Consulting career path: levels, promotion and exits

McKinsey says most consultants join as business analysts or associates and grow from there, some for a few years, others for a whole career.

1. Business Analyst

   On a client team from day one

   Solves problems with teammates and clients, analyzes data and presents ideas. The posting asks, typically, for an undergraduate degree and less than 4 years of work experience.

   McKinsey Business Analyst salary

2. Associate

   Leads a workstream

   Owns a part of the problem McKinsey calls a workstream, working side by side with clients. The posting asks, typically, for an advanced degree such as an MBA or PhD, or equivalent experience.

   McKinsey Associate salary

3. Engagement Manager

   Leads the client project

   Sets the direction, manages day-to-day work and mentors the team, while building relationships with the client.

4. Associate Partner

   Owns several projects

   Owns the delivery of multiple client projects, develops consultant teams and finds new client work in preparation for becoming a partner.

5. Partner

   Advises senior executives

   Guides strategy for senior executives, leads major client relationships, mentors future leaders and helps steer the firm.

BCG's postings describe Associate, Consultant and Project Leader. Its careers pages also name Principal, Partner, Partner and Associate Director, Managing Director & Partner and Managing Director & Senior Partner without describing each one.

1. Associate

   Usually 0 to 4 years of experience

   BCG's US experienced-hire posting says Associates typically have 0 to 4 years of full-time work experience. Undergraduates apply as Summer Associates or full-time Associates.

   BCG Associate salary

2. Consultant

   4+ years or an advanced degree

   Consultants generally have 4+ years of experience and/or an advanced degree such as an MBA or PhD. BCG says it decides the level during hiring when you are unsure which to apply for.

   BCG Consultant salary

3. Project Leader

   Manages the study and the client

   Defines client needs, supervises research and analysis, develops recommendations and manages client contact, by BCG's Project Leader posting.

4. Senior titles

   Principal to Managing Director

   Named on BCG's own careers pages and postings. BCG adds that people later specialize in practice areas, some on an expert consulting track.

Bain's management consulting page describes eight titles, from Intern to Partner. Its postings add detail for the three levels it hires into from outside: Associate Consultant, Consultant and Senior Manager.

1. Associate Consultant

   Owns discrete workstreams

   Manages discrete pieces of the analysis, such as market sizing, financial modeling or benchmarking. Bain says the role suits final-year undergrads, non-MBA master's students and early career professionals.

   Bain Associate Consultant salary

2. Senior Associate Consultant

   Leads portions of the case

   Bain says associate consultants who produce impactful analyses and build deeper client relationships "earn the 'senior' title", lead portions of the case and mentor other associate consultants.

3. Consultant

   Leads cases

   Bain says consultants "lead cases, which means leading others": managing experts and associate consultants and building client relationships. The posting names MBAs, plus MDs, JDs, PhDs and experienced professionals.

   Bain Consultant salary

4. Manager

   Runs case teams

   Bain says managers "run case teams on your own, as you see fit", which means picking the team from consultants and experts and owning the outcome.

5. Senior Manager

   Leads the case team

   Gives the case team thought leadership and daily oversight, coaches its members and builds client relationships. Outside hires typically have 7+ years, including progress to a senior manager level elsewhere.

6. Associate Partner

   Handles complex client cases

   Bain says associate partners are fully trusted with complex client cases, apprentice directly under a partner and practice developing new business.

7. Partner

   Helps steer the company

   Bain says partners "help steer the company", take full responsibility for finding new client business and delivering results, and set the vision.

L.E.K. describes every level on one careers page, so it shows the whole ladder in a firm's own words.

1. Associate

   Where undergraduates start

   Works on complex business problems across industries, clients and issues, with early responsibility.

2. Senior Associate

   Leads analyses, mentors juniors

   A bigger leadership role on high-stakes projects. Not offered in L.E.K.'s Asia offices.

3. Associate Consultant

   Leads workstreams

   Works directly with executives and mentors junior team members.

4. Consultant

   Leads the case team day to day

   L.E.K. says this comes with immediate management responsibility.

5. Manager

   Leads multiple case teams

   Keeps long-term relationships with several clients and builds expertise in a sector.

6. Senior Manager

   Leads beyond the case team

   Takes more complex cases and a bigger part in firm leadership.

7. Principal

   One step from Partner

   Mentors staff at every level, leads in the office and helps win new business.

8. Partner

   Grows the business

   Responsible for the firm's growth and culture, and a trusted advisor to clients.

1. Industry

   Strategy or operations inside a company

   Corporate strategy, business development or general management roles, often in an industry you served as a consultant. Companies post such roles on McKinsey's Alumni Center, BCG's alumni job board and Bain's BeyondBain.

   From McKinsey: Alumni Center, BCG: alumni and Bain: alumni services.

2. Investing

   Private equity, growth equity or VC

   Diligence and portfolio work draw on case skills. Bain's careers page calls it the leader in consulting for private equity.

   How to get into private equity

   From Bain: management consulting.

3. Startups

   Founding or joining an early company

   All three firms' alumni pages feature founders. McKinsey says its alumni have founded dozens of unicorns.

   From McKinsey: life at McKinsey, BCG: alumni and Bain: alumni services.

4. Public sector

   Government, nonprofits and education

   Policy, social impact and university roles. BCG's careers page tells one alum's move into higher education.

   From BCG: career growth.

5. School

   An MBA or another degree

   Some undergraduate hires leave for business school, then return at the MBA level or move to another path.

6. Staying

   Up the ladder toward partner

   McKinsey says people stay "two years or 20". At BCG, some move to an expert consulting track instead.

   From McKinsey: careers and BCG: Associate posting.

The questions that test your reasons.

1. 1

   Why consulting?

   What a strong answer does

   Two reasons backed by things you have done, and what you want to learn in your first years at the level you are joining. Practice it, see a model answer

2. 2

   Why this firm?

   What a strong answer does

   Something you learned from the firm's people or pages, such as how it describes its roles, tied to the work you want to do. Practice it, see a model answer

3. 3

   Walk me through your background and why consulting.

   What a strong answer does

   Two minutes, in order, each step leading to the next, ending on why this role now. Practice it, see a model answer

The questions that test your plan.

1. 4

   Where do you see yourself in five years?

   What a strong answer does

   Skills you want to build and the responsibility you want, such as leading a workstream. Honest about not knowing every step. Practice it, see a model answer

2. 5

   What are your strengths?

   What a strong answer does

   Two strengths the job uses, each with a short example and its result. Practice it, see a model answer

3. 6

   What is your biggest weakness?

   What a strong answer does

   A real one that matters a little, and what you are already doing about it. Practice it, see a model answer

• "Every level takes a set number of years"

  McKinsey, BCG and Bain publish no years per level, and BCG says people grow at different paces.

• "The titles mean the same thing everywhere"

  An Associate is the undergraduate entry level at BCG and the MBA entry level at McKinsey. Compare levels by what the role does, not the title.

• "Leaving means you failed"

  McKinsey itself talks about people who stay two years or 20, and all three firms run alumni networks with job boards for people who move on.

• "Exit shares are known"

  No firm we read publishes what share of leavers go into private equity, industry or startups. Percentages you see are outside estimates.

Every route in runs through a case interview and a fit interview.

1. Step 1

   Pick your entry point

   Undergrads aim for the first level or an internship (8 to 10 weeks at McKinsey). MBAs aim for the MBA level or a summer role.

   McKinsey internshipBCG internshipBain internship

   From McKinsey: undergraduate roles and McKinsey: MBA roles.

2. Step 2

   Know the firms

   Learn how MBB and the other tiers differ, so your why this firm answer is specific.

   MBB consultingConsulting firm tiers

3. Step 3

   Practice cases out loud

   Do cases by hand and out loud, with someone or something asking follow-ups.

   Free sample case, no sign-upCase interview preparation

4. Step 4

   Check the timeline

   Deadlines for undergrad roles can come early. Plan your applications by month.

   Consulting recruiting timeline