Five resources to help you break into management consulting.
Understand the industry, the firms, how recruiting works, and what consultants actually do.
Overview of consulting firms hiring in Spain — MBB, Big Four, boutiques, and more.
Theory and practice for behavioural interviews — frameworks, example answers, and drills.
Case interview theory — frameworks, structures, and the methodology behind cracking cases.
Interactive case simulator to practice solving cases under realistic conditions.
Cinco recursos para ayudarte a entrar en consultoría de gestión.
Entiende la industria, las firmas, cómo funciona el proceso de selección y qué hacen realmente los consultores.
Resumen de firmas de consultoría que contratan en España — MBB, Big Four, boutiques y más.
Teoría y práctica para entrevistas conductuales — frameworks, respuestas ejemplo y ejercicios.
Teoría de entrevistas de caso — frameworks, estructuras y la metodología para resolverlos.
Simulador interactivo para practicar la resolución de casos en condiciones realistas.
Everything you need to understand the industry, the firms, and the recruitment process — from your first interest to your final round interview.
Strategy consulting is one of the most sought-after career paths for ambitious graduates. This guide gives you the full picture — what it really is, who the players are, and exactly how to break in.
The business of solving the hardest problems for the world’s most important organisations.
Strategy consulting firms are hired by CEOs, boards, and governments to solve their most critical business problems — entering new markets, turning around struggling divisions, evaluating acquisitions, cutting costs, or reimagining entire business models. These are problems that companies cannot (or choose not to) solve with their internal teams alone.
Break down complex, ambiguous problems into structured frameworks and actionable recommendations.
Gather evidence, run analyses, and build fact-based arguments — not opinions, but insights backed by data.
Work directly with C-suite executives and senior leadership to drive decisions worth millions.
A European retailer is losing market share to online competitors. They hire a strategy consulting firm for 8–12 weeks. The team of 3–5 consultants analyses customer data, benchmarks competitors, interviews stakeholders, and develops a growth strategy. The final deliverable: a board-ready recommendation on where to invest, what to cut, and how to win back customers — with specific numbers and a timeline.
Not all consulting firms are the same. Understanding the landscape helps you target intelligently.
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company are universally considered the most prestigious strategy consulting firms. They are collectively known as MBB.
| Firm | Category | Offices (Spain) | Size (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | MBB | BCN, MAD, VLC | ~1,000 |
| BCG | MBB | MAD, BCN | ~800 |
| Bain | MBB | MAD | ~170 |
| Oliver Wyman | Tier 2 | BCN, MAD | ~180 |
| Kearney | Tier 2 | MAD | +100 |
| Roland Berger | Tier 2 | MAD, BCN | ~58 |
| LEK | Tier 2 | MAD | ~50 |
| Arthur D. Little | Tier 2 | MAD | ~36 |
| EY-Parthenon | Big 4 Strategy | MAD (+EY) | ~50–140 |
| Strategy& | Big 4 Strategy | MAD, BCN, BIL | +120 |
| Monitor Deloitte | Big 4 Strategy | MAD (+Deloitte) | N/A |
The reality behind the buzzwords — what a week in consulting actually looks like.
Consultants work in project teams (typically 3–6 people) staffed on client “engagements” lasting 8–16 weeks. You work at the client’s offices Monday through Thursday and return to your home office on Friday. Each project tackles a specific strategic question.
The “engine room.” Build models, gather data, create slides, conduct interviews. You do the heavy analytical lifting under guidance from more senior team members.
Own workstreams independently. Manage junior analysts, present findings to clients, shape the analytical approach. Begin developing client relationships.
Run entire engagements day-to-day. Manage the team, coordinate with the client, ensure quality. The bridge between the analytical team and the partner.
Oversee multiple projects, develop client relationships, begin selling new work. Transition from delivery to business development.
Own client relationships at the CEO level. Sell engagements, set strategic direction for the firm’s practice areas, mentor the next generation. The ultimate destination inside the firm.
The honest case for — and against — a career in strategy consulting.
A typical MBB analyst after 2–3 years can exit to: corporate strategy at a Fortune 500 company, a top MBA programme (often sponsored), a private equity or venture capital fund, a leadership role at a startup, or a senior role at a Big 4 or boutique firm. Few other entry-level roles provide this breadth of options.
Strategy consulting is among the highest-paying career paths for graduates. Below are estimated compensation ranges for consultants based in Spain.
| Level | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst / Associate | €38–48K | €5–15K | €43–63K |
| Senior Associate / Consultant | €55–70K | €10–20K | €65–90K |
| Project Leader / Manager | €85–110K | €20–40K | €105–150K |
| Associate Principal / Partner | €130–180K | Variable | €180–350K+ |
| Senior Partner | €200K+ | Highly variable | €400K–1M+ |
| Level | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst / Associate | €32–42K | €3–10K | €35–52K |
| Consultant | €48–62K | €8–15K | €56–77K |
| Manager | €75–95K | €15–30K | €90–125K |
| Principal / Partner | €110–160K | Variable | €150–300K+ |
| Level | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst / Associate | €28–38K | €2–8K | €30–46K |
| Consultant | €40–55K | €5–12K | €45–67K |
| Manager | €65–85K | €10–25K | €75–110K |
| Director / Partner | €100–150K | Variable | €130–250K+ |
Compensation in Spain is typically 30–50% lower than London or New York for equivalent roles. However, cost of living is significantly lower, and quality of life benefits (climate, lifestyle, healthcare) are major advantages. MBB firms in Spain also offer strong non-monetary benefits including international mobility, sponsored MBAs, and world-class training programmes.
How MBB and top firms actually hire — from application to offer.
Your CV is the first filter. Firms look for academic excellence, relevant experience, leadership, and international exposure. A strong CV gets you to the interview; a weak one ends the process here. Build yours with our CV Builder →
Most firms now use digital assessments before interviews. McKinsey has the Solve game, BCG has the Casey chatbot, and Bain has various online tests. These evaluate problem-solving, numerical reasoning, and situational judgment.
Each interview is typically split 50/50 between a case interview (solving a business problem live) and a FIT/behavioural interview (your stories, motivation, and personality). Both carry equal weight.
Same format but with more senior interviewers (principals and partners). Cases are more complex, and FIT questions probe deeper. The bar is higher: they’re now deciding if they want you on their team.
If you pass all rounds, you receive an offer — typically within a few days. You’ll have time to decide, and firms often arrange follow-up calls with consultants to help you choose.
Deep-dive guides for each component of the consulting interview.
The complete playbook for PEI/FIT interviews — theory on the 5 evaluation domains, a full question bank with interviewer intent, step-by-step answer structures, and an AI-powered practice tool with instant feedback.
Open FIT Interview Guide →Frameworks for profitability, market entry, M&A, and pricing. Market sizing techniques. Practice cases with AI-powered feedback on your analytical approach.
Open Case Interview Guide →Combine our consulting-specific guides with these foundational tools:
Todo lo que necesitas para entender la industria, las firmas y el proceso de selección — desde tu primer interés hasta la ronda final de entrevistas.
La consultoría estratégica es una de las carreras más buscadas por graduados ambiciosos. Esta guía te da la imagen completa — qué es realmente, quiénes son los actores y exactamente cómo entrar.
El negocio de resolver los problemas más difíciles para las organizaciones más importantes del mundo.
Las firmas de consultoría estratégica son contratadas por CEOs, consejos de administración y gobiernos para resolver sus problemas de negocio más críticos — entrar en nuevos mercados, reconducir divisiones en dificultades, evaluar adquisiciones, reducir costes o reimaginar modelos de negocio completos.
Descomponer problemas complejos y ambiguos en marcos estructurados y recomendaciones accionables.
Recopilar evidencia, ejecutar análisis y construir argumentos basados en hechos.
Trabajar directamente con ejecutivos de alto nivel para impulsar decisiones que valen millones.
No todas las firmas de consultoría son iguales. Entender el panorama te ayuda a dirigirte inteligentemente.
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) y Bain & Company son universalmente consideradas las firmas de consultoría estratégica más prestigiosas. Se conocen colectivamente como MBB.
| Firma | Categoría | Oficinas (ES) | Tamaño (ES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | MBB | BCN, MAD, VLC | ~1.000 |
| BCG | MBB | MAD, BCN | ~800 |
| Bain | MBB | MAD | ~170 |
| Oliver Wyman | Tier 2 | BCN, MAD | ~180 |
| Kearney | Tier 2 | MAD | +100 |
| Roland Berger | Tier 2 | MAD, BCN | ~58 |
| LEK | Tier 2 | MAD | ~50 |
| Arthur D. Little | Tier 2 | MAD | ~36 |
| EY-Parthenon | Big 4 Estrategia | MAD (+EY) | ~50–140 |
| Strategy& | Big 4 Estrategia | MAD, BCN, BIL | +120 |
| Monitor Deloitte | Big 4 Estrategia | MAD (+Deloitte) | N/D |
La realidad detrás de las palabras de moda — cómo es realmente una semana en consultoría.
Los consultores trabajan en equipos de proyecto (típicamente 3–6 personas) asignados a “engagements” de cliente que duran 8–16 semanas. Trabajas en las oficinas del cliente de lunes a jueves y vuelves a tu oficina el viernes.
La “sala de máquinas.” Construir modelos, recopilar datos, crear slides, realizar entrevistas.
Liderar workstreams de forma independiente. Gestionar analistas junior, presentar hallazgos a clientes.
Dirigir engagements completos en el día a día. Gestionar el equipo, coordinar con el cliente.
Supervisar múltiples proyectos, desarrollar relaciones con clientes, empezar a vender nuevo trabajo.
Poseer relaciones con clientes a nivel CEO. Vender engagements, establecer la dirección estratégica.
El caso honesto a favor — y en contra — de una carrera en consultoría estratégica.
La consultoría estratégica es una de las carreras mejor pagadas para graduados. A continuación, rangos estimados de compensación para consultores en España.
| Nivel | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst / Asociado | €38–48K | €5–15K | €43–63K |
| Senior Associate / Consultor | €55–70K | €10–20K | €65–90K |
| Project Leader / Manager | €85–110K | €20–40K | €105–150K |
| Associate Principal / Partner | €130–180K | Variable | €180–350K+ |
| Senior Partner | €200K+ | Muy variable | €400K–1M+ |
| Nivel | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analista / Asociado | €32–42K | €3–10K | €35–52K |
| Consultor | €48–62K | €8–15K | €56–77K |
| Manager | €75–95K | €15–30K | €90–125K |
| Principal / Partner | €110–160K | Variable | €150–300K+ |
| Nivel | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analista / Asociado | €28–38K | €2–8K | €30–46K |
| Consultor | €40–55K | €5–12K | €45–67K |
| Manager | €65–85K | €10–25K | €75–110K |
| Director / Partner | €100–150K | Variable | €130–250K+ |
La compensación en España suele ser un 30–50% inferior a Londres o Nueva York para roles equivalentes. Sin embargo, el coste de vida es significativamente menor y las ventajas de calidad de vida (clima, estilo de vida, sanidad) son importantes. Las firmas MBB en España también ofrecen beneficios no monetarios como movilidad internacional, MBAs patrocinados y programas de formación de primer nivel.
Cómo contratan realmente MBB y las mejores firmas — de la solicitud a la oferta.
Tu CV es el primer filtro. Las firmas buscan excelencia académica, experiencia relevante, liderazgo y exposición internacional. Construye el tuyo con nuestro CV Builder →
La mayoría de firmas usan evaluaciones digitales antes de las entrevistas. McKinsey tiene el juego Solve, BCG el chatbot Casey, y Bain varios tests online.
Cada entrevista se divide 50/50 entre un caso (resolver un problema de negocio en vivo) y una entrevista FIT/conductual (tus historias, motivación y personalidad). Ambas pesan igual.
Mismo formato pero con entrevistadores más senior (principals y socios). Los casos son más complejos y el FIT profundiza más.
Si pasas todas las rondas, recibes una oferta — típicamente en pocos días.
Guías detalladas para cada componente de la entrevista de consultoría.
La guía completa para entrevistas PEI/FIT — teoría, banco de preguntas, estructuras de respuesta y herramienta de práctica con IA.
Abrir Guía de Entrevistas FIT →Frameworks para rentabilidad, entrada al mercado, M&A y pricing. Técnicas de market sizing. Casos prácticos con feedback de IA.
Abrir Guía de Entrevistas de Caso →