Exit opportunities at Booz compared to MBB
(Monkey, 41
Points)
on 4/25/12 at 12:43pm
Post graduation from Chicago Booth, I've decided to accept an Associate role with Booz & Company. I have 7+ years in healthcare and decided to go with Booz since they have a specialist model compared to the generalist model at MBB.
I don't see myself pursuing a partner-track in consulting. In 3-4 years, I'd like to transition to PE in an operating role working with portfolio companies for a fund that focuses in healthcare.
Should I continue to work at Booz or try and transition to MBB as they might have better exit opportunities?





Take my opinion with a grain
Take my opinion with a grain fo salt, because I am pre-MBA (at an MBB), but logic dictates that you already have relevant healthcare experience and therefore Booz has no advantage on MBB - whilst suffering lower brand recognition and alumni network.
So, I would defintely keep my eyes open.
Besides, with your background
Besides, with your background at MBB (at least mine - especially if you are going to a MW office), you'll get all of the healthcare work you want. They might push you to do a study or two in a different industry, but you could also work with different types of clients (payor / provider / devices / pharma) and in different functions (strategy / operations / marketing) within healthcare.
So did you have an offer at MBB that you turned down for Booz? Is it too late to rethink your decision?
I really can't see a firm,
I really can't see a firm, even MBB, pushing someone with specialist experience into a generalist role. Providing a specialist is easy money for consulting firms because the chance of providing actual results is a lot higher (as opposed to the norm, "results"). Did someone at MBB tell you that you couldn't specialize? and was this an informal or formal rule?
See my other WSO blog posts
McKinsey doesn't have a
McKinsey doesn't have a generalist model past the entry level. Even at Bain you have to specialize once you get to the Manager level. Honestly you could make it work with Booz, but your reasoning might not necessarily justify your choice.
There are many variables. One is the amount of healthcare work that the MBB you mention has. Some offices might have plenty of healthcare projects and I don't think that the staffing officer will fail to notice your expertise. Also, consulting gives you a certain type of skill set and it would not necessarily hurt you to acquire it working on cases related to other industries. Still, if all you want is healthcare day in and day out then your choice was probably the right one.