A popular question we get is something like the following:
I’ve been working full-time for last 10 years at Big Company doing Big Company Function. I recently enrolled in a local part-time MBA program. How do I take advantage of this opportunity to break into a good consulting firm?
Before we start, let me put a big disclaimer here.
Big disclaimer: it is almost impossible to get into an MBB-caliber firm from a part-time MBA program. However, it is definitely possible to get into a respected boutique consulting firm or even a Big 4 (eg, Accenture, Deloitte) depending on your work experience and skillset
Below, I lay out the 6 steps you need to take to maximize your chances.
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1. Part-time MBA programs are not all created the same
A part-time MBA from UCLA is better than a part-time MBA from University of Texas-El Paso. In fact, one guy even got into Bain this way!
Brand equity matters as much here as it did for undergraduate and graduate programs. Go to the best school that you can.
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This is part 2 of my 2 article series on why I left McKinsey.
In article #1, I explained why I left and dove into what I perceived to be McKinsey and the consulting industry’s shortcomings.
Below, I’ll dig into why I loved working there and the general benefits of a management consulting background.
As I said before, I wouldn’t trade my McKinsey years for anything. Many fortunate people face the choice between an MBB (see consulting lingo if you’re like “huh?”) and prestigious companies in the financial services industry (from Goldman Sachs to mid-market private equity, from well-known venture capital firms to prestigious corporate management programs).
9 times out of 10, I recommend MBB.
The reasons below explain why.
1. Benchmark for what it takes to be a great business leader
This was probably my biggest learning from McKinsey.
I came into the company pretty confident in my abilities, and frankly, was used to putting in 80% effort and still doing well at most things.
I was quickly disabused of that notion at McKinsey – not only were the people very smart, but also hard-working and socially savvy.
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This is my 2 article series on why I left McKinsey.
One of the most frequent questions that I get is why I left McKinsey. Until now, I’ve been hesitant to address this in-depth – mostly because I didn’t feel it was relevant for what I was doing with Management Consulted, but also because I didn’t want to be perceived as a naysayer.
However, I think my story has valuable lessons for people entering the field, and for those that are currently working at a top firm.
In article #1, I’ll explain why I left and dive into what I perceive to be McKinsey (and generally speaking, the consulting industry’s) shortcomings for me personally. That’s important to keep in mind.
In article #2, I’ll dig into why I loved working there and the general benefits of a management consulting background.
I enjoyed my time at McKinsey, and wouldn’t have done it any differently. I actually tried leaving the company earlier than I did, but am glad in hindsight that I was persuaded against it.
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