What’s it like being a BCG consultant?

TL;DR

• Consulting is the most popular career path for MBA and business master's students, with half of prospective students aiming to work in consulting after business school
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is one of the Big Three consulting firms and is often listed as one of the best firms to work for worldwide, with vast learning opportunities, the chance to work with impressive clients, and potential for career progression
• Both business master's and MBA graduates can expect lucrative salaries at BCG, with typical consultant salaries hitting six figures and bonuses common

Launching a career as a consultant is the goal for many of the MBAs who enroll at business schools each year. Consulting is the most popular career path after business school: according to our latest Prospective Students Survey, 50% of students pursuing an MBA or business master’s aim to work in the industry.

Joining a consulting firm like Boston Consulting Group (BCG)—one of the Big Three consulting firms—can be seen as the pinnacle of success for an aspiring consultant, with the firm often listed among the best consulting firms to work for. 

So, what is it actually like being a BCG consultant?

What's it like working as a BCG consultant?

Day in the life of a BCG consultant

As an entry level BCG consultant you'll typically work on one client project at a time. But, as your career progresses, you can expect more varied project work, which can range across banking, telecommunications, the public sector, shipping, and more. As you progress to a project leader role and work towards becoming a partner, you might run multiple projects at once.

As Steven Zhao, a BCG consultant who studied his MBA at INSEAD, a top business school based in France and Singapore, explains:“A typical day starts with a quick team check-in to align on priorities for the client. I might then spend a few hours building a model, synthesizing market research, or interviewing internal and external experts.”

For Steven, the rest of his working day at BCG is spent co-creating with clients—from problem-solving sessions to progress updates and workshops. He highlights that no two days are the same. 

“The day usually ends with turning insights into a clear storyline and slides, and planning the next set of hypotheses to test,” he adds.

Benefits of working as a BCG consultant

Working for BCG comes with vast benefits, from working for a recognizable and reputable firm to the opportunities for career and salary progression this brings with it.

“The  biggest highlight for me is the chance to work on topics that really matter to CEOs and to entire industries, early on in my career,” says Steven. “You learn at an incredible pace because you’re surrounded by very smart but down-to-earth teammates who push you and support you at the same time.”

Alban Hiaux, a BCG consultant who also studied an MBA at INSEAD, notes the wealth of learning opportunities presented through a career at BCG. This includes a breadth of skills and industry insights, as well as the chance to work with an impressive customer base.

“BCG also has an amazing work environment,” he adds. “There are inspiring people around who are hard workers, smart, accountable, and well balanced.”

Challenges of working as a BCG consultant

Although there are many benefits of working as a BCG consultant, consulting can be a challenging industry to work in, due to long working hours and high pressure environments.

“The flip side of all the learning and impact that a career in consulting can provide is the intensity,” explains Steven. “You have to be comfortable with ambiguity, with priorities changing quickly, and with switching between very different tasks and stakeholders in the same day. 

“Managing your energy, setting boundaries, and still delivering at a very high bar can be challenging, especially during long projects or travel weeks,” he adds. “It forces you to become much more deliberate about how you work and how you recover.”

Advice for aspiring BCG consultants

Studying an MBA or a business master’s can help you prepare for a career at BCG. A degree can teach you the skills, provide the experience, and help you build the network you need to start your consulting career.

“Studying an MBA was a very practical mini-BCG for me,” explains Steven. “The courses in strategy, finance, and operations gave me the toolkit to structure messy problems and quantify impact.

“The intense group work from classmates from all over the world mirrors a consulting team room,” he continues. “You learn to listen, push back, and build consensus with people who think very differently from you.”

Both the curriculum and the support from your peers and faculty can be essential in preparing you for a career at BCG.

“The academics, especially the case-based learning, provide good exposure to both key functions and industries,” says Alban. “There are also lots of consultants in the cohort, who provide insights through sharing their experiences.”

To succeed as a consultant, Steven recommends making sure you’re genuinely curious about solving complex problems with others, and using business school as an environment to hone this.

“Volunteer for tough group projects, lead clubs, and get as much feedback as you can on your communication and leadership style,” he says.

He also suggests building a niche in something you care about—whether that’s an industry, function, or geography—so you can bring a distinctive perspective to the firm.

Finally, during the recruiting process, it’s important to be authentic. As Stephen explains: “Interviewers can tell when you’ve done the introspection, and know why consulting—and BCG—is the right next step for you.”

BCG consultant career & salary progression

If you’re an MBA consultant working at BCG you’ll typically have a clear career trajectory, as you take on more client and BCG leadership roles.

The typical BCG consultant career path is:

→Associate (Undergraduate or Master's hire)

→Consultant (MBA hire)

→Project Leader (two years post-MBA)

→Principal (four years post-MBA)

→Partner (six years post-MBA)

→Managing Director & Partner (eight years post-MBA)

Each stage sees a healthy compensation increase, with the typical BCG consultant salary hitting six figures. 

A master's graduate consultant base salary is $110,000, while MBA graduates can expect to earn a base salary of $190,000, according to Management Consulted. Salaries increase with each promotion.

BCG bonuses and perks

Your overall compensation package at a top consulting firm will also include performance and signing bonuses. The most recent data shows Master’s grads can expect a performance bonus of up to $22,000 and a signing bonus of $5,000 at BCG, while MBAs can expect to earn a performance bonus of up to $60,000 and a signing bonus of $30,000.

There are also various work perks BCG consultants receive. According to Management Consulted, alongside huge salaries, master's graduates can expect 15 days per year of paid time off. They also get up to $6,000 for relocating, and up to $4,400 per year dropped into their 401k retirement account as part of a profit-sharing initiative for employees.

MBA graduates are also given 15 days of paid time off a year at BCG, and can expect up to $6,000 for relocating as well as $11,875 per year into their 401k retirement fund.

Launching your career as a bcg consultant after an MBA will take hard work and determination. But once you’re there, the benefits are clear. 

Becoming a BCG consultant will offer you the chance to work across functions and industries. You’ll also be surrounded by a group of ambitious likeminded peers, all while earning the eye-watering salaries that come along with a career at a top consulting firm like BCG.