Every MBB consultant's biggest nightmare: Getting fired
MBB consulting is a highly competitive. Up-or-out principle is ruthless. You can get fired at any time. But I bet you don't want it to happen to you. The best insurance is to achieve high performance.
Every MBB consultant’s biggest nightmare:
Getting fired…
You don't just lose the job.
You also experience psychological trauma:
✗ Confidence destroyed
✗ Self-worth shattered
✗ Mental health damaged
And yet… nobody talks about it.
When I joined McKinsey, I was a classic insecure overachiever. I would lose my sleep for days just by receiving slightly negative feedback.
And the mere thought of being fired terrified me.
Fortunately, I was never fired from McKinsey, but I’ve spoken with many consultants who lived through it.
It’s heartbreaking hearing these stories.
This experience feels especially painful for experienced hires who were cut within the first 12 months with no real chance to prove themselves.
For example, one consultant feared that getting fired would set his career back for years. Another said his mental health had deteriorated so much that he wasn’t sure he would ever be the same again.
But there is one common regret they all share.
They regret missing such a great opportunity to boost their career. They worked so hard to get this job. And getting fired is devastating, mostly on a psychological level.
Here’s the thing:
If you are an MBB consultant, I am sure you don’t want to get fired. You want to avoid it in the first place.
But the real game at MBB isn’t just survival. It’s learning how to thrive. That's when you can realize its full promise.
That’s when you can acquire the best experience and get access to the best career opportunities. And also, you enjoy working in consulting.
I know it may sound impossible from your vantage point. But it’s actually quite doable.
But getting this requires you to:
➤ Performing at a high level consistently
➤ Building trust and sponsorship
➤ Acquiring valuable experience
➤ And finally, leaving on your terms
That’s how you protect yourself from psychological traumas and set up the next big step in your career.
This is why I built my coaching program: to help MBB consultants improve their performance, master the toolkit, and create a career trajectory they want.
If you’re an MBB consultant and want to improve your performance and problem-solving before it’s too late.
Book a Free 1-1 Consultation. We will discuss your pain points, challenges, and aspirations. No strings attached, just straight answers to your biggest questions.
P.S. Actually, consultants don’t fear leaving MBB consulting per se. They know they will eventually leave it. What they really fear is being forced to leave. They want to exit consulting on their own terms. That’s why achieving high performance is so valuable. That gives consultants the freedom not just to steer their career, but also to decide when and how to leave.