I worked an MBB-level consulting firm and at a boutique. On balance, I was way happier at the boutique: the work was more interesting, the hours were better, and the culture more collegial / less toxic. The pay was a bit lower, but was still good, especially relative to the hours worked and the stress. More often than not, I was excited to come to work and work on a new project (the complete opposite of my experience at the MBB-level firm). The reasons I left the boutique were: 1) I wanted to leave consulting and figured I'd have better exit options coming from a more prestigious firm and 2) project volume was starting to slow (I spent too much time 'on the beach' between projects), which made me worried for my job security (as it turns out a bunch of people got laid off a few months after I left).
Hello, thanks for the insights. I would like to share my opinion on this. I have been working in science for 4 years and planning to apply for consulting firms in the next few weeks. I have done research and think that my top target would be MBB for the reasons you have said in the video. I have also seen negative comments about MBB and how the whole consulting industry is just a waste of society’s money and time. For me, I quite like travelling and want to experience different industries. This probably will last for a few years after I join consulting firm and find out what industries interest me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t know what I like. I actually have always had an idea about what i want to do. But i don’t know what i don’t know and consulting seems like a great place for me to explore different things. Also just a question, if MBB are so bad and lots of people hate them, how have they continued to survive for years, 100+ years for McKinsey for example? Maybe this is more of a personal preference where some people like the type of pressure and diversity of work that MBB offers?
Just to clarify, I’m not trying to protect MBB over boutique firms because I have heard people say thay same things you said about boutiques on the focus of work, interesting projects and nice people. But from the people I talked to in MBB, they mostly seem like nice people and are excited about the work they do
*Correction: I misspoke in the video, MBB firms have partners not shareholders. Thank you to @ster2600 for clarifying this
I worked an MBB-level consulting firm and at a boutique. On balance, I was way happier at the boutique: the work was more interesting, the hours were better, and the culture more collegial / less toxic. The pay was a bit lower, but was still good, especially relative to the hours worked and the stress. More often than not, I was excited to come to work and work on a new project (the complete opposite of my experience at the MBB-level firm). The reasons I left the boutique were: 1) I wanted to leave consulting and figured I'd have better exit options coming from a more prestigious firm and 2) project volume was starting to slow (I spent too much time 'on the beach' between projects), which made me worried for my job security (as it turns out a bunch of people got laid off a few months after I left).
Excellent insight, thanks for the comment!
Great video! Finally someone who take a critical approach to explain things and tell the story from both perspectives instead of being biased!
I really appreciate this comment! Thank you
Phenomenal video, you have quite the way with words!
Thats a lovely thing to say, thank you!
I'm not willing to sell my soul for a piece of paper. Big consulting firms are the quintessence of the worst things going on in society
You referenced 'Empire of Pain' - well, you should should also read 'When McKinsey comes to Town' - eye opening to say the absolute very least.
Thanks for the recommendation! Ill give it a read for sure
Love your videos !!! and quality is OMG
MBB firms' commitment to shareholders? McKinsey and Bain do not have shareholders; they are partnerships.
You are right, I misspoke, I am going to pin a correction to the the top of the comments. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!
Hello, thanks for the insights. I would like to share my opinion on this. I have been working in science for 4 years and planning to apply for consulting firms in the next few weeks.
I have done research and think that my top target would be MBB for the reasons you have said in the video. I have also seen negative comments about MBB and how the whole consulting industry is just a waste of society’s money and time.
For me, I quite like travelling and want to experience different industries. This probably will last for a few years after I join consulting firm and find out what industries interest me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t know what I like. I actually have always had an idea about what i want to do. But i don’t know what i don’t know and consulting seems like a great place for me to explore different things.
Also just a question, if MBB are so bad and lots of people hate them, how have they continued to survive for years, 100+ years for McKinsey for example? Maybe this is more of a personal preference where some people like the type of pressure and diversity of work that MBB offers?
Just to clarify, I’m not trying to protect MBB over boutique firms because I have heard people say thay same things you said about boutiques on the focus of work, interesting projects and nice people. But from the people I talked to in MBB, they mostly seem like nice people and are excited about the work they do
Boutique all the way baby!
Woop woop!
any example of boutique firms ?
still MBB for me 🙂
business ethics will not pay off your mortgage. thats all ill say
Tyler Perry McMaster Erin Mortenson 😂