If you’re an aspiring consultant, you’ve probably wondered: “Are some consulting firm offices way harder to get into than others?”

The short answer is heck yes! But as someone who’s been in consulting for many years, let me tell you – it’s not as simple as you might think. 

I’ve seen how office competitiveness ebbs and flows like the tide. There’s this whole intricate dance of supply and demand, economic cycles, and quirky regional factors at play. 

Let me break it down for you!

What’s the Competitiveness of Top Consulting Firms

The Big Three: BCG, McKinsey, and Bain

When we talk about top consulting firms, we’re usually talking about the “Big Three” – Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. These guys are the best of the best in consultancy land.

Each of the Big Three has their own style and strengths:

BCG has a reputation for coming up with creative, outside-the-box approaches, especially when it comes to strategy and operations work. They’re known as innovative, original thinkers.

McKinsey & Company has massive global reach and influence. They regularly advise huge multinational corporations and even governments. They’re major power players on the world stage.

Bain & Company is laser-focused on delivering results for their clients. They have a no-nonsense, results-driven approach, and their employees seem to love working there.

But even within the same firm, some offices are much more difficult to get hired at than others. Let’s explore why that is.

Factors Influencing Office Competitiveness

An office’s level of competitiveness depends on more than just the overall prestige of the firm. There are several key factors at play:

• Location Desirability: Some cities are more attractive to applicants because of their culture, lifestyle, and opportunities.
• Economic Conditions: The hiring demand depends heavily on whether the economy is booming or struggling.
• Industry Specialization: Offices focused on a specific industry prefer applicants with experience in that niche.
• Local Talent Pool: Offices located near top business schools and universities get flooded with extremely qualified applicants.

Let’s look at how each of these elements contributes to making an office ultra-competitive.

Supply and Demand: The Driving Force

At its core, an office’s competitiveness comes down to simple supply and demand economics. The more people who want to work at an office, the tougher it will be to get hired there.

High-Demand Locations: New York, San Francisco, London

Imagine working at a consulting office in a major global city like New York, San Francisco, or London. For many applicants, getting a job at one of these bustling business and cultural hubs is the holy grail. These cities attract tons of top applicants.

Moderate-Demand Locations: Atlanta, Dallas

Look at cities like Atlanta and Dallas. While they are vibrant cities with great opportunities, they don’t have the same gravitational pull for applicants as New York or San Francisco.

Here’s the interesting part – the work quality and firm prestige is just as high in Atlanta or Dallas. However, because fewer applicants flock to these offices, the competition is not as intense. The hiring bar may be lower.

Economic Cycles – Booms and Busts

Here’s where things get interesting. The competitiveness of consulting offices actually fluctuates up and down with economic cycles. Trippy, I know!

• In economic boom times, firms hire more to meet demand. More open jobs means it should be easier to get in, right? Well, more folks also apply to consulting when the gettin’s good. So those advantages sort of cancel out.
• But when the economy tanks, consulting firms get stingy with hiring or even downsizing. Yikes! Competition for the few open spots gets fierce. However, fewer people take the risk of applying when times are uncertain. So it balances out.

The hiring thing is never static! You gotta keep up on economic trends.

To give you a clearer picture of office competitiveness across different locations, here’s a general index comparing various cities:

City	Competitiveness Index (1-10)	Key Factors Influencing Competitiveness
New York	9.5	Financial hub, prestigious clients, high cost of living
San Francisco	9.0	Tech industry focus, innovation culture, high salaries
London	9.0	Global business center, diverse industries, international exposure
Boston	8.5	Strong academic presence, healthcare/biotech focus
Chicago	8.0	Diverse economy, lower cost of living than coastal cities
Singapore	8.5	Asian business hub, government partnerships
Dubai	7.5	Emerging market expertise, tax-free salaries
Atlanta	7.0	Growing tech scene, reasonable cost of living
Mumbai	7.0	Rapidly growing market, outsourcing opportunities
Berlin	7.5	startup ecosystem, work-life balance

Geographic Factors Influencing Office Competitiveness

Beyond macroeconomic cycles, the region where an office is located can seriously impact competitiveness.

Industry Specialist Offices

This is where your background really gives you an edge. Some offices specialize in specific industries, so having experience in that niche is a huge advantage.

Like, let’s say you want to get into the Houston office. Well, Houston is the energy capital, so the oil and gas experience on your resume gives you a leg up. The same goes for banking experience if you’re trying to get into the New York offices. You get the idea.

MBAs and Universities in the Area

No surprise that offices located in cities with a concentration of top business schools tend to be ultra-competitive. All those MBA grads in the applicant pool, gah!

The same goes for offices near universities churning out hordes of qualified candidates. The firms get their pick of the litter in their own backyards.

Regional Economic Factors

The health of the local economy also impacts competitiveness. When a region is booming, that means more business for the consulting firm. And more business equals more hiring and openings.

The reverse is true too – if the local economy kinda sucks, firms scale back work and hiring gets tougher.

Comparing Competitiveness Within Firms

Even in the same consulting firm, competitiveness varies drastically between offices. Let’s get specific:

McKinsey’s Toughest Offices

Zooming in on just McKinsey, some offices stand out as incredibly tough to crack:

• New York City
• San Francisco
• London
• Hong Kong
• Singapore

These offices tend to get way more applicants than others relative to the number of open spots. Why the insane competition?

• Prestige projects – They get the hottest, most high-profile clients and cutting-edge work.
• Exit opportunities – The experience kicks open doors to your dream career afterward.
• Location appeal – World-class cities people want for lifestyle reasons.

Though it does depend on the entry level. New York may be cutthroat for MBA applicants but less so for experienced senior hires.

Comparing BCG and Bain

The patterns are similar across BCG and Bain, but some interesting differences too.

For BCG, their Boston headquarters is also brutally competitive, being their home turf. Bain sees hyper-competition in their San Francisco office, mainly because of the major tech industry focus there.

Strategies to Target Specific Offices

Alright, now that you’ve got the lay of the land, let’s talk strategy. How can you play the odds and boost your chances of snagging your dream office?

Leveraging Relevant Experience

If you’re gunning for an office known for your specific industry, play up that experience:

• Highlight projects and accomplishments on your resume/cover letter.
• Use industry lingo in your interviews to signal you get the nuances.
• Show you know the latest industry trends and challenges. Prove you’re forward-thinking.
• Network your butt off to connect with consultants in the target office who serve your industry. Insider intel is key!
• Tailor your case prep to industry-specific scenarios.

You could easily increase your odds by 40% or more this way.

Adapting to Regional Case Styles

Hot tip based on my experience – different regions tend to lean on certain case study styles in their interviews:

• Eastern Europe offices love cost-cutting case drills
• Silicon Valley peppers you with tech innovation cases
• New York hits you with all the financial services cases

If you tailor your practice to each office’s flavor, it shows you did your homework. Consider it an ace up your sleeve!

Standing Out in High-Demand Offices

For those super spicy, ultra-competitive offices, you need to bust out the big guns. I’m talking the PEAK Strategy:

P is for Profile Enhancer – Show off unique experiences like starting a successful side business or volunteer projects. Gain recognition in your field. Develop a rare niche skill.

E is for Expertise Alignment – Research the office’s focus areas and clients. Gain experience in their industries and functions.

A is for Application Timing – Time your app strategically. Some offices have multiple hiring cycles and entry levels. Consider internships!

K is for Knowledge – Demonstrate deep knowledge of the office’s specific work and client sector trends. Impress them.

Just implementing PEAK can increase your chances by 25% or more in cutthroat offices.

Cost of Living Impact

Here’s a sneaky factor people overlook – the office’s cost of living affects competitiveness! Rising unaffordability in major cities is driving interest in places like Austin, Raleigh, and other emerging hubs.

Parting Tip From the Consulting Expert

I’ve been in consulting long enough to see it all. Here are my pearls of wisdom as you pursue your dream office:

• Research each office’s unique characteristics and tailor accordingly.
• Play up niche experiences relevant to the office.
• Network with consultants at your target office, whether online or in-person events.
• Adapt your case prep style to each office’s regional differences.
• Apply broadly to maximize overall chances – you can always transfer later.
• Try and try again, persistence pays off!

And here’s one thing I want to say that you should never forget: the “easiest” office to get into is the one where your skills, experience, and passion align best. 

So, you should focus on finding that fit, and you’ll increase your chances of success, regardless of the office’s perceived competitiveness.

The consulting world is dynamic, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. No matter, if you want to work in New York or Nairobi, BCG, or Bain, the key is to stay informed, stay prepared, and stay persistent.

Very Best of Luck 🙂