Second Tier over MBB

Long time reader. I was curious, would anyone on this forum choose a Second Tier firm (e.g., Monitor/LEK/Booz/Deloitte) over MBB?

The reason I ask is because I had a friend who interned at MBB and decided to work at a Second Tier firm because of the importance he placed on fit.

10 Comments
 

I will choose a 2nd tier company if I have an offer.

I'm finishing up my Ph.D.'s, no business background. My concern is will 2nd tier firms hire PhDs? From earlier posts it seems that they simply don't recruit PhDs at all, if any.

This is really discouraging since MBB are so hard to get in and 2nd tier wont recruit PhDs... Do I still have a chance getting into management consulting?

 

Second Tiers DO hire PhDs if that helps.

As for the initial question, I too know someone who did the samething. Had offers at MBB and yet went to a second tier. So it does happen. I would do it if I knew that I would fit better in a second tier. I don't think I could perform well knowing that I do not get along with the people around me.

 

Thanks dude. I'm new to this forum and a lot of past postings are really discouraging to me. I started late and I am not in a very strong position to compete, but I want give it a shot b4 my thirtieth arrives.

consultingwiz07Second Tiers DO hire PhDs if that helps.

As for the initial question, I too know someone who did the samething. Had offers at MBB and yet went to a second tier. So it does happen. I would do it if I knew that I would fit better in a second tier. I don't think I could perform well knowing that I do not get along with the people around me.

 
Best Response

From my experience, second tiers will only seek a PhD candidate if (a) the candidate has extensive business background and the company wouldn't have to train you, (b) the company actively recruits PhDs at a target school, or (c) if the candidate has a life science background and the company is looking to fill health care consulting (eg LEK's Life Science Specialist). Many places like Monitor, Booz, Deloitte, etc have listings on their websites that say they recruit PhDs, but in reality it seems that they don't quite know what to do with them.

I applied to several second tier firms and mostly got auto-rejections since I had no way of networking my way to an interview, despite what I think is an impressive background. I got offers from the botiques that recruited on my campus because they were actively hiring PhDs from all backgrounds. I did land a phone interview with a boutique health care firm in which I dominated the case, but the guy kept asking about my research and if it could relate to health care. When I said my research had only weak (at best) connections to health care, it was obvious that that was the deal-breaker for them.

 

yes people do it in my firm a girl turned down bcg in boston for my firm in chicago.

Also why is everyone constantly plugging OW FS, honestly I take MBB but there are other factors that matter

My firm also hires PHD, probably about ~15 or so a year

 
run4runyes people do it in my firm a girl turned down bcg in boston for my firm in chicago.

Also why is everyone constantly plugging OW FS, honestly I take MBB but there are other factors that matter

My firm also hires PHD, probably about ~15 or so a year

If one is interested in FS as a career -- either in consulting or industry -- it is a no-brainer to do OWFS over MBB.

If not, then you have look at all the factors. The OW name has only been used outside of FS for a few years.

 
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run4runyes people do it in my firm a girl turned down bcg in boston for my firm in chicago.

Also why is everyone constantly plugging OW FS, honestly I take MBB but there are other factors that matter

My firm also hires PHD, probably about ~15 or so a year

If one is interested in FS as a career -- either in consulting or industry -- it is a no-brainer to do OWFS over MBB.

If not, then you have look at all the factors. The OW name has only been used outside of FS for a few years.

That's a little bit strong. Some people might take OWFS over McKinsey, but it's hardly a no-brainer.

One of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.
 

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