| Topic Name: |
Business Consulting |
| Message Name: |
Whats MBA placement/future options like |
| Date Posted: |
02/14/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
Congratulations on your offer(s). It sounds like you applied to the London office?
MBA entry tends to differ somewhat between US and Europe (this is true of the industry as much as of CRA itself). You need to be clear why you want to do one. In Europe, to a certain extent an MBA is much less a 'necessary' part of consulting. Sure, if you have an MBA you can start at a higher level and salary, but there's no reason why you can't just start as a graduate and work your way up through the company. In the States, AFAIK, there's much more of a '2 years, then MBA, then back into consulting' approach.
That said, people can and do go and do MBAs after a few years in business consulting at CRA.
Exit strategies: probably 80% go to other consultancies, 10% into industry and 10% into unrelated work (i.e. MBAs/other degrees, or other types of job).
How much will you learn: a lot! CRA Business Consulting is still relatively small (in the consulting world) and works with small teams so you will quickly get to work with some very experienced people. The CRA model of employing seniors with lots of industry knowledge means that you will learn a lot in a very short time.
The training programme equips you with the generic consulting skills you need and your colleagues and case work help you develop the specific skills and knowledge you need for the clients you work with.
The focus on chemicals/petroleum/energy means you tend naturally to become much more knowledgeable in this area than peers working at other companies. But the skills you need to be a good consultant are largely the same no matter what industry you work in, and you will develop these too.
Lastly, as you have competing offers, an important thing to consider is how you will 'fit' into each company. Make an effort to contact people at these companies directly and try to get as much a feel for the corporate culture as you can as this can make all the difference once you start work. Don't be afraid to request a coffee or chat with an employee or two to get a better flavour. After all, you are now in a position of power, having been made an offer! |
| Message: |
Hi,
thanks so much for the quick reply.
I am a senior at US college right now and got an offer from CRA Boston Bussiness Consulting.
Both CRA and MMG look fairly attractice with regards to atmosphere (though i think CRA is a little more laid back) at least in the other groups.
My main goal at this point is to get some work experience and then apply to an MBA program in 2-3 years.
As such I was just curious as to what the better position would be, to work at CRA which is a well known firm but not necessarily for BConsulting. Or MMG which is a smaller firm but used to be a big name and will allow more oppurtunies for extra responsibility.
But overall i just want the safest and surest route into a good MBA program. So far ive gotten offers from every firm ive applied to but sadly the big ones dont recruit at my school and hence CRA/MMG/McK R&I are my top options at this point.
Thanks so much for your help and id appreciate if you could maybe give some of your background at CRA.
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