This was originally my reply on a forum to a young consultant at an MBB management consulting firm. They were asking about moving to AlixPartners to focus on the work they enjoy. AP has excellent reputation in the field the consultant wants to focus on, but is not considered as widely prestigious as their current employer.

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There is too much MBB worship out there.

If you have an opportunity to focus on the work you want to do - with people you like, at pay that satisfies your goals - you’d be crazy not to take it for the sake of prestige or comp optimization or whatever.

AlixPartners is very well respected by people in the know. Plenty of AP folks get plenty rich so you don’t have to seriously worry about that, and you’re less likely to involuntarily transition or burn out if you love your work.

If you’re worried about path optics, this is a great justification for leaving BCG. Hiring managers that matter will at least understand, even if they would have done something different.

Life’s not a dress rehearsal. You’re one of the lucky ones who gets to decide what you want to do with your productive energy. Do the work you WANT to do.