MBB or Product Management at FAANG?
Hey! Didn't think I would ever have this issue considering I didn't think I would get into either initially. Have struggled to get anything I wanted throughout university (rejections non stop) and it all just sprung up on me at the end of it - not complaining but it is weird how much harder it has made this decision.
Received offers from both MBB and Google product management.
I now have no idea what or where I want to go. I kind of wanted the offers to decide my fate really and never thought I would get into either anyway (I guess my username also suggests that I was looking into IB too but that's something I'm not really looking at as much).
I initially wanted MBB/consulting in general throughout university. I have always wanted an MBA from an elite US university and also work in the US. My plan if all went well would have been consulting, MBA, and transfer to a US branch (either before or after the MBA. If after the MBA then stay for 2-3 years in a US branch). I was then thinking about Product Management after an MBA and ultimately would love to have my own startup (tech based and not tech based). I hear no one going from Product Management to Consulting but many people the other way round. But also if I am currently thinking about PM, surely it's better to go straight into it out of uni rather than waiting 6-8 years?
Also as someone who grew up low-income, I would love to earn the most amount of money (although UK pay is terribly sh*t compared to other places).
I am not worried about travel, etc. Not sure why I want an MBA so bad haha but other than the work, I guess it's the connections and everything else that comes with it. Seems like so much fun and getting into a top US program both for undergrad and postgrad has always been a dream.
If your goal is tech PM/startup and you have a PM offer then take it! Consulting will always be there, especially if you do decide to go back and get an MBA. There are plenty of consultants trying to get into PM right now and it's not an easy transition.
I heard it is easier to transition from consulting to PM compared to PM to consulting? I also heard it's a little frowned upon to leave PM for an MBA when you don't need it? Plus the FAANG companies don't really pay for MBAs whereas MBB does.
Do some soul-searching bro, if your long-term goal was FAANG product management then idk why you'd turn that down now to do 7 years of consulting + an MBA in hopes of landing the role you have an offer for now
Disregarding my title - I am currently at an MBB.
Take the Google PM role - it is substantially more difficult to get a product role post MBB now days (near impossible). Additionally, you can always recruit for MBB with a referal post a PM role at Google but very high chance you won't get a PM interview at Google post MBB without product experience.
MBA imo is over rated and truthfully even post MBA PM roles are very difficult to get
Thank you!
I am worried that it would block me off and make me specialised in one area only early on. I don't hear anyone going from product to MBB (could be for many reasons but I heard it is quite hard) whereas lots of people go from MBB to PM.
Tbh the MBA is more just was a goal/dream of mine to go to a top US MBA program. Always wanted to study in the US and the connections at the top programs are second to none. It's not the actual MBA hahaha although the study does seem interesting.
The reason nobody goes from FAANG PM to MBB is because most FAANG PMs I know would never want to do consulting.
I’m in a similar position, albeit a year beneath with top IB instead of MBB.
i think it really depends on what you are more interested in doing, and potential follow on careers. For me, being a PM is better than going to MBB/IB for anything startup related (including VC) but considerably worse for other areas of finance. MBB will be better for corporate roles (which doesn’t seem to sound too appealing from your pov) and better for later stage investing, whilst still being pretty good for anything startup related.
Honestly if you think you want to do an MBA, do MBB. But be sure you want to do one. Also if you don’t move, MBB will clear PM comp (especially in our home of London).
I am going to go the PM route (not at Google, congrats) as I just can’t see myself working in finance long term outside of perhaps VC - don’t care for exit opps to PE, HF etc, but could see myself working at or founding something.
Note: Imo PM is better than MBB for founding something, particularly with how easy it is to build a prototype these days
Wondering how you prepped for both? Thx
Congrats on the double offer!
I agree with everyone here. I think you're answering your own question in your post too. It seems like MBB (and even the MBA) is just a way for you to get to PM eventually and end up building something.
I think the strategy experience from MBB is invaluable, but being exposed to great technical people early on at Google is going to give you a massive leg up if you eventually choose to start something. Besides, if you want to do Tech long term, better start now, see and understand the market place better from within one of its behemoths, and pick up the skills you'll need for running teams and building products people want
Best of luck!
I disagree with the other posters
id take MBB
what you have to understand is MBB sets you up for life. It’s a brand you can take with you to every single interview for the next 30 years
it also teaches you slide building and exec presence
finally it has a structured promotion schedule which is quite fast these days. You could make AP within like 6 years
the thing with Google is it’s in decline and they only offer promotions once ever 3 years. What if you go and don’t get promoted? At 180k employees, no one is impressed that you work at Google . Where will you go next? Another entry level pm role?
Also your interests might change over time
and finally - it should be super easy to get PM after McKinsey. The only reason kids don’t is that they don’t know what they’re talking about. Most non engineer mck folks should be looking for PMM or strategic marketing (cohort analysis, customer insights, etc)
product is much more about product design. It is not a generalist role. You need to have a deep passion and background for a specific area
If you go to Google they might assign you an area you don’t even like
start with McKinsey and you can interview for products you do want in a targeted search
This is true. The MBB brand is very strong and the network is there for you even after you leave the firm.
This is not true. Hence why most ex-MBB that goes into big tech ends up in bizops/S&O or product marketing. A PM role is a very difficult exit to secure.
At the same boat, you might join McKinsey and get staffed on bad engagements in industries you don't even like, then sit on the bench for 2 months...
In this market, most MBB consultants would be lucky to get interviews for ANY product, let alone products they want. While the MBB brand is very very powerful in corporate world, the farther you go from spreadsheets and slides, the less useful the brand becomes.
Take the google offer, dear god
The reason people go MBB > tech but not in the other direction is because everyone knows being a PM in tech is a better job than working at MBB
Sure, many people work at google, but VERY few are PMs there straight out of undergrad - this will absolutely gold plate your resume in tech FAR better than MBB
The only rationale to do MBB instead would be if you hate software development and really want to get into PE - then the MBB would be closer to the goal
I just accepted a role at McKinsey coming from a senior pm role at Amazon. My reason for leaving was because I am not sure I even like product management. I transitioned to PM because I wanted to make more money, but working as a PM, especially at Amazon, has made me depressed the last year or so. Maybe it’s just my org or my dislike for PM.
Either way, my main reasons for taking MBB was because it’s a new learning opportunity, good network, good path to leadership roles (both in consulting or industry), and the work seems more interesting to me. I actually sort of enjoyed all of my case interviews and am excited to work in excel again and not write docs all day like I did at Amazon.
MBB is good cause predictable career progression and building exec skills which I can take with me back to industry leadership roles if I want. If you like tech and PM work, Google may be the move. It can better set you up for doing a startup. I heard it’s hard to get promoted at Google these days though. Amazon also made it harder to get L7 and above promotions.
What level will you join McKinsey at? And did you exit Amazon as an L5?
Joining as associate. I am a recent L6 promo at Amazon
My 2p:
If you want to do an MBA, MBB is the way to go - they will sponsor you and you’ll save a few hundred Ks
If you want to move to the US, MBB is the way to go - relatively easy to move to whichever country you want
If you want to build wealth through a startup - PM is probably better for tech startups, although MBB doesn’t close any doors (and plenty of BAs leave to set up a startup)
If you want good wlb - definitely PM no question
If you want good money, minimal risk (200-800K peak earnings) - PM is probably the way to go
If you want a shot at high earnings, minimal risk - MBB will take you to 7 or 8 figure salaries, but lifetime earnings are heavily backweighted
I think it comes down to a) how much you value having good lifestyle in your 20s, b) what you see as ‘making good money’ and over what time horizon and c) whether you are set on tech, or not.
What do you mean by minimal risk in the context you provided?
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
I meant by climbing the corporate ladder, as opposed to taking on career risk by setting up a startup/ raising capital for a fund etc.
Consulting requires some risk (e.g. is X client going to be stable enough to be part of my platform?) but in a lot of ways it is very low risk for SPs/ Ps. If a recommendation goes wrong, this rarely costs you your job. The equivalent role in senior management at a corporate would absolutely cost you your job - I assume this is true for senior PMs too.
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