SEA; some developed countries might not have this role)
  • Consultant (2Y)
  • Project Leader (2Y)
  • Principal (2Y, used to be 4Y in the past)
  • Partner (2Y, used to be 3rd year and 4th year of Principal)
  • Managing Director and Partner (MDP; this is the real partner level with equity)

For Bain, as far as I know (at least in SEA)

  • Associate
  • Consultant (2Y)
  • Case Team Leader (1Y, note that this is not a promotion, but a tenure extension from Consultant)
  • Manager (2.5Y)
  • Principal (2.5Y)
  • Partner (This the real partner equal to MDP in BCG)

Best,

Emily

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Mar 25, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Mckinsey, for the general path, is as follows:

Business Analyst > Associate > Engagement Manager > Junior Partner > Partner > Senior Partner

From BA to associate is when you do the MBA

You also have "intermediate figures" such as JEM -Junior Engagement Manager-, etc.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Antonello
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replied on Mar 25, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, the 3 paths are comparable, both in terms of tasks and duration, even if the role naming differs a bit (e.g. in BCG you will find associate consultant, consultant, project leader, principal, partner).

Best,
Antonello

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Luca
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Content Creator
replied on Mar 26, 2020
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

Even if they use a lot of different labels the path is really similar:

  • Business analyst: 3 years It's called Associate in Bain and BCG, Business Analyst in Mckinsey. Bain and BCG have some special program for top performer that can reduce of 6 months this period
  • Consultant: 2 years It's called Consultant in Bain and BCG, Associate in Mckinsey
  • Project leader: 2 years It's called Project leader in BCG, Case leader in Bain and Engagement manager in Mckinsey
  • Principal: 2 years It's called principal in BCG and Bain, Associate Principal in Mckinsey

Here you can find a summary of the different career path, even if it's a bit outdated: https://mconsultingprep.com/career-path-in-management-consulting-firms/

Hope it helps,
Luca

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Francesco gave the best answer

Francesco

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