Management Consulting or Finance. Apply now or get an MBA first?
Hey everyone, I recently sold my tech startup and have decided to pursue a corporate career. Management Consulting/Strategy and Finance seem like amazing career paths, but I know how traditional their recruiting process can be. Do you think I still have a shot at an associate level position at a consulting firm (ex: Deloitte) or a Goldman/JP Morgan? Or should I hold off on applying and focus on going to business school instead? Btw: I graduated from a top undergrad business school w/honors and have 5 years work experience. I appreciate all advice! Thanks
You absolutely can apply to the big four management consulting firms without an MBA, but they're going to look at your yoe and area of skill/expertise to see how billable you are to clients. Be able to articulate where your expertise lies. Also, network and try to find someone to refer you internally
Great advice. Thanks!
Management consulting also isn't the only way to go corporate. Consultants travel and travel a lot. Most common model is fly to client site Mon, fly home Thurs night, Fri/Sat/Sun at home, fly out again Mon morning and repeat. If that's not exciting to you, might want to consider a more traditional internal corporate job at a large company.
Associate consulting gigs are given out like candy. Services/consulting at the big four is a pig farm. Be ready to figure out how to move up as quickly as you can. It's a balance of burnout vs moving up. They don't care that you can do the job as much as that you can be a body to bill hours for their bottom line. After that it's sink or swim. If you are competitive and/or into sports/gaming you can do well because it's more about endurance than raw skill.
So I can apply without an MBA?
Not sure, I wasnt in that specific industry.