Military to MBB?
Anyone have any thoughts on the possibility of transitioning from the military to MBB or other strategic consulting outfits (with or without an MBA)? Based on anecdotal evidence and what reading I've done, it seems as though the skills developed through military leadership lend themselves better the work done by these firms than the more quantitative and transaction-oriented work in the career paths offered by BB's. Does this line of thinking make sense?
MBB still does some number crunching (but more on the intuitive, "discover the trends in the data" level), but a lot of the work involves working with organizations and managing the client team which is familiar territory for military guys. And they do love military guys. Although IBD also made a concerted effort to reach out to vets entering MBA the past few years, I feel like the love is cooling off this year - a lot of my vet friends who spent the summer in banking aren't going back or didn't get offers.
The flip side is that for MBB your experience will get you an interview, but it won't get you through the first round if your case skills aren't sharp, while if you schmooze really hard for banking, your network can get you the job at some firms before you even set foot in the interview room.
Send me a PM if you want to chat more.
I'm making the transition in about 10 months from the military and have looked at applying to MBB and strategic consulting outfits as well. I think I would do well in this area, but could you give list a few resources I can use to hone my case skills? I haven't done a case study since undergrad 5 years ago. Thanks.
I'm at an MBB firm. We do hire military veterans, but generally post-MBA. Guys like me who are former enlisted have all done something else in between leaving the military and coming to the firm.
If you were an officer and have a bachelor's degree, you certainly have a shot at an associate/business analyst level position, but the MBA route is far more typical.
EDITED TO ADD: Also, with recruiting timing, it would be hard to apply to MBB and time it to start immediately after your term of service ends without going to school first. MBB recruiting cycle has you interviewing ~1 year before you actually start.
I've talked to quite a few ex-military people who ended up in consulting. Most went to a MBA program first, but I did talk to one a few months back that came in directly as an analyst. He said he was working with their recruiting department to try to funnel more people in without going the MBA route. Long story short, it may be worthwhile to reach out and talk to some people who made this transition and see how they did it.
I am actually a former army officer who went the MBA route into an MBB firm. If you want to discuss this offline, feel free to send me a PM and I'll be happy to arrange a conversation.
The military -> MBA -> consulting route is the most typical for former military to get in. Not to say the direct route does not happen, it does. I recall going into my interviews last fall and meeting up with a USMA '08 engineering officer who was applying while still active. He mentioned that he had 3 telephone rounds and was on his 2nd in-person round with at least 1 more to go. Quite a bit of work! But then again, if you get through that, you save the expense of an MBA (both the actual cost and lost wages). However, I believe he was going to be in a lower level than post-MBAs would be. Plus the MBA experience is quite valuable if you are not 100% dead set on going consulting.
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