I will have the final round interviews with three of the MBB in the nearest 2 weeks. However, I don't know what position I can be offered (if I get an offer): business analyst or consultant. I applied via email to all three firms and wrote that I'm interested in the position of "Associate/Consultant". In McK terms it is Consultant position, but in BCG and Bain terms Associate is not Consultant, but BA. So my interest can be interpreted in different ways.Thus, I have 2 questions:1. Is the recruiting process for BAs and Consultants the same? Can I identify the target position by the type of questions or interviews I was asked?2. Is it OK to ask Partners in the final rounds about the target position and discuss options?Background Info: PhD, 3+ years of WE in marketing, 2+ years of entrepreneurial WE.

I can only answer for Mck and Bain. Associate in Mck equals Consultant in Bain. This is the level above BA in Mck and Associate Consultant in Bain.Anyway, take a look at their websites where everything is explained in great detail!

Thank you, I've already read MBB web sites. That's why I have some corncerns about the entry position. Thus questions are the same:1. Is the recruiting process for analysts and consultants the same? Can I identify the target position by the type of questions or interviews I was asked? 2. Is it OK to ask Partners in the final rounds about the target position and discuss options?

Well, given ur background u are clearly interview for an Associate (Consultant) position.. Analysts (or Associate Consultants) are fresh graduates or people with 2/3 years of industry experience. Phds usually enter at the Associate (Consultant) level.

I can only speak from my personal experience with Mck: you are definitely NOT applying for a Business Analyst position.I received my offer a few months ago for a JA (Junior Associate) position and I have a PhD with minimal work experience. I was told a JA is considered an "Associate in training" and that it takes a year on average to become a designated Associate.Given your work experience I would say you should be offered an Associate position at Mck.Good luck with your final rounds!

If you are interested, I've got an offer from Bain and it (to my disappointment) is for Associate Consultant. PhD and all WE didn't help.It's strange a little bit, because I've solved all cases and got very positive feedback from each of the interviewer.To sum up, I believe that the entry position depends greatly on the country of MBB office and the personality of a partner who is major decision maker. I was interviewed by Managing Partner in my country and he told me from the very beginning that it is better to start on the lower position than you deserve and then to outperform it and get promosition quickly.It is interesting what McK's and BCG's decision will be.

I was wondering if you excepted an offer from Bain, as I am interviewing with them on the 16th of Dec. Would appreciate if you could give me some insight on the actual interview days and the types of cases you had to solve. Thanks

McK perspective: I would say you're going for an Associate position. As someone pointed out upthread, given your Phd + work experience, that's the position that makes the most sense. BAs (now called Fellows) are fresh out of undergrad.Also, interview process for Fellows is 2 interviews first round + 2 interviews second round, whereas Assocs go through 2 + 4, so that will be an indication of the target position.And yes, it's fine to ask a partner about it.

I would say junior consultant or consultant in McK depending on: your phd, the value of your work experience and the office you are applying. And of course, as someone already mentioned it depends on the senior manager who has the final decision. I do not if the other ones have a similar position to Junior Consultant but it should be around the same.

"I was wondering if you excepted an offer from Bain, as I am interviewing with them on the 16th of Dec."Best hope there isn't a spelling test involved then.