I’m currently feeling lost in my career and would really appreciate some advice from those who might have faced similar challenges.
My Experience:
For three years, I worked in the analytics field at two different firms. The job had its perks - a good salary, remote work, and I felt my efforts were truly impactful. However, I eventually felt stagnant and sought a change.
Going for an MBA:
I opted to pursue an MBA from a prestigious institution, primarily aiming for roles in product management. Throughout my studies, I focused on landing a position in the tech industry related to product management.
Current Job Situation:
Due to the competitive job market for product roles, I took a strategy consulting role with a leading consulting firm. Initially, it seemed like a great alternative because of the reputation these jobs carry.
However, I find myself dissatisfied with my current tasks. Much of my work involves making presentations from set templates, which feels uncreative and less meaningful compared to my previous job. In the analytics field, despite the challenges, I always felt a sense of achievement from what I produced.
Facing My Dilemma:
Now, I’m contemplating a return to my former field but have various concerns:
- Am I risking my MBA by leaving consulting?
- Have I lost my tech skills after stepping away from coding?
- Can I compete with others who have fresher experiences?
I’ve applied to major companies for analytics and product roles but haven’t received feedback. I’m also considering startups, but I worry about letting go of my current company’s reputable name.
Has anyone experienced something similar? What steps would you recommend I take?
Stop seeing your consulting gig as a detour—it’s actually an asset. You’re building strategic thinking and client communication skills that product management desperately needs. Most PMs struggle with executive presentations and stakeholder alignment, but you’re gaining real practice in both areas right now. This isn’t wasted time; it’s what’ll set you apart from all the purely technical candidates.
Don’t worry about your analytics skills going stale. Those fundamentals don’t just vanish, and adding strategic thinking on top makes you more valuable, not less. Target senior product roles where business acumen trumps hands-on coding. Your combination of deep analytics, an MBA, and strategic consulting creates a compelling narrative for product leadership positions. Just make sure you connect the dots—show how each experience builds toward PM instead of treating them like random career moves.
Been there. Don’t rush this decision - I jumped from a solid analytics job to what I thought was my dream role and was miserable for 8 months. Sometimes the grass isn’t greener. Your consulting gig is teaching you to talk with C-suite people, which is gold for product work. Try networking internally first. See if there’s any product strategy stuff you could slide into at your current firm. No need to start over again.
Please, “wasting your MBA” by leaving consulting? That’s sunk cost fallacy. You hate the job but you’re worried about some imaginary career police judging your resume? Nobody cares about your perfect linear progression except you. Those “prestigious” consulting gigs are everywhere anyway. If you were happier doing analytics work that felt meaningful, go back to what worked. The market’s tough, but making PowerPoint slides from templates isn’t building your dream career either.
Your analytics background is gold! Tech skills come back faster than you’d expect. Tons of successful people pivot multiple times - that MBA plus analytics combo makes you incredibly valuable. Keep applying everywhere and trust the process!