I think I would like to pursue a role in management consulting following undergrad for a number of reasons. I would eventually, however, probably want to move over to buyside finance. With that being said, are consultants at a disadvantage when applying to buyside firms? You tend to hear about there being less ex-consultants in PE than former bankers, but I'm wondering.. is this just because more ex-consultants are interested in startups and corporate roles rather than finance... Or is it because consultants are seriously disadvantaged (maybe due to a lack of excel and financial modeling experience)?
Jan 20, 2018
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Banking > all for PE and hedge fund exits. That said, MBB and commercial due diligence shops (EY-Parthenon, LEK, Strategy& Deals) can get your foot in the door. It is the lack of financial modeling and deal experience that causes PE funds to prefer bankers.
Also, the wording you use calling consultants “disadvantaged” implies that many consultants shoot for buyside roles and get shot down. That’s just not the case. Pretty much everyone I know who wants to be on the buyside in finance actually starts in finance. Consulting is a bit of a roundabout way to get there if your goal is to optimize buyside exits.
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