Last year, I did a successful internship at a top 2nd tier strategy consulting firm (think OW / Booz). Next year I'll be running for FT offers at MBB. However to prepare, I'm going to interview at 3rd and 2nd tier companies beforehand.
How would you guys argue for the "level down" in the interviews? Why should someone with a successful internship at a top 2nd tier company apply for ft position at a 3rd or different 2nd tier place?
One possible reason that came to my mind is "I think your culture will suit me better", but that's hard to say if you haven't done an internship at the place. Plus, it adds negativity about past employer which should be avoided in interviews.
So how would you deal with this?
Assessment center are not only for the company to get to know you, but also the other way around. Tell them you heard good things about them and you wanted to find out yourself
You want to use the 3rd tier interviews as practice for the MBB interviews? Wouldn't it be better just to do an extra mock or two with an MBB interview buddy? Doing an actual interview and having to lie through it would seem like a taxing and non-time efficient exercise. Also, what will you say when MBB asks you who else you are interviewing with?
Don't think about it as "moving down." Think about it as moving to a different sort of place. For example if the '3rd tier' firms are smaller than OW/Booz (which they likely are) use this as a selling point (more of a close-knit culture, more responsibility, more access to senior people at the firm). Things like that.
I apologize for opening up an old thread, but what is a 3rd tier consulting firm? I assume OW,Booz,Parthenon,LEK, OC&C, ZS associates, ADL, ATK are all 2nd. would third be Huron, Navigant, and Alvarez Marshall
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