All,I'm reading this forum for long time but this is my first post.My BackgroundExperience -Business Analysis (7 years) (IT and business change management)Sector- Retail and wealth management Previous role- Lead BA (in a Big4 bank)Currently pursing MBA in Tier2 MBA school (one among top ten within UK - FT 2013 Rankings)Somehow influenced by FT rankings and chose this business school but now worrying about job prospects after graduation. The school is only proving 'support' to find opportunities. I'm not willing to go again into IT.Please could you answer my questions based on your experience. Here are my questions....a. What are the possibilities to get into consulting (to be honest not aiming for MBBB because of the school)-i'm only aiming for Tier2 consulting firms/ internal consulting teams within banksb. possibilities to switch from Tier2 consulting into MBBB (probably after 3-4 yrs)?c. Do you have any ideas about leadership programs within banks?- Some of my friends are in these programs but not sure how soon I can reach the senior management d. Any possibilities to get into IB/ PE firms (I understood that get into PE is bit tough than IB)e. Finally if nothing works out I'm planning to do contracting as a BA (seriously I don't want to go for this option)-- I know people such as Mr cool, Diamond Sea knows better than me about contracting but as per my calculation if I can get 100K salary with 20% on target bonus then I can earn equal money with a contractor on £500PD..Primarily I'm looking for career change which can provide me long term benefit in terms of money and job profileThanks in advance for your support.

With relevant industry experience (in Fin Svcs), BA experience (albeit IT) and an MBA (you'll need good grades) from a top 10 UK school should be enough to get you interviews with most non-MBB consultancies and most banks.Whether you get the job depends on the interview.Options to switch from a tier 2 consultancy to MBB after a few years = almost 0%Leadership programmes in banks are not that senior - they generally take people from Manager/VP level (which you should be targeting) with a view to accelerating them up to Sr Manager/Head of Function/Director in about half the normal time, with more senior progression the true aim for the best of the best.IB is a possibility (if you mean project/change work), not so likely in PE - they don't do big change projects, so the consultants that they use are more on quants, market experts, finance gurus, etcContracting - hey its great! I work like a part timer and get paid like a Director, but I agree that it would be a bit of a shame to do an MBA and end up straight into contracting, particularly as you'd probably get stuck at the BA level until you got back into perm employment.

Mr cool thanks for your feedback.One of my friend made successful shift from Tier2 (Deloitte, KPMG, ACN etc) to MBB. So thought of asking this questionContracting- I read lot of your posts and understood that the max amount that one can expect £1000-£1200 for a programme manager and around £600 for BA roles. Actually leadership programme will provide an opportunity to earn at least £500k in next 10 years time (Please correct me if I'm wrong)IB-- I really meant M&A, Trader profiles. I hope I need struggle more to get into that profiles (same will be applicable for PE as well)I wanted to ask one question. There are some possibilities to get internal consultant role with my previous bank. Is it possible to move into Big4/ MBB with this experience after some time?

Mr cool thanks for your feedback.One of my friend made successful shift from Tier2 (Deloitte, KPMG, ACN etc) to MBB. So thought of asking this questionContracting- I read lot of your posts and understood that the max amount that one can expect £1000-£1200 for a programme manager and around £600 for BA roles. Actually leadership programme will provide an opportunity to earn at least £500k in next 10 years time (Please correct me if I'm wrong)IB-- I really meant M&A, Trader profiles. I hope I need struggle more to get into that profiles (same will be applicable for PE as well)I wanted to ask one question. There are some possibilities to get internal consultant role with my previous bank. Is it possible to move into Big4/ MBB with this experience after some time?

Everything is possible. It's down to the experience you gain and a bit of luck.Why dont you have a chat to an internal recruiter at MBB, if you're upfront and say "these are my skills, Im not sure if im relevant. What advice would you give to help me get there" Listen to what they say, apply to companies/roles that get you closer and then rely on that bit of luck.

Aspirant,As tom1 says there are always one-offs who achieve something unusual. Typical mbb employee profile is - straight A's at A Level ( or non uk equivalent) followed by 1st class honours from top 10 uk university ( or minimu 2:1 from target uni). They then either join mbb as grad entry or they do five years at a big4 or "client" org ( investment bank, ftse company, world renowned brand) where they come top of the annual appraisal system EVERY year AND work in a key function like strategy, front office, marketing, etc. MBA entrants have ALL of the above plus an MBA from a world top 10 school.Contracting. Yes the figures stated are top of the range. To get 1k+ per day you will need 10 years as a programme manager, probably be an ex head of change at a client or ex big4 partner. To get 600 as a BA you'll need to have specialist niche experience in an investment banking function or similar. A new MBA with 7 years perm experience and new to contracting would be more likely to get between 450-550 for a BA I pm role.To make 500k at a bank then you will need to become a main board director at a retail bank or head if a trading desk at an IBPeople going into the leadership programme (vp or manager) level will generally be earning 50-70k per year. After the programme they might have added about 20k via promotions. You need to be head if a function at a retail bank or a director at an IB to break through 100k.Internal consulting at bank should support a move to big4, but no chance if it getting you into mbb.

I'm afraid Mr Coolio is spot on.£1k+ contractors are pretty much exactly as he has described. Appreciate the MBA gang spent a lot of money getting there but unfortunately the people hiring you from a contracting point of view don't give two hoots about it, they want to see experience of having managed large and complex programmes, alongside big teams.Plus a confident, good communicator with a lot of presence interview.I'm afraid an IT BA trying to get into a new industry after his MBA doesn't quite describe the above...Still, the Coolio £450-550 will still bring in a nice six figure salary for you (calculate your working days as around 220 a year)Its a great life, although I disagree with his description of "working as a part timer". Our hours are normally longer than full timers and you are expected to work from wherever needed at short notice. However, as an ex MC that should not be an issue for any of us.

Anon MCs is quite correct re: part time working. I really should stop describing it thus. I work 8.30 to 5.30 most days with a proper lunch break on only 1-2 days a week. I do work from home 1-2 days a week which means a short day and a few hours to do personal stuff. Hardly part time but compared to a big4 week, very balanced.

Mr cool, Anon and Tom thanks for your comments.Mr cool-- valuable information and I can witness some of your comparisons. SummaryChances of getting into MBBB is highly difficult (direct or via experience hired) but possibly Big 4Contracting- Not a problem (ave £500)Leadership position- Based on your calculation I have to spend at least a decade with fast track promotion opportunities. I knew the policies and internal politics at my previous bank. So I can safely assume that £500k is possible after 15 years even though they offer me SM position after graduation. Except contracting if I want to see salary greater than £200k I have to wait for at least 10 more years in permanent roles (Tier2 contracting/ Retail Banking).......Many thanks

After analysing the scenario.. I'm leaning towards contracting....

[quote]After analysing the scenario.. I'm leaning towards contracting.... [/quote]Your name is very aptAccording to Wikipedia there are 22,000 people in the UK that earn >500k.Assuming you can somehow achieve this yourself, it will put you in the top 0.04% of the UK earning population.You may or may not be capable of this. Either way, it won't be happening anytime soon, so you need to better define what you want to do in the short- and longer-termMy summary:Your background and work experience does not scream "High Flier".You are all over the place with respect to career options - in one sentence you are talking about consulting in Tier 2 firms, then PE firms, then contracting. You are focused on a long-term salary goal with no realistic idea of how you might conceivably get to it.You need to focus instead on what you might be able to do well, and what you would enjoy doing on a day to day basis.If you want to achieve your long-term salary expectation it means knuckling down and getting some serious work experience - unfortunately, as is the case for most of the world, you do not warrant a large salary now, and so will have to work your way up.I don't see how contracting will help you achieve anything other than a short-term salary which is larger than your experience warrants in full-time roles.

[quote]Typical mbb employee profile is - straight A's at A Level ( or non uk equivalent) followed by 1st class honours from top 10 uk university ( or minimu 2:1 from target uni). They then either join mbb as grad entry or they do five years at a big4 or "client" org ( investment bank, ftse company, world renowned brand) where they come top of the annual appraisal system EVERY year AND work in a key function like strategy, front office, marketing, etc. MBA entrants have ALL of the above plus an MBA from a world top 10 school.[/quote]I seem to (err..almost) fit the profile (good grades and appraisals,top non-UK MBA etc, top-client org experience ) :)However, despite sending my resume and cover letter to (IT) strategy consultancies via top-consultant, linkedIn and similar avenues, I haven't got much response yet (or is 1 week too short a period to expect a response? )My target area is (perm roles in) IT strategy (past experience is IT consulting, BA/PM roles, FSI).Many roles advertise for experience in IT due-diligence, TOM design etc. I have limited experience in these areas but there ARE some roles which suit my profile. I'm applying to both by highlighting areas which overlap my work and my career achievements.I feel I'm being quite realistic with my aspirations but no responses are quite disheartening. So, any suggestions regarding application strategy would be really welcome ! (I think I need to redo my linkedIn profile.)Have a great Sunday !P.S.: I like tom1's suggestion about asking an internal recruiter for feedback. Although I don't know one yet, I will find a way ! If any of you experienced souls care to help, I'd be glad to share my resume off the forum.