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 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 change with the times. There a very complex dynamic across various factors, including supply and demand, economic cycles, and unique regional characteristics. 

Let’s begin.

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. Even if you are new to the consulting world, this should not be a surprise. They are the largest players in the consulting world, and need no further introduction.

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.

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 opens many doors to your dream career afterward.
• Location appeal – They are in world-class cities people want for lifestyle reasons.

Though it does depend on the entry level. New York may be highly competitive 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 as that is their main office. Bain sees hyper-competition in their San Francisco office, mainly because of the major tech industry focus there.

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 in one of the world’s business and cultural hubs is extremely attractive. 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 appeal for applicants as New York or San Francisco.
Interestingly, 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

Little-known fact: the competitiveness of consulting offices fluctuates up and down with economic cycles.

• In economic boom times, firms hire more to meet demand, thus freeing up more spaces for aspiring applicants. However, at the same time, more people also apply to consulting when the business is good. So those advantages might cancel out.
• On the flip side, when the economy tanks, consulting firms slow down with hiring, or might even start downsizing, which decreases the number of open job slots. However, at the same time, fewer people take the risk of applying when times are uncertain. Like during economic booms, the advantages and disadvantages balance out.

The competitiveness of hiring cycles is never the same! You need to 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 can really give you an advantage. Some offices specialize in specific industries, so having experience in that niche is a huge boon.

Let’s say you want to get into the Houston office. As Houston is the energy capital, oil and gas experience on your resume will give you an advantage. The same goes for banking experience if you’re trying to get into the New York offices. You get the idea.
There are many ways to uncover an office’s industry focus or hiring trends. They include:

• Reviewing the local careers page and press releases. Firms often highlight recent projects or industry whitepapers tied to a specific office.
• Scanning LinkedIn and job boards for that office’s postings—patterns in role titles and required skills reveal in-demand sectors.
• Tapping into alumni networks or attend regional info sessions. Speaking directly with current consultants provides the most up-to-date insights on practice areas and upcoming recruitment cycles.

While some regions might have obvious specialisations, others are harder to predict. Remember to do your research! It will be very helpful later down the line.

MBAs and Universities in the Area

It shouldn’t be a surprise that offices located in cities with a concentration of top business schools tend to be ultra-competitive.

The same goes for offices near top universities with lots of qualified candidates. The closer firms are to top-tier talent, the more competitive they are to get into.

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 is struggling, firms scale back work and hiring gets tougher.

Strategies to Target Specific Offices

Alright, now that you know this, let’s talk strategy. How can you play the odds and boost your chances of getting into your dream office?

Leveraging Relevant Experience

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

• Highlight projects and accomplishments on your resume/cover letter.
• Use industry jargon in your interviews to signal you get the nuances.
• Show you know the latest industry trends and challenges. Prove you’re forward-thinking.
• Network, network, network. 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 offices will target you with tech innovation cases
• New York offices will give you all the financial services cases

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

Standing Out in High-Demand Offices

For those ultra-competitive offices, you need to give it your all. When asked how to succeed, I like to give 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 brutally competitive offices.

Cost of Living Impact

A little-known factor people might 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 some key takeaways to help 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 final 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 🙂