Overview:
I’ve worked in the analytics field for three years, which I found rewarding due to good compensation, remote work, and the ability to make an impact. However, I started to feel stuck, leading me to pursue an MBA from a Tier-1 school, with the intention of moving into product management roles. Unfortunately, I found myself in a position at a Big Four consulting firm due to current market conditions, but my work feels uninspired and unfulfilling. I yearn for the satisfaction of creating something meaningful again. Now, I’m conflicted about whether to return to my previous role that I found meaningful or continue with consulting to validate the MBA and ensure career growth—something I’ve often heard is crucial. I’m also anxious about potentially losing my coding skills and facing stiff competition when switching back. Any guidance would be appreciated.
My Journey in Detail:
My three years in the analytics sector were incredibly positive. I had opportunities to learn extensively, received commendable salary hikes, enjoyed working from home, and had plenty of time for family and friends. I also had great coworkers to share our frustrations with, even if the work was generally satisfying.
Yet, I started feeling less thrilled, and every day was hard due to the monotony of working from home. Seeking a change, I thought an MBA was a smart way to enhance my profile while taking a temporary break from my career. I went through a mix of excitement and anxiety throughout my studies, with a focus on tech-related roles. However, the product management job market was slow, leading me to a Big Four consulting role instead, which seemed like a solid choice given its reputation.
Once I started this job, I found that dressing up for the office and churning out presentations from pre-set templates was unfulfilling compared to my past work, where I felt I contributed real value. I crave that feeling again. However, I worry that stepping back into analytics will undermine my MBA experience and miss out on what I’ve heard to be a significant career boost.
Moreover, I’m concerned about having lost my coding edge and competing against candidates who may have more current experience and are willing to accept lower salaries. That’s why I reached out for insights.
Final Thoughts:
I’ve attempted to update my resume and apply for analytics or product roles at larger companies but haven’t had success. I’m hesitant to leave the Big Four tag behind and dive into a startup environment immediately.
You already know what you want - you’re just scared because of sunk cost fallacy with the MBA. Been there. I switched from engineering to finance and kept forcing myself to “make it work” even though I was miserable.
Reality check: Nobody cares in 5 years why you didn’t stick with Big Four if you’re killing it in analytics leadership. That remote flexibility you’re missing? Most analytics roles still have it while consulting drags everyone back to offices for client meetings.
Your timing’s great - companies need people who bridge technical and business, which is exactly what you are. Stop thinking career ladder, start thinking skill stack.
The consulting trap is totally real - tons of MBAs get sucked into these prestigious firms only to realize the work feels completely hollow compared to actual hands-on technical stuff. You’ve got classic “golden handcuffs syndrome” - stuck in a job you hate because it looks good on paper. Here’s the thing though: analytics roles at big companies are paying 20-30% more than they did three years ago, especially if you’ve got an MBA. Your combo of technical background plus business school is actually pretty valuable right now. Don’t worry about the coding skills thing - most analytics work today is more about strategic thinking and managing tools than hardcore programming. Stop thinking of this as going backwards. You’re using your full skillset. Go after senior analytics positions or hybrid roles like “Analytics Product Manager” where those consulting presentation skills actually help you. The job market’s completely different since you started your MBA, and technical business roles are hot right now.
you’re overthinking this. your MBA won’t disappear if you go back to analytics - it just makes you more valuable. big four on your resume is already enough validation. why suffer through work that drains you when there’s a skills shortage in analytics right now? my buddy made a similar move last year and got a 40% bump going from consulting back to data science at a tech company. the coding comes back fast once you start again.
That tension between career advancement and personal fulfillment? You’re not alone—tons of MBA grads end up in roles that don’t click with what they actually enjoy. Three years in analytics where you felt satisfied and made real impact? That’s huge and shouldn’t be dismissed.
Here’s the thing: Big Four experience should work for your goals, not the other way around. Your analytics background plus MBA actually sets you up perfectly for senior analytics roles or data-focused product positions. Worried about coding skills? You can tackle that with evening or weekend courses.
Don’t see going back to analytics as moving backward—it’s smart career optimization. Plenty of successful people took winding paths that ended up way more fulfilling and profitable. The trick is keeping momentum while you transition. Target analytics leadership roles or specialized consulting in areas where you’ve got expertise.
Your MBA didn’t lose value—you just need to use it more strategically for roles that actually energize you.
the whole “validate your MBA” thing is complete BS. you already validated it by getting into a tier-1 school and landing that Big Four job. now you’re just torturing yourself over some imaginary career scorecard that doesn’t matter if you’re miserable.
three years of meaningful work where you felt productive vs. being a PowerPoint monkey? that’s not even a real choice. the market’s desperate for analytics people who think strategically (hello, MBA skills), and your coding will come back faster than you think - it’s like riding a bike.
worst case? you “waste” a year or two being happy and productive while rebuilding your technical skills. way better than grinding consulting templates until you burn out completely.
