Please help: Got an MBB offer but worried I'm not qualified
Hi all,
I'm an undergrad senior. I got an offer from one of the MBBs, but I don't know if I should take it as I'm worried that I'm actually not qualified and I'll be counseled out in the up-or-out system. The company that extended the offer is definitely by far my dream company, not just due to prestige but also because they're very strong in the specific industry/capability I'm interested in. However, I'm also a pretty introverted/academic person and I found the networking and recruitment process very exhausting. I interned at a tier 2 strategy consulting firm this summer and received very poor reviews, not for quality of deliverables, but for poor communication with my manager. I suppose that part of the reason was also that I was very focused on recruitment preparation and wasn't giving my 100%.
In short, I received my dream offer but I have this fear that I'll become a hiring mistake, and I don't know if I should consider taking an offer with a tier 2 firm or an economic consulting firm where I feel more confident I'll be able to succeed. I know this is a strange situation but I'm completely serious about my concerns as there are so many extremely smart and hardworking people in MBB.
Don't let self-doubt play you. Get out of your own way and accept the offer. Clearly they thought you were good enough to be one of them and are willing to take a shot on you - embrace it! Congratulate yourself! You can use some of that insecurity to fuel you towards becoming a top performer. Use your self-awareness to help you identify areas in which you are (actually) deficient and pummel it into the ground.
I felt like you did as I came from a non-technical background into IB. I was constantly worried about being "found out" and labeled as technically inept. I used this to become a student of my job and eventually rose to be one of the strongest at my firm. And you know what, even if you truly find it's not for you and end up not liking the job, you can always move on - and it'll be easier with that big first step on your resume.
YOU CAN DO THIS!
First of Congrats man, you've made it. Secondly you got the offer which means they either believe you're qualified or see potential in you vs everyone else who applied who didn't get in. If this is your dream job like you said, you should take it, embrace being uncomfortable while learning and grow. Never settle for comfort, my .2.
Congrats! Piling on to what others have said:
What you are experiencing is called "Imposter Syndrome". You think everyone else belongs, but you do not, you are the mistake. This happens to a lot of people in consulting and banking as you are surrounded by over-achievers and it lookslike they are crushing it. Most feel that same way you do. This happens first semester in b-school - everyone thinks they are the admissions mistake.
Consulting firms know what they are doing when it comes to recruiting. I know because I participated in recruiting each year, They make only a few hiring mistakes a year, and I doubt you are one of them. A hiring mistake is someone who is a complete disaster from day 1 - can't make basic slides, can't conduct web research and get answers for the team leader, is late to meetings, is unprepared, etc. You will be fine with all of that.
The reality is that consulting is a temporary stop on almost eveyone's career journey that enters the line of work. It is not designed to be permanent. Make the most of your time there.
So, take the job. Work hard, do your best to learn and evolve with the experience and take feedback to improve. Then, go do something else amazing.
Honestly no one knows how to do their job at first. Most people barely understand what they're currently doing and still end up getting great reviews. Just fake it and work your tail off
If your biggest negative criticism was poor communication with your manager, then you're in pretty good shape because that's very fixable. Would recommend immersing yourself in team projects or extracurriculars--where you're the lead--that require a high degree of communication as practice while you still have the chance in school. It's a skill that can be learned and most of the time that's how the most effective communicators (L)earned it.
If you're going to renege from your dream job b/c you think it's above you then you should just bag consulting all-together. You should be glad you got a shtty review and a reality check--not everyone gets that luxury so early on in their career--and it's going to serve you well in the long run.
When you are at MBB you are never qualified for your current role. You will always be given more responsibility and you will always be playing the above role on the food chain. It's part of the job. Learn to embrace it. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Thank you all so much for the advice and the encouragement! I agree that consulting is an industry where I'll be continually pushed, and there will always be more responsibilities and challenges. I think I will treat my internship as a lesson learned and take the offer. I'll be giving my best work for sure!
Woooo! Go get it!!
I'll reiterate what many already said - the poor review is a great opportunity to improve. Try to work on it already and to get constructive feedback from people you interact with.
Once you start, mention to your superior that this is something that you want to work on and they will most likely help you grow (e.g. by focusing some of their feedback on this or by assigning you tasks that allow to use and hone this skill).
You are worth it, if you got the offer, you were specifically chosen because you impressed the interviewers and they considered you fit and qualified for the position. Imposter syndrome exists everywhere especially in the most elite spaces, so you are not alone. There are people who still feel they are not good enough even at the highest positions, but they deal with that by working harder, learning, and making sure doubt doesn't plague their mind. So right now, congratulations! Celebrate and then work on yourself to gain confidence if that's the problem, or prepare for the job on your own time. Don't let self-doubt hurt you, but let it motivate you to be the best version of yourself.
I was about to say take the MBB offer but the ending part makes me pause a sec. Econ consulting is way different than management consulting - and yes you can be a star with your academic/introverted personality. To make the final decision, I think you should look at the opportunity cost of each option (what if you take this and abandon others - and what are the exit options if any - would you regret anything?) At the end of the day, it's up to you. I understand that while getting out of the comfort zone is important, staying true to yourself is way more important to your future success.
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