Five myths about being a consultant at Bain
Five myths about being a consultant at Bain
Debunking common misconceptions about consulting roles at Bain
Thinking about a career in consulting at Bain & Company? You might have a few ideas about what that actually means, and chances are, some of them aren’t quite true. Let’s clear up five common myths and give you a better sense of what working at Bain is really like.
1. Myth: You need a business background to work in consulting at Bain
Reality: Bain values diverse academic and professional backgrounds
Whether your degree is in engineering, psychology, liberal arts, biology, or finance, many people join Bain from all kinds of backgrounds. We look for strong problem solvers with diverse perspectives—not just business majors. Our world-class training and mentorship programs are designed to help you build the skills you need to thrive in a consulting role, no matter your starting point.
2. Myth: Bain’s home office model can be limiting
Reality: You’ll work on a wide range of projects, many beyond your local market
Your “home office” is much more than a location: it’s your core community. It’s where you’ll build lasting relationships by having the opportunity to work on multiple cases with many of the same colleagues over time. You’ll also have the chance to cultivate your crew at Bain by joining an affinity group, Green Team or other Extra10 initiative.
‘Home office’ doesn’t mean you’ll only work with local clients. Depending on the project, you might collaborate with teams across other offices, countries, and time zones. You’ll be supported by a program manager who helps guide your learning journey, making sure you’re staffed on a variety of cases and supporting your professional development. The result is the best of both worlds: meaningful relationships at home and the ability to contribute to global work.
Consultants in our Seattle office connect over team meetings, project work, and day-to-day moments at their home office.
3. Myth: You won’t have the opportunity to specialize
Reality: You’ll start broad, then build expertise over time
One of the biggest advantages of being a consultant at Bain is that you’ll typically start as a generalist. This gives you the chance to work across a variety of industries and capabilities, helping you build a strong foundation while discovering what truly interests you. If you already have experience in a specific industry or field, there are also opportunities to specialize earlier, allowing you to build on that foundation from the start.
As you grow, you’ll have opportunities to specialize in areas like healthcare, private equity, sustainability, digital transformation, and more. With mentorship, training, and personalized staffing, Bain empowers you to build a career that aligns with your strengths and goals.
4. Myth: Being a Bain consultant means traveling every week
Reality: Travel is based on what the case needs
Bain’s home office model means you’re typically staffed with colleagues from your own office, which makes collaboration more seamless and helps create a balanced approach to travel. Depending on the project, you may work on-site with a client, from the office with your team, or occasionally from home. It all depends on what the work needs—and what works best for the team.
And, if you’re excited by exploring new places, there are opportunities through global trainings, international casework, and cross-office experiences.
5. Myth: Bain only hires general consultants
Reality: Bain consulting teams include both generalists and deep experts
At Bain, consultants collaborate with experts in fields like advanced analytics, marketing, digital innovation, technology, finance, and more. These integrated teams bring together a wide range of skill sets to solve complex problems and deliver results. Our multidisciplinary approach to teaming is one of the things that sets Bain apart.
