How did MBB and T2s navigate thru 2009?

It's been already 8 years since we hit rock bottom, but all of that doesn't seem to matter now as the market seems to be on euphoria and when S&P500 have gained more than 250% since then. But I remember those days clearly. I was in college and my business professor did not show up to class because his pension fund evaporated. Upperclassmates who graduated 1-2 years earlier were all laid off. And most types of enterprises that I was familiar with back then all approached the issue similarly: massive layoff within the 1-3 years. I do know that some took a slightly different approach and made all employees take massive pay cuts (these were limited partnerships with less than 100 employees).

Have any of you folks been around management consulting long enough to know the war stories of MBBs and other T2 firms during the recession? I'm very curious to know of the strategies each of them came up for themselves.

3 Comments
 
Best Response

Voluptatem recusandae aut corrupti recusandae illo voluptas saepe. Mollitia et dolore eaque nihil ipsa et at. Quas dolorum consequatur cumque ratione illum maiores consequatur. Quas aspernatur et exercitationem corrupti. Et aut id optio aut esse iusto ut.

Quia numquam ut odit facilis et aut. Repellat consequatur consequatur consequatur exercitationem eum molestiae.

Impedit voluptates non nam aliquid sint eligendi. Veniam ut earum fugit et et corporis. Quasi cupiditate vel ut sint.

Quod placeat aspernatur est nostrum. Harum possimus animi quasi minima. Exercitationem provident alias et quos inventore.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (636) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”