MBA required?

Quick question,
Is an MBA required to advance in a consulting firm after 2-3 years at the firm?

is the transition from 2/3 year analyst to first year associate easier if you leave the firm to get your MBA? What if you want to remain at the same firm post MBA/after 2 years of being an analyst

 
Best Response

No, it's not required. Many people get promoted without an MBA after 3 years (note: after 3 years, not 2-3; it's possible after 2.5 years but it's rare, so count 3).

Transition from analyst to associate is quite smooth, it's not that you get promoted and have a completely new set of responsibilities the day after. Analysts are given more and more responsibility as they progress and by the end of their 3rd year their job is not materially different from that of an associate. At my company they are actually required to do the associate's job for at least 3 months before promotion to prove they are "ready" for the new position. If you get promoted you won't even notice it (other than the change in salary of course;) )

 

easier with MBA usually but depends on firm, not all consulting firm is the same. Specify your firm (ie. McKinsey is pretty difficult and offers 2 years, BCG is easier to get promotion, firms like accenture don't really require MBA to advance) at least from what i know, but I could be wrong

 

If you want to be international, then it's really useful. Purely anecdotally it feels like it's more and more important in the UK, at least according to my university friends.

 

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