Age limit to join MBB?

Question

Is it true that the top tier MC's, particularly MBB have started introducing an age cap off on their recruits from business schools. i.e. MBB don't hire MBA grads over a certain age say 28 or something anymore.

This seems a little bit bizarre as folk start business schools at different points of their career. Someone from a non-traditional background probably has more work ex. under their belt and is hence slightly older.

I'm planning to apply for B schools in fall 2014- would be 27 by the time I start matriculating and would miss out on a chance to work at an MC if this is true. This seems a bit unfair.

I just wanted to gauge everyone else's thoughts on authenticity of this and can something like this actually come into effect in the future?

CMcAboy · Answer

I don't think that is true. I have seen plenty of people with 6-9 years of prior work experience who now work at MBB. I think it depends on personal preference. Most guys in their 30's, or late 20's for that matter, have families and they don't want to spend too much time away from home. Instead, they may take a simple corporate finance job that allows them to work close to home in a simple 9-5 schedule.

asimov · Answer

It's illegal to discriminate on age. However, in practice, I don't think consulting (not just MBB) pulls in many fresh MBA level consultants after mid-30s. It's partly due to the applicant demographics. At mid-30s, people typically do not want the consulting lifestyle. Partly, I don't think the career progression is there for mid-30 hires, so consulting company don't bother. A post-MBA age of 29 should be right in the sweet spot of entry MBA hires.

BeyondCasePrep · Answer

As McKinsey and BCG alumni, we can say that the firms absolutely do not have a preference for how old you are when you apply.

That said, you often find that most of the people who end up at MBB post b-school are in the 27-32 range. That's a function of 1)the overall demographics of the age range at top schools, and 2) the older you are, the more likely you are to have a family; and many people with families self-select out of the demanding consulting lifestyle.

ZoSoKM · Answer

Thanks for the replies guys. Haven't visited these forums for a whille, hence the late response...

Age limit to join MBB?

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