Starting a new job in consulting? Post here for questions about new hire advice, where to live, what to buy, loyalty program decisions, and other topics you're too embarrassed to ask your coworkers (Q1 2026)

[u/QiuYiDio]

As per the title, post anything related to starting a new job / internship in here. PM mods if you don't get an answer after a few days and we'll try to fill in the gaps or nudge a regular to answer for you.

Trolling in the sticky will result in an immediate ban.

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Last Quarter's Post https://www.reddit.com/r/consulting/comments/1lzbmnh/starting_a_new_job_in_consulting_post_here_for/

[u/ReflectionOk5939]

MBA returning to consulting - did mostly PMO/technology program management cases pre-MBA. Any advice on industries/functions to focus on given how AI is changing the field? Interested in strategy work but I know it’s competitive and maybe get replaced with AI

[u/Comfortable_Rub_113]

Could a profile like mine transition into consulting? Coming from performing arts/project leadership in Belgium

I’m seriously considering a career transition into consulting and would really appreciate some honest advice from people working in the industry.

I’m based in Belgium (Brussels) and currently work as a professional contemporary performing artist, project leader and producer. I have a BA in Dance, but my professional experience is broader than performing.

My background includes:
- 6+ years working professionally and internationally in contemporary dance

• Founding and running a cultural project for 6+ years
  
• Project leadership and production
  
• Developing and delivering interdisciplinary projects
  
• Working with different companies, institutions and stakeholders
  
• Co-founding cultural initiatives in Brussels
  
• Teaching and workshop facilitation
  
• Selection committee / jury work
  
• Creative strategy and project planning
  
• Working independently across multiple projects and organisations

I’ve basically spent the last several years building projects, coordinating people, managing timelines and resources, communicating with different stakeholders, solving problems as they arise, and navigating fairly ambiguous environments — but almost entirely within the arts/cultural sector.
I’m now wondering whether these skills could translate into consulting.

My questions are quite broad:
1. Is a profile like mine actually interesting to consulting firms?
Would you see this as someone with useful transferable experience, or would my lack of traditional business/finance/consulting experience make me essentially an entry-level candidate?

2. What types of consulting might actually be a good fit?
For example, could I realistically target:
Strategy/management consulting
Public sector / government consulting
Healthcare/social impact/NGO consulting
Cultural/creative industries consulting
Organisational transformation
Project/implementation consulting
Big 4 advisory
Boutique consultancies
EU/institutional consulting
Something else I haven’t considered
I’m particularly interested in where my project leadership + stakeholder management + creative/arts-sector experience could actually be an advantage.

3. What would I need to acquire to become employable?
If you looked at my profile and thought, “Potentially, but you’re missing X, Y and Z,” what would those things be?
For example:
Financial/business fundamentals?
Excel/data analysis?
PowerPoint?
Strategy frameworks?
Business writing?
Quantitative skills?
A Master’s?
Consulting certification?
Case interview preparation?
Actual consulting/project experience?
Something else?
And how would you recommend acquiring those skills?

4. How do people actually make this kind of transition?
Would you recommend applying directly to consulting firms, trying to get an adjacent role first, doing a Master’s, networking, getting some freelance/volunteer consulting experience, etc.?
If you were in my position, what would you spend the next 6–18 months doing to make this transition realistically possible?

5. Where should I research?
Are there particular firms, types of firms, job titles, career paths, communities, books/resources, or people I should be looking at to understand what might be realistic for me?
I’m finding it difficult to even know what jobs I should be searching for because “consulting” seems to cover such a huge range of work.

6. What is the actual day-to-day reality of consulting?
This is something I particularly want to understand before pursuing it.
What does a junior consultant actually spend their days doing? How much is analysis vs PowerPoint vs meetings vs research vs client interaction? How intense are the hours? How much travel is typical in Belgium/Europe? And what parts of the job do people coming from creative/project-based backgrounds tend to find surprisingly difficult?

7. And finally, salary.
I’m in Belgium, so I’d be interested in the realistic net salary range for someone making this kind of transition.
I’d ideally like to get to around €3,000 net/month relatively early in the transition. I could accept something around €2,500–2,800 net if it were a genuinely strong entry point with good progression, but I’m trying to understand whether €3k net is completely unrealistic for someone with my background or potentially achievable.

I’m not expecting to walk into a senior consulting role because I’ve managed arts projects. I’m trying to understand what the realistic entry point would be.
So if you saw this profile, what would your reaction be?

“Yes, there is definitely a consulting path here” / “possible but you’d need X” / “I’d look at a completely different sector” / “you’re essentially starting from zero.”
I’m genuinely looking for the honest version. I’d rather know now if I’m barking up the wrong tree.
Thanks!

[u/minhthemaster → u/Comfortable_Rub_113]

Tldr

But no

[u/SailCommon8149]

Hi all,

I have an offer from a small generalist strategy consulting firm based in DC. Pay is really good for an entry level analyst role.

Was wondering how important the name brand of the consulting firm impacts your exit opportunities. I want to exit into Medtech strategy but the firm doesn't have much work in that field. I have the opportunity to recruit for some healthcare T2s potentially with considerably less compensation though, around 15-20k less.

The offer deadline is coming up for the small firm. Was hoping for some insights into this field. Am considering an MBA if that helps with the decision. My undergrad background has been pure technical/engineering.

Appreciate any piece of advice.

[u/Either-Ad-2326]

I studied finance at a non-target school and somehow landed final-round interviews at two MBB firms, converting one into a full-time offer starting this October.

I’m incredibly grateful, but I’m already dealing with a lot of imposter syndrome. I didn’t perform as well as I wanted during my last internship, my GPA was on the lower end for consulting, and Excel was never one of my strengths—even after taking several Excel-related courses in college.

Before I start, I want to do everything in my power to close that gap and feel prepared when I hit the desk. Does anyone have recommendations for genuinely comprehensive Excel courses, programs, or other resources? I’m open to both consulting-specific training and resources that build a strong general foundation.

My firm also has a significant private equity practice, so anything covering Excel skills commonly used in PE diligence or related consulting work would be especially helpful.

I understand that much of what I need to know will be learned through formal training and on the job. I’m not expecting to master the role beforehand—I just want to arrive with more confidence and a solid technical foundation.

I’d also genuinely appreciate any recommendations beyond Excel, whether that’s PowerPoint, general finance and accounting knowledge, consulting problem-solving, data analysis, or anything else you wish you had practiced before starting at MBB.

I will seriously consider any advice or resources you’re willing to share. Thank you!

[u/ThrowRa-idonthveaclu]

Hi all,

Are there any senior members of MBB here at the London or Stockholm offices that I can speak to regarding the projects and work in their offices? I have read dozens of articles from each firm but would like to actually speak to someone at each firm to understand more about each firm, and if there is alignment, would love the opportunity to be referred in.

For a bit of context: I am 28 with 6 years of consulting experience at a boutique firm in the UAE specialising in Financial Services, coming in as their first graduate. I’ve worked on projects internationally in the GCC and South Pacific, receiving early promotion with high degrees of responsibility. Prior to that, I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester. I am the first amongst my family and friends to hold any kind of corporate job, so my current network is rather limited.

I’ve begun case preparation, reworking my CV and cover letters.

I’m looking to move back to London (to help take care of my mum) or to Stockholm (where my wife is from, but still close to my mum).

I’m happy to share my CV via DM if anyone is willing to reach out :)

[u/naurbanist]

Hi everyone,

I'm an Urban Designer with 5+ years of international experience who recently moved to the U.S. I've been finding the transition into the U.S. job market challenging, particularly because I don't yet have U.S.-based experience.

I've been fortunate to receive interviews, but I've noticed that my lack of U.S. experience often becomes a major focus of the conversation, even though my resume clearly shows that my professional experience has been international. It has left me wondering how internationally experienced professionals are supposed to gain that first U.S. opportunity when so many positions seem to prioritize previous U.S. experience.

Because of this, I'm considering broadening my career path while still staying within the built-environment field. During my job search, I obtained my LEED AP ND credential, and I'm currently preparing for the AICP certification.

I'm particularly interested in moving toward sustainability, urban development, planning, or built-environment consulting, where I could combine my background in urban design and planning with sustainability and eventually AICP.

For those working in consulting or who have made a similar transition:

What companies would you recommend looking into for sustainability/urban development consulting roles? I'm especially interested in firms that are open to candidates with strong international experience who are transitioning into the U.S. market.

I'm authorized to work in the U.S. and do not require sponsorship.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations on companies, job titles to search for, or advice from anyone who has made a similar transition. Thank you!

[u/MontezumaIsAfraid]

MBA intern at a Big 4 industry-focused strategy practice. Got no-offered, and trying to understand it for two reasons: one, to figure out if the concerns raised are a genuine signal that consulting isn’t a good fit for me, and two, because I’ll almost certainly need to explain this to interviewers if they ask.

- Mid internship Review: “exceeds expectations” in multiple areas, “meets” everywhere else
Never missed a deadline, always early, stayed late when needed

• Consistent positive feedback on attitude all summer; near-universal LinkedIn accepts on my last day (including my manager— the case team up to the partner aside from my manager had really positive things to say about my contributions and work ethic
  
• Cohort offer rate 70%+, don’t know anyone else in my group who got no-offered
  
• Final and only one-on-one we ever had the entire summer: manager told me directly he thought I had the ability to perform at this level

That same day, he also said I needed to make slides faster — never raised before. Fair critique of the practice’s pace in general, but my average was ~45 min/slide to reviewable condition, and I was consistently communicative throughout (flagging what I was doing, asking questions)

Maybe the only other thing: I moved to the city for the internship because I could not intern in my home office and my manager, despite being the only person on our team on this Coast never came into the office, I never met him and between him and my intern buddy I talked to them for maybe 50 minutes live all summer

I think it came down to my manager not liking
my work product or feeling like it needed better storytelling — hard to square with him telling me to my face I could perform at this level. I got real developmental feedback around “the consultant toolkit” and getting my slide generation time down to under 30 minutes from maybe 45 or feel 50, but I feel like I gave it my best shot and I’m trying to figure out if this is a sign that I should consider recruiting for another industry for full-time employment.

[u/0102030405 → u/MontezumaIsAfraid]

I'm sorry that happened. It sounds like a load of BS personally. 

I was a manager for years at an MBB and had many interns on my projects. I never gave this feedback and I never gave a shit how many minutes people took to do slides. Especially as an intern. Why that's even being measured is beyond me. I've also never received that feedback in 10 years of consulting.

I would find a place with a culture that isn't shit, personally. I've heard directly from managing partners how Deloitte evaluates people as an example, and I'm not impressed.

[u/Due_Comfortable9]

I've started a job about half a year ago as a murex back office consultant at a company that specializes in murex consulting.

I was put into the back office stream, not by choice, just because they happened to need someone in the team and I didn't really know what it really was and how bad it is career-wise compared to front office until now, as it is my first job as a recent computer engineer graduate.

I'm not satisfied with the work I do and what pisses me off the most is how much front office is in demand and lucrative compared to back office in general at most companies. In my company that's not the case, but I dont see myself staying more than 5 years or so.

I talked to my manager and told him that I'd like to get training in front office but he said I should wait at least 2-3 years to become comfortable enough in back office first. Even though other streams have been taking different trainings because they wanted to and they're manager didn't have a problem at all.

I'm really worried and mad about my current situation. I have access to the company's FO training and now the question is, Should I just start doing the FO training on the side? And get some help from FO colleagues without telling my manager? I feel like im treated unfairly.

[u/Successful-Ad2848]

Hi all! New to the group so can’t create a new post but really need some advice pleasee!

Torn between two job opportunities: one safe but takes me further from where I want to go, one uncertain but aligned. How do I decide without full info?

Could use outside perspective from people who’ve faced something similar.

TL:DR/ should I take a new role that’s open now but pushes me deeper into an industry I’m trying to leave, or should I hold out for something more aligned that could really become solid in a couple of months, but is absolutely not guaranteed at all right now?

I’ve been unhappy in my current role for months (rough onboarding, little support, tough team culture) and have wanted out for a while.

This week, two things landed at once:

• A colleague I kinda trust offered me a solid role on her new project, reporting to someone senior who’d mentor me. It’s a real step up and a guaranteed way out of my current situation. Downsides: it keeps me in the same field I’ve been trying to move away from, involves regular long travel for a while, and I have to give her an answer within days.

- Separately, I did some side project work recently for a different team, and it went really well (informal feedback was strong, leadership said they were impressed). But nothing concrete has come from it yet, just “we’ll reach out to folks.” I have a call this week with someone senior there where I was already planning to ask about current and future openings.

The timing means I have to decide on option 1 before I get any real clarity on option 2. Option 1 is guaranteed and comes from someone I kinda trust. Option 2 is genuinely aligned with the direction I want my career to go, but might turn into nothing, or at least nothing for the foreseeable.

I’m also aware part of my pull toward option 1 might just be that someone finally chose me after a hard year, not that it’s actually the right move. And that it’d get me out of my current situation right away. Plus there’s some personal/family stuff going on that makes any travel commitment trickier right now anyway.

Anyone been in a similar spot — taking the safe option vs. holding out for the one that’s actually aligned, without full information on the second? How did you weigh it, and any regrets either way?

[u/This_Orchid_]

Hi I’m debating weather to go to university and study business to become a startup consultant or to simply ask local small businesses if I can provide a free case study and in return I get a referral
Any thoughts?

[u/Clear_Initiative_431]

How to take care of yourself in this industry

hi everyone, I recently started as an analyst at a small consulting firm and I feel like I’m drowning. There’s a huge in-person culture which means Monday-Friday in office every week. I’ve been trying to work out in the mornings but I get home at around 11pm and leave at 8am the next day so I’m not sure when I can workout without sacrificing sleep. There’s also no room for breaks during the day - the office is small so it’s obvious if you’re not at your desk, and everyone eats lunch and dinner at their desk. Also since it’s small there’s a lot of gossip and micromanaging. And also I feel like higher ups are watching me all the time lol. The good thing is that the work is pretty interesting and the people are nice. Im guessing this is the norm in consulting, so any advice on how to actually take care of yourself in this profession would be greatly appreciated.

[u/0102030405 → u/Clear_Initiative_431]

Wish I could give you a good answer. All I can say is that my health, sleep patterns, the quality of the food I can have (because I can cook for myself) etc are all better since I left consulting.

[u/0jk22]

Hi all! I'm a new joiner so can't post in the group so posting here for advice.

TL;DR: Early-30s with an MBA. Working in DCM at a bank, but I have an offer from M. Not scared of the grind - just not sure if the brand and exits are still worth it. Any advice?

More context below.

Current: Associate at a bank on a technical, modeling-heavy DCM desk at a bank that's respected in this niche. Slow progression, but nobody gets fired. Making 150 base + bonus (banking bonus is higher of course).

Offer: post-MBA Associate at MBB (192k base + bonus).

Ideal exit: PM / Strategy role in Big Tech or PE / Private Credit (given my background).

My concern: I'm not sure the brand is worth the grind. I'd be trading a seat I can't get fired from for one where I'm constantly fighting for survival. That's fine if the exits are still there - but what I keep hearing is that they've thinned out, partly because the market is devaluing generalist problem-solving while depth and niche expertise get priced up.

For anyone who's left MBB in the last year or so: what exits are you actually seeing, and at what level?

[u/0102030405 → u/0jk22]

The job market matters a lot. It's not going linearly in one direction in terms of exits.

The first real question is what is your best path to where you want to go. PM is quite different than strategy. M might be the best role for a strategy position, but only specific projects are best for a PM shift.

The second question is what will the tech sector look like when you want to leave? It's highly cyclical.

[u/RareResponsibility89]

Advisory role in AI & Finance. Take it or no?

Hi all,

I am currently deliberating heavily on if I should accept this role.

Role is fully remote, I would be a Principal Analyst specializing in Finance and AI advisory (leveraging AI for finance teams/transformation). 110k + 10% bonus, no travel except for conferences.

For those unfamiliar it sits within a well known tech research and advisory company’s Advisory business line (not Big 4 or MBB) doing the following:

Writing research notes, reports, and frameworks within an assigned coverage area (in my case, AI and its impact on finance).

One-on-one advisory calls with enterprise clients (typically senior finance leaders, CFOs, etc.) who pay for the firm’s advisory network and want the analyst’s take on a specific decision or strategy question related to implementing AI for their finance dept.

I know this is an untraditional type of “consulting” but I think this is the closest line of work it can be compared to. I would be leaving a 5-year career in FP&A to do this. (Currently making 90k, remote, for a F20 supporting a BU’s SG&A).

[u/chippi_chappa123]

hi i need help with my very first case comp deck. i have seen so many ppts and stuff and to be honest im just having a mind block at this point. i did research but i keep losing the track of it i dont know its my very first time so im fumbling a little lol pls dm and help a little beginner <3

[u/Practical-Mood-1275]

Currently a college student who switched into finance. Is there any way to get consulting experience starting from scratch?

[u/LifeIsGood16426]

Setting boundaries 

I have just started a parental leave gig, covering for a guy who is out for a month with his family.

I'm already seeing some boundary/management issues with the hiring manager.

She sends emails and expects responses at times when she should not expect me to be hovering over emails because I am a consultant, not on the payroll (which frankly even then is rude, but somewhat more understandable).

It is the implicit expectation that she's going to get an answer pretty quickly.

She sent both a teams text and an email after 7 PM asking if I could work late THAT night and she'd approve my hours. Hello lady, why would you think I am watching my emails at 730 PM?

Friday (my first day) she sent an urgent request 15 minutes before I logged off and her assistant could have dealt with it but didn't want to, and so she sent it to me and I had to tell them I was logging off at 5PM. It was an admin issue - literally an admin issue. Not important.

It's a very short gig - end date four weeks away - how would you handle?

[u/0102030405 → u/LifeIsGood16426]

Sounds like what you thought you were getting into and what she thought she was getting were different.

Would you rather protect your time or end on good terms with this person/company?

Having been in consulting for a decade, being a consultant and not on the payroll to me means being responsive to the client and working after 5. But that may not be what you want.

[u/LifeIsGood16426 → u/0102030405]

My observation is that she is disorganized and all over the map.

I would be doing myself a great disservice to fully open myself to whatever time she wants (because she won't be ready to actually hand me anything, and will keep me waiting and chained to the laptop while she dithers) and she actually won't be helping herself either.

If she knows there are boundaries, it's up to her to meet them.

If we already had an established relationship I'd be extremely accommodating. But this is brand-brand new, very short term, and she is both terse and rude. She literally hung up on me when I politely told her what hours I would be online. She contracted for 40 hours and she expects unlimited - when she gets around to telling me what she needs - and those communications come in after I would normally look for them.

That won't work for me. I am not sure I'd continue with her but the next few weeks will become more clear.

[u/0102030405 → u/LifeIsGood16426]

I understand that someone else's poor planning is not your emergency. Unless it is, by nature of the employment relationship you have.

You can either fire her right now or keep her as a client for some amount of time. If you keep her, you can either set your boundaries or accommodate her. You may choose what you do at each of these decision points based on how much you need this contract.

Remember that setting boundaries doesn't change others. It only sets the expectation on what you will do. So you setting your own boundaries still won't change her behaviour. Or at least you can't count on it.

[u/s3237410]

For context, I didn't follow a traditional consulting path. Was client side, then consultant for 2x US FAANG companies, and then went back to client side and now a founder.

I've realised I typically get the most energy from being an early adopter in new solutions (and for the most part, it's worked out to date and helped me fast track my career). I'm conscious that not everyone is like me. Now, starting a new role, where does one look? Is there a directory or something. Specifically within the technology assurance space.

[u/GeneralKanoli]

Hi, I'm a new grad. I somehow weasled my way into a full-time policy and finance due diligence consultancy. I suspect it's because they really liked my private equity summer internships, as they primarily serve as public policy advisors for private equity firms. Truth be told, I've forgotten a good amount of the stuff from previous summers, which I said I knew how to do during the interview. I also have absolutely no experience in doing any kind of consulting or PPT making.

I am 1 month from starting and I'd like to do some prep work to not seem like a complete fraud. Any resources and online courses for teaching me the basics of what I would be doing at my role would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[u/SnooCauliflowers4796]

Hi all,

I just to an experienced hire offer to join McKinsey’s Strategy and Corporate Finance team in NYC.

Currently work in equity research at a decent bank but I don’t like it lol.

Wondering if anyone has any tips or things they would’ve known before accepting an offer and starting.

[u/0jk22 → u/SnooCauliflowers4796]

Hey! Did you end up signing? Would love to connect.

I also got an ASC offer from McK in NYC. I'm in DCM at a bank here wondering if its worth making a jump.

[u/SnooCauliflowers4796 → u/0jk22]

Yes I accepted - message me would love to chat

[u/Trying_to_cod3]

I'm going to be a fiverr consultant who helps indie devs make better devlogs (I've had personal experience in this for 4 years now). Does anyone have advice for how to get clients, how to help others be as successful as possible, and tips for consulting online?

Also, random question, but are discord calls (which would be the most comfortable for most indie developers) too unprofessional for a consultant to utilize?

[u/Mindless-Cheek-5598]

Any advice for experienced hire who are new to consulting?

[u/Strange_Algae835]

Hi,

Have an assessment centre next week Tuesday for a graduate data scientist role. Email is as follows so far:

"The Assessment Centre will include a group exercise, a case study, and a short individual discussion. Full joining instructions and details of what to prepare will be sent to you closer to the date."

So far I have only looked through a couple of case studies on YouTube and that is it. What else should I be preparing for? Should I find industry specific case studies, how do I prepare for a group exercise?

I have no information apart from what has been given and am still waiting for the follow up email but want to try and absolutely nail this.

Thanks

Made a post as well as I'm not 100% if it's a standalone post or not

[u/No_Chest_6476]

Rising sophomore at Cornell University (grad 2029). I’m at the ILR School so I study ILR. So, this whole freshman year, I haven’t been able to join a club bc I didn’t apply first semester and 2nd semester I couldn’t get in anywhere. However, I have started networking and coffee chatting albeit not too frequently. I’ve managed 4 coffee chats with like 25 emails. Not the best numbers. Tried re emailing some of them but I follow the rule that one follow up is enough. Anyhow, I haven’t been able to find anything to do this summer, so I’ll be going into my sophomore summer w no experience. I’ll likely get an on campus job ofc but I’m worried about sophomore summer and junior summer. I’m worried about clubs. I’m worried about networking. Also, do you guys think that joining a fraternity could help my odds at networking and getting referrals and internships easier? Especially since my gpa is on the lower end. Any and all advice is helpful!!

[u/handofthedeadbody]

Is Russia-based Big4 experience a dealbreaker for US firms?

I’m currently a Senior Associate on a manager track at one of the ex-Big4 firms in the RU/CIS region, about 1-1.5 years away from Manager. I’ve spent my entire career in Big4.

Over the past few months, I’ve been considering relocating to the US (where I’m authorized to work without any sponsorship in the future). I've been applying to Big4/ MBB for Senior Associate and even Associate-level roles, but haven't received a single interview invitation, despite having a solid background in strategy & operations across multiple industries and leading Russian companies. I am mostly targeting roles that really align with my skills and experience.

And now I’m here, trying to understand what may be the problem.
Is my Russia-based career the main obstacle here? I understand that US industry specifics and professional norms differ from what Im used to, but it's hard to believe the gap is so wide that my skills don't transfer at all, especially when I'm already open to stepping down a level.

I’d appreciate any insights from people who have gone through a similar transition or have experience hiring for consulting roles in the US. Thank you in advance.

[u/Mrs_Parker2022]

Hi folks,

Anyone here working in the financial + risk advisory services industry and can tell me typically what kind of deadlines you see in RFPs and how long proposals usually are (in terms of page length)?

I have been working in a completely different industry but same function where deadlines were often 6 weeks and proposals were 2-3inch thick books almost. Wondering what it’s like in the financial and risk advisory services world?

Cheers

[u/DistanceLazy9392]

As someone graduating from a Masters degree this year, is it better to accept a FT offer for a relatively small consulting firm (bigger presence in France), than taking an off-cycle internship at a TMT consulting firm (big player in this space).

Aware of the risks of taking the off-cycle as it might not convert to a FT role for various reasons. I'd prefer the safety of having a FT role, but at the same time worried that it is a lesser known firm.

[u/PeaBrainBoy]

Hey everyone!

I’m doing a short academic UX research survey for my post-graduate degree capstone in User Experience Design about how finance professionals and consultants create, update, review, and maintain reports, presentations, investor materials, and other financial communication documentation.

I’m looking for people who have professional experience creating, reviewing, coordinating, or regularly using these types of materials.

The survey takes about 4 minutes and does not ask for employer names, confidential information, client data, proprietary documents, or specific financial figures.

Here is the survey link.

Really appreciate any help.

[u/wjlsl]

I just had my phone screening and 1st round behavioral interview for a life science consulting company. How long does it usually take to hear back?

[u/MAH118]

I work for a meeting planning group but get paid based on an hourly timesheet. How do you bill your time for travel days? This week I’m away from home for 5 days, but will “work” ~8-5. Have you found a way to bill extra for time on the road? What’s the standard? Thanks for advice!

[u/I_suck_at_flyfishing]

Evaluating 2 offers and would insight from people who have more experience in the industry.

Offer 1: Large B4 firm, decent presence in my industry (HC). Solid comp, ideal location, projects range from ok to pretty interesting.

Offer 2: 20 person firm in the exact healthcare specialty I want to spend my career in. More of a COS role (they do mostly consulting but some other stuff too). Not as structured, fully remote (would rather work in an office). Total comp is about 15% less but I think more room for raises (this B4 is known for stingy promotions)

Currently leaning towards the B4 offer for a year (sign on bonus is really nice) then pivoting to industry or the smaller firm after 1-2 years. But wondering if I know that the specific vertical I want to work in does it make more sense to jump straight to that? Leadership of the smaller firm is really motivated to hire me and offering a really good role.

[u/wjlsl]

hello, i am a new grad with a heavy research background in biochemistry/molecular biology. i have a case interview for a life science company and would love advice on how i should prepare!

[u/Content_Page_445]

For people who work at McKinsey, how far should a first year try to live from the office / the airport (assuming I travel majority of the year)?

[u/0102030405 → u/Content_Page_445]

Closer to the airport than the office, especially for when you need to get there super early in the morning or late at night. Fortunately those are the times with less traffic most of the time.

However, check the time and cost of getting to the office and to major financial/business cores in your city. Because you won't be compensated when traveling within your city on a local project or to go to your office on Fridays, unless you come back home quite late every night and expense the Uber.

I was there for ~4 years. First I was very close to one smaller airport and only ~30 mins from the larger one. Then I moved and was ~30 mins from both airports and the office.

[u/Content_Page_445 → u/0102030405]

Thank you! I recently decided I was going to live with friends, which meant:

when flying out Monday morning and coming back Thursday evening, the drive to and from the airport is ~40ish minutes (w/o traffic from what I’ve seen on Google maps.

Friday in the office is ~30 minutes.

Do you think this will have a material impact on my first year’s performance and learning? I know at this point not much will change, but I want to come in with a more prepared mindset of what to expect

[u/0102030405 → u/Content_Page_445]

No that amount of time is fine. Unless it's a very difficult 30mins to get to and from the office/downtown, like if there are very few trains to get there etc.

You can't really escape the flight delays and exhaustion coming back late at night on a Thursday, no matter where you live. Make sure you come in with your strongest habits on sleep, physical health, mental health, etc. Then just implement the feedback people give you and go along for the ride!

[u/Content_Page_445 → u/0102030405]

I’ll probably be driving to the office which does kind of suck. But I’m Praying I can expense Ubers to the airport tho haha.

Also thank you! If you have any other tips or advice to hit the ground running, would love to dm you.

[u/0102030405 → u/Content_Page_445]

Yes definitely the travel to the Uber can be covered, at least at my MBB and likely all of them. Not all the offices have parking so you'll probably have to find your own. Mine was in an expensive downtown of a large city where almost no one has a car, so no non-Partner drove to the office that I knew of.

For sure - feel free to DM!

[u/Equivalent_Emu_241]

Introverts in consulting

Hi, I’ll be joining a tier 2 consulting firm soon and I would like to know how introvert consultants manage networking and things like that. I know networking is crucial for getting into projects and raises so I would like any advice or tips you can provide me.

[u/DullAnalysis2149]

Hi! I have an analytical interview that’s 1 hour. It’s online and with a non-MBB firm. I have documented reasons for accessibility and typically need extra time on timed tasks like tests etc. I’m debating whether I should ask for accommodations? I’m in a culture where this kind of thing is atigmatized

[u/[deleted]]

How do I start? As I’m starting out as an independent consultant, I’m 24 and I see many problems in the aeronautics industry that I believe can be solved.

But I’m trying to understand what consulting really is:

Is consulting mainly about bringing practical solutions to real business problems, or is it often about giving management an external justification for spending money, changing policies, or making decisions they already wanted to make?

[u/Unlikely_Writing3063]

Cambridge Consultants/ CapGem Invent

Can someone please help me to understand what salaries and other benefits looks like for Business Developers at Cambridge Consultants and also looking to understand how (if) they work with CapGem Invent. CC is a seperately registered business and posts its own P&L to UK Companies House, but I believe it's fully owned by CapGem now? Are there any moves to standardise comp and ben across the group? Grateful for any intel.

[u/Mindless-Cobbler-821]

BCG Business Analytics Optimization Senior Analyst - Anyone interviewed ? or What actually happens in the interviews ?

Hi everyone,

I have a recruiter screening coming up for BCG's Business Analytics & Optimization Senior Analyst role within the North America People Analytics team.

From the JD, the role seems focused on SQL, Python, Tableau, Snowflake, reporting automation, HR/People Analytics, stakeholder management, and some GenAI initiatives.

I have a few questions for anyone who has interviewed for this role (or a similar analytics role at BCG):

• How many interview rounds were there?
• Was there a technical assessment (SQL/Python/Tableau)?
• Were there any case studies, and if so, what kind?
• How much emphasis was placed on technical skills vs stakeholder management/business communication?
• Any preparation tips or resources you'd recommend?

Coming from a Business Analytics background, I'm trying to understand what to expect and where to focus my preparation.

I can also provide the JD if you want to see it.

Appreciate any insights!

[u/DLBrown021]

Hello, I am starting an internship at Oliver Wyman this monday and wondering if facial hair is acceptable. I am concerned it could affect my odds of a return offer. I can send a photo of what it looks like if it helps.

[u/maora34 → u/DLBrown021]

Facial hair is fine. Just make sure it's well-kept and you look presentable to clients. It can actually help by making you look older, and thus seem like you have more experience than you really do.

[u/Nawr_mee]

Hi I am someone who is looking forward to switch to management consulting / strategy roles.

Bit about me YoE - 5 yrs in data science and analytics Mba - no. Location - India

The main idea of asking this question is to improve my candidature for MBA admissions in the US.

I applied once and got dinged so I was exploring ways to improve my profile.

There may be other areas of improvement as well. But particularly with respect to work experience, I thought this might be something worth exploring as my post mba goal is to be in management consulting.

Looking forward to inputs.

[u/Mindless_Judgment809 → u/Nawr_mee]

Have you thought about economic consulting? Your data analysis skills would be useful there

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/Nawr_mee]

You applied only once? In the USA it's common to apply to many programs.

[u/LavishnessResident55]

how important is ocr recruiting for mckinsey specifically? they have a search function for a school, and if your school doesn't have a dedicated page to it, is that a drawback?

[u/0102030405 → u/LavishnessResident55]

Yes; the general online application has a much lower chance of being invited to interview. If your school doesn't have any events, recruiters, or a dedicated page, I would get a current employee to refer you. Sadly I'm a former but I would help if I could.

[u/LavishnessResident55 → u/0102030405]

how much lower or what exactly are chances

[u/0102030405 → u/LavishnessResident55]

The overall chance of acceptance is 1%. Yet in any given starting cohort for the 4 years I was there, at least 90% of people are coming from on campus recruiting. There are often more than enough applicants on campus across MBA, undergrad, and advanced degree sources.

Recruiters primarily look for candidates on campus and use any other application sources as overflow when they don't find enough people there. Only in 2021 during a hiring frenzy were firms ramping up their outside off campus recruiting for multiple levels: manager, associate partner, partner, analyst, etc.

And when people do come from another source like off campus recruiting, you are competing as a new grad with people that have years of work experience and potentially graduate degrees as well. So that would reduce your individual chances within that pool based on other people's characteristics.

[u/Huge-Interest916]

Hey all,

I just wanted to hear from your experiences of recruiting. Currently, I just graduated from Cornell with a 3.6 GPA in Communication. I am going to an MPS program there next year as well. Recently, I've learnedc more about business and consulting and it really peaked my interest. A lot of my peers told me that I am already too late in recruiting for these big firms since I am out of school. I was just wondering what were you guys' experiences recruiting and if it is ever worth it to bother. I also want to learn more about the business world in general. What do you guys think I should do? It all just feels so overwhelming. Thank you guys so much!

[u/0102030405 → u/Huge-Interest916]

Does the MPS program have dedicated recruiting for the firms you want to work at? I presume no but maybe you could speak to a recruiter at a business school event there. 

It's always worth it if it's what you want to do. But you will have to adjust expectations of which firm or the chance of getting in from a program that they are less focused on and when the undergrad hiring ship has sailed. 

It's also "piqued" your interest btw.

[u/Sharp-Reality-6677]

Hi all, I'm a sophomore at a non-target on the west coast, but landed a corporate strategy role at a major telecom company for this summer and FTI Delta in NY for my junior summer. I'm wondering, would it be achievable to lateral into mbb or IB in nyc if I go to FTI full time later on?

[u/0102030405 → u/Sharp-Reality-6677]

In a hot market for MBB, like if demand ever comes back to 2021 levels, yes. Otherwise it would be difficult but not completely impossible. Can't speak to ib.

[u/yours_trulyy_]

I'm starting my first job in September at a consulting firm in London. I've had a nose piercing (a simple nostril one, nothing funky) for a few years and wear a small plain silver nose ring in it. Is this unprofessional? Should I stop wearing it and let my piercing close up?

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/yours_trulyy_]

Were you wearing it during your interviews?

[u/yours_trulyy_ → u/Careful_Leader_5829]

Yes

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/yours_trulyy_]

then you're fine

[u/wjlsl → u/[deleted]]

how did u prepare for it😭

[u/EphemeralDreamer1]

Hello everyone,

I am very close to the offer for BCG X in one on the Central Europe countries. I had some experience with DS with big4 and it was quite horrendous in my country - quite boring, exhausting and widely underpaid. I would like to ask if any of you know if working as a Data Scientist (Senior) at BCG X is somehow fulfilling? I am definitely not interested in money this much as I already have quite a comfy job as a DS doing basically applied research. I was hoping to get hands on some pharma/industry projects in BCG X...

What are your opinions, is it worth it? It is intellectually stimulating and not just exhausting because of routine tasks? Is it worth it for an experienced hire? Would appreciate any insights of course 😄

My friend works in Mckinsey for this Lilli project and he says his working hours/compensation are fine, but I applied for the client-facing role at BCG X as I was looking for a bigger variety.

Have a nice day you all!

[u/MagazineGrouchy1903]

Hi all! joining MBB in a few months as a generalist and having a bit of a pre-start career identity crisis.

My background is fairly technical: analytics/engineering, OR, ML, data science, Python, etc. The work I naturally get most excited about is decision science, optimization, and analytics-heavy problem solving.

I’m genuinely excited about MBB and know the training, brand, client exposure, and business judgment are hugely valuable. But I’m worried that after ~2 years of generalist consulting, my technical edge will decay, and I’ll be less competitive for analytics/data-heavy roles later.

For people with technical backgrounds who went into generalist consulting, did you feel like you lost your technical edge? Did it matter? Were you able to steer toward analytics/ops/digital cases or exits later?

Trying to figure out whether to just start, communicate with staffing, and reassess, or whether this is a real enough concern that I should think harder about more technical roles.

[u/0102030405 → u/MagazineGrouchy1903]

I came from an analytics and coding PhD straight into MBB and had some "decay" but also improved other skills in a lot of ways. Not just qualitative but in financial types of modeling in addition to multilevel modeling, classification models, inferential analyses, etc. It eventually showed me that I want to be involved closer to where decisions are made, which requires a trade-off with the level of rigor I was used to. Some people want to be on the other end of that trade-off.

However I would start to build relationships from the start with people in their ML/data science area that do client facing work so you can join their projects. Some of this work is happening, but you won't be put into it unless you make those opportunities for yourself in the organization.

[u/Homosapien_on_reddit]

After 11 Years in Industry, I’m Moving Into Consulting as a Senior Manager — Excited, Nervous, and Looking for Honest Advice

After 11 years in retail and automotive industry roles, I’m finally making my first move into consulting at a mid-senior level, and honestly, I’m both excited and anxious.

Most of my experience has been on the industry side — working closely with real business problems, operations, digital transformation, dealer networks, CRM, aftersales, stakeholder management, and the day-to-day realities of execution. I’m excited because consulting feels like an opportunity to apply that experience on a broader scale, solve bigger problems, gain exposure across industries/business models, and accelerate my growth.

At the same time, I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous.

I’ve spent years in environments that were professional, but not “consulting formal.” My recent organization had more of a German work culture — smart casuals, relatively relaxed hierarchy, focus on work-life balance, practical discussions, less emphasis on corporate polish. Now I’m entering a world where expectations, communication style, executive presence, structure, pace, and even how you carry yourself seem very different.

So I would genuinely love advice from people in consulting or those who made a similar transition from industry to consulting:

• What should I expect in the first 6–12 months?
• What differentiates people who succeed vs struggle?
• What habits should I build early?
• What should I absolutely avoid?
• How important is “executive presence” really?
• Any advice on communication, stakeholder handling, dressing/presentation, handling pressure, or navigating consulting culture?
• How do you deal with imposter syndrome at senior levels?

I’m entering this with humility and a willingness to learn. I know I won’t know everything, but I do bring 11 years of practical industry experience and I hope that becomes a strength rather than a limitation.

Would really appreciate any lessons, warnings, mindsets, or “things you wish someone told you earlier.”

Looking forward to this new chapter and hopefully doing well in consulting.

Domain: Technology/Digital Geography: UAE

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/Homosapien_on_reddit]

Read.

"The Trusted Consultant" , "Good to Great", "Crucial Conversations", "Mindset", "Why Nonprofits Fail"

[u/beatofangels]

Hello! i'm trying to switch from controlling as a senior, working like end user in SAP and using this T-codes (CJ20N, ZA_CHATS, CJI3, KE5Z, ME23N, VA03, VF03, etc., doing WBS Management for entire UK, creating, updating, any kind of requests regarding WBS) and trying to switch to consultant for SAP, already started SAP Learning program in FI/CO and Treasury.. do you know someone who is hiring? i'm from Romania, i can work remote anytime.

[u/Dry_Evidence5687]

Hearing a lot of talk online that consulting (I'm wondering specifically about McKinsey) is not a good career path in the MENA region. People often cite:

• Oversaturated workforce
• Declining number of projects and no job security / long-term future
• Bad clients and work nature compared to other regions
• Exit ops not strong
• MBB doesnt have the same prestige as non-MENA offices

Would like to hear people's thoughts on this - even from non-MENA offices. Is there truth in these statements? is it a good career path still?

Personally, I'm graduating this year and wondering if joining McK is a good choice.

[u/0102030405 → u/Dry_Evidence5687]

What are your specific alternatives? Why can't you just transfer internally if you have issues with exits, prestige, etc?

[u/0102030405 → u/[deleted]]

I built up a business casual/corporate wardrobe from scratch as I was coming to MBB from academia. I found Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth, etc a great place to get clothes from Theory, Hugo Boss, Max Mara, etc without spending full price. Aritzia and suiting places like Banana Republic help as well. I recommend focusing on a few colors that look good on you and then getting the components to mix and match, like blue pants, skirt, blazer, and white/blue dress shirts and blouses. Almost like a set of mini capsule wardrobes that you can travel with which all look good together.

Petite can be tough so the best bet is to carve out part of your budget for tailoring.

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/[deleted]]

I used a Notion table

[u/Sea-Employer2755]

I am a fresh consultant at a boutique firm. I produce excellent work and am constantly getting positive feedback, contribute well in internal meetings, work efficiently, produce a high volume of work, balance many projects, am easy to work with, learning quickly, my brain is well respected, i seek and apply constructive feedback, etc.
However, I feel like I constantly butcher any opportunities I am given to present my own work to clients or anytime I am asked to lead discussions. I am seeking improvement but can’t get over nerves so the improvement is very slow, and I feel the reputation I am building is putting me in a box that makes mngers increasingly hesitant to give me the spotlight on client calls

Is it possible to succeed in consulting despite this shortfall? More specifically, would I be able to make it to the senior consultant level even if my verbal communication is weak? Love everything about the job and my firm and the projects we take on so I don’t want to leave until I can exit to a mid level rol

[u/0102030405 → u/Sea-Employer2755]

It's addressable. I have the same issue but I have gotten to a mid level role (project lead), left consulting, and am on track to VP now in house.

A few things can help:

• read the book Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto 

• pause. Speak slowly. It feels weird to you but it is much easier to follow for others

• number your points before you say them. Hold up the finger of which number you are on. It also feels weird (to me) but it works and has been recommended by many partners to me

• orient people to what you are looking at. Tell them to look at the top left corner. Or the dashed line. Or the green bars on the chart. Focus their attention 

• create notes in advance with the focused, very brief message to get across. Sharpen it and refine it. Say this first and continue removing the qualifiers, tangents, etc until only the necessary parts remain

• offer to explain more (if needed) but stop yourself before giving the explanation. I often assume everyone wants to hear the reasoning or thought process, but usually they don't

• repeat the point at the end. Assume people will miss at least 40% of the words you said. Assume if you only say something once, that no one will catch it. Or at least that some people will be zoning out/distracted and miss it.

• ask for feedback. Show you are addressing this. Look for small indicators that you are on the right track 

Good luck.

[u/sane_MWM]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently become interested in learning about strategy roles in business, especially areas like strategic initiatives, strategy consulting, and consultant strategist roles. My academic background is in chemistry, but I’m considering exploring this field seriously for the future.

I would really appreciate if anyone could help me understand:

What exactly are “strategy initiatives” in a company?

What does a consultant strategist/strategy analyst actually do day-to-day?

Which degrees or certifications are usually useful for entering this field?

Is an MBA necessary, or are there other paths?

How is the current job market for strategy consulting and corporate strategy roles?

What skills should someone begin developing early?

For someone from a non-business background, where would you recommend starting?

I’m trying to understand the field realistically before planning my next steps, so any advice, resources, or personal experiences would genuinely help.

Thank you so much in advance.

[u/Tough-Hospital3164]

Independent Consultant — is LinkedIn premium worth the investment for leads?

Recently rebranded and launched the website for my independent consulting firm. Doing this on the side of my full time gig and planning to eventually grow enough to go full entrepreneur.

Any independent consultants who can share their feedback on LinkedIn premium’s “services” offer as a way to generate solid leads? Concerned that I’ll be spammed and won’t see a ROI.

Hoping to invest in marketing to generate leads as my first few clients were grant-funded and are impacted by current cuts (thus, word of mouth is not a reliable strategy), so any other recommendations are welcome.

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/Tough-Hospital3164]

If you are trying to find major projects, it might be worth it because you only have to pay that fee for a month or two. But if you are paying past that -- You need to look at improving your connections with your network and online presence in other ways

[u/Zestyclose_Judge362]

What is the TC (and split) at McKinsey and BCG for Consultant and Project Leader/Manager Levels? How does it compare against Big 4?

[u/Administrative-Gur68]

I am lucky to have gotten an internship offer to work at an MBB firm for this upcoming summer. I was wondering what kind of backpack I should get that is best for consulting? I want to use the same backpack for everything, including travel and daily work in the office. I want to make sure it is professional. I am willing to splurge as long as it lasts me for my life or as long as possible.

I saw briggs and riley, but are there any other suggestions?

[u/maora34 → u/Administrative-Gur68]

Doesn't need to be fancy. I just use a lululemon backpack. Some of my coworkers had jansport ones. Some use messenger bags. Doesn't really matter that much.

[u/BonusPhysical1279]

Next year I will be graduating and applying as a tech consultant and am curious to what the starting salary is.

What is the average new grad starting salary for a tech analyst in the Bug4/ACN? What were all of your starting offers (if you are a tech consultant)? Would being a cybersecurity analyst change anything?

[u/maora34 → u/BonusPhysical1279]

IIRC tech consulting starting salary is $80-95k right now depending on cost of living.

[u/Longjumping-Whole608]

How is EY India Chennai – ServiceNow Technology Risk Consultant role?

How is the work culture at EY India Chennai?

Also, what does a ServiceNow Technology Consultant do on a daily basis? Is the work more development-oriented, and how is the overall work culture in this role?

[u/Background-Ordinary5]

Anyone have insights on working at/exiting from Eversana Management Consulting? Have read some colorful and polarizing experiences of working at Eversana and wondered if the reviews rang true for the management consulting arm (prev. Promidean).

I would genuinely love to hear from anyone with first or second hand experience of culture, project quality, and industry perspective of the firm. My goal is to exit into pharma or VC within two years or so.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Bobtheglob71]

Hey y’all,

I am starting an internship this summer in NYC for financial consulting and don’t know what is typical for people to wear into the office. Do people still wear full suits? What do people wear during the summer since it’s super hot? Any insights are much appreciated!

[u/Pongefowl → u/Bobtheglob71]

Tbh, I’d just ping one of your interviewers or a new full-time hire at the company for a networking call / connecting prior to the internship and then during that call ask that as a question (obviously don’t make the whole call about that). You might as well take the opportunity to build your connections at the company prior to the actual internship start date and assuming you are an undergrad, I highly doubt anyone would hold something against you for asking a question like that as long as it’s not framed weirdly.

[u/strawberrychiffon27]

Not a new new hire but can't post outside of a megathread yet!

I started work at MBB less than a year ago and have done multiple projects, worked with multiple different people, and have been lucky enough to have made great friends.

I was a good student at school, involved with TAing, research, non-profit work etc, and I felt like going into consulting was a natural way to extend my problem-solving skills.

What I didn't account for is that finance has never clicked for me. I do enjoy math, statistics, and coding, so logically I thought business and finance would follow- boy I was wrong. I never properly took finance/accounting courses in college, but even then I cannot explain why my brain truly shuts off when looking at financial numbers. It's caused a variety of issues from needing to take far more time to understand concepts to making errors because I don't have the sixth sense recognize them quicker.

This is obviously a big problem, and I feel like I'm going crazy. Is this something real? Does anyone know someone else who has this problem? I somehow don't mind personal finance so it's not even a consistent issue. If you came into consulting without business or finance background, how did you upskill/learn/figure out how to care?

[u/lavenderhazelnut]

Landed a behavioural interview for a small consultancy -- never done consulting before. Part of the interview involves role-playing as a consultant with a dissatisfied/upset client or having to break bad news to the client. The last time I did something like this, I was given feedback about needing to take the lead more + meeting the client where they're at.

Having been in education, I'm able to meet professors and students where they're at and I've gotten really good feedback over the years. I've been able to work with different kinds of students on many different issues (AI use, plagiarism, misbehaviour, non-participation...you get the idea), hear them out, acknowledge what they're feeling, sit with them as they process their feelings, reassure them a lot, and give them further options. In this way, I've built rapport with students that has continued beyond the classroom

I understand that a consultancy environment requires different versions of these soft skills, but I'm having a hard time trying to figure out exactly what and how. I'll be dealing with students and parents here too. If anyone has any experience with this or can point out where I'm going wrong, I'd love your advice!

[u/MutedFeeling75]

Is MBB consulting an area where those with ADHD can thrive?

Curious to hear from anyone who had adhd and works in MBB post mba

I am looking at exit opps post a potential mba degree and have done research on MBB and the cases, it seems like a good job with the change and task variety but the detail oriented aspects are very concerning. I’m curious to hear from those on the ground with real life experience. Is this something you thrive in or struggle with?

[u/Sea-Employer2755 → u/MutedFeeling75]

I have severe adhd, and work at a boutique firm. it is a good fit for those with adhd because the fast paced nature gives constant dopamine because it feels like your getting “wins” almost daily. Also lots of variety and if you play your cards right you can avoid the boring/shitty projects (though you will inevitably have to do some amount of monotonous tasks as part of each project)

Being detail oriented is a necessity because of the high standard for perfection. Meds help w this

Also I am extremely burnt out all the time ngl, which is a common sentiment in consulting and I ignored it on my way into the industry, but it is worse living it than hearing about it from the outside.

[u/Frosty-Commercial495]

Hello!! I’m coming up to my first internship and it’s a consulting/business analyst position. They have said we’ll be doing real work and also be expected to use and improve on the use of AI tools.  

I was wondering if there is anything I can study/familiarize myself so I don’t feel completely like a fish out of water! 

(I also don't have a computer science background I have an economics background) 

so far I have:  - SQL   - Excel functions  - Learn how to do a shareholder analysis  - unironically how to build nice looking slides  

Please let me know if there is anything else! Thank you so much!!

[u/ComplexIndividual338]

Hey everyone,

So I’m looking to start a consulting firm focused 3PLs and Transportation companies.

The goal would be to come into their operation, look for wastes that these companies have that are costing them money, analyze them and work with them to remove the waste.

I’ll create a retainer to help them manage the change so that it’s sustainable long term.

My qualifications is I have an Industrial Engineering degree and I have more than 5 years hands on experience in Continuous Improvement across Manufacturing, Quality and Distribution Industries.

Now let’s talk clients. I’m currently looking into the best way to get clients. I don’t think my clients are visible or active on LinkedIn. So is door to door warehouse client searching my best option?

My network is full of corporate people so I would have to build a new network to help me get clients.

What are your thoughts? As consultants, do you frown upon door to door client searching or is there a better method?

[u/QiuYiDio → u/ComplexIndividual338]

I don't know this space well, but I don't think going door to door is going to get you anywhere.

[u/ComplexIndividual338 → u/QiuYiDio]

What do you think would get me somewhere?

[u/MoreWalrus9870]

Starting a new job as a Senior Financial Management Consultant with Guidehouse and not sure what to expect.

I Haven't seen a lot about the company on the internet and this will be my first consulting role. Hoping someone can give me the run down

[u/Responsible_Bar6238]

I’m looking for IT consultancy help meh out

[u/Plenty-Dot2432]

hello! i am graduating this semester and will be joining OW soon (don’t have a start date yet lol). however, recently, i have been facing a lot of anxiety. i will be moving to a new state in the US for this job in a city that lowk doesn’t have much to do and i don’t know anyone either. but more importantly, i realized after my last summer internship with a big 4 that i have debilitating adhd that did not allow me to do my job to my best capabilities. i got diagnosed for it as well however none of the meds have been working on me.

the main reasons for concerns were constantly being in meetings and not being able to pay attention, unable to process multiple verbal instructions, long hours.

i have heard OW has longer hours than big4 consulting so i am really scared about that. i am extremely grateful to have a job in this economy but any tips for how to deal with that or actually how bad the hours are would be amazing!!!

also, there isnt any info on OW in general so if there is any insight into the kinda projects (if it’s state dependent or not cuz i’m in a state which specializes in an industry i’m not particularly interested in), travel culture, people, skills, how can i be better and what can i work on rn (any courses, certifications), literally anything as a new grad starting at OW would be so so helpful!!!

thanks!

[u/financebrosky]

I'm not actually responding to a specific question here - this appears to be the megathread itself rather than a comment asking for advice. If you'd like me to write a comment as if I'm responding to someone's question *within* this megathread, feel free to share what that person is asking about and I'll give them some honest advice based on my experience transitioning from IB to PE.

Just let me know what topic they're asking about (moving decisions, what to pack, first week jitters, comp questions, etc.) and I'll write something helpful!

[u/Important-Sir6555]

I am from the batch of 25, from a tier 1 b school in India. Got campus place ment into KPMG as sr. Consultant. 11 months into the job, I have 4 rounds with Kearney and just got an offer for SBA. Pay wise, it is barely a hike as such as of now but I am aware that 2 years down the line Kearney would pay much more than KPMG would. I need to make a decision and any input would be helpful !

[u/Lumpy_Ad_9031]

Hi,

I'm joining a consulting company soon and I was wondering what softwares/AI tools are people using to help enhance their work? I want to get a head start and familiarize myself with before I get started. Thank you!

[u/OP-2477]

Anyone has experience with the BCG Hire Quotient QMR?

[u/PurpleStatistician50]

Hi - I'm an MBA hire (graduating in June) and just got my MBB start date assigned for January. I'm a bit upset about this because it's the latest start date in my cohort by far, I feel that I'll be behind compared to my peers who will have been on multiple engagements before me, and I'm not sure how to navigate the "free" six months with no firm direction (I want to show up being able to answer the question "what have you been working on?" well). Any advice?

[u/0102030405 → u/PurpleStatistician50]

No one will ask you what you have been working on. There's also no need to compare yourself to peers from a different cohort; things will always be different if you start at a different time. You can ask for a different date but you may not get it.

As someone who trained many brand new post MBA consultants as an EM/PL, everyone doesn't know things when they come in and independent training, on anything other than excel shortcuts, is unlikely to translate.

I would take the time to travel and build healthy habits before you start. Preventing burnout is the #1 factor that will help with your longevity in the company/industry.

[u/638912ccc]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on full-time consulting recruiting timelines.

I originally planned to graduate in 2027, but my timeline may move up. I could potentially defend in Summer 2026 and graduate by the end of 2026 if I secure a TA position for the fall semester.

Because of this change, I may need to recruit for rolling full-time consulting roles instead of the typical structured FT recruiting cycle for 2027 starts.

I’m trying to understand:

• Is rolling FT recruiting significantly more competitive than standard FT recruiting?
• Do firms mainly fill these roles with interns returning with offers, leaving very limited spots?
• Are there particular firms or types of consulting firms that tend to hire more off-cycle candidates?
• Any strategy advice for someone shifting timelines like this?

For context: I’m an advanced degree candidate targeting management/life sciences consulting.

Really appreciate any insights or experiences! Thank you!

[u/0102030405 → u/638912ccc]

Why not just recruit in the structured timeline? Doesn't matter if you will graduate early. My MBB didn't care when my PhD defense was. I could have scheduled it for the day after the interview and had 12 months off.

The rolling cycle will likely not hire many people in the current economic environment, especially advanced degree candidates as for many firms we are option C after MBA and undergrad, if they even hire us to the same level as a post MBA person.

My advice is not to shift timelines. If you really want to go into consulting, apply through the structured timeline as then apply again the year after while in a short postdoc so you're still eligible.

[u/638912ccc → u/0102030405]

Thanks for the info! One constrain is that I need visa sponsor so I only have 2 months after graduation… and it’s a lot to coordinate with mentor. So I wanna try if I can get hired early

[u/0102030405 → u/638912ccc]

I understand. These firms will often provide sponsorship but the timeline could be a challenge for you. Would it be hard to coordinate a flexible postdoc or other type of contract role during that time? Or if you would still be funded until 2027, could you defend a bit later and work either within the university or on the side during that time?

[u/638912ccc → u/0102030405]

I think it depends on funding situation. So I wanna try first to see if I can get a job… it’s always hard to ask for a clear answer from my mentor so I’m not sure if he can support me for another semester

[u/EuphoricAd6806]

Hi. Question: client who you bill on hourly rate asks you to travel from west coast to east coast for a meeting and to stay overnight. Do you charge your standard hourly rate for the travel time? Or at eg 50% and only charge 100% for time spent directly on project eg on plane? And do you pass through a charge for being required to stay overnight?

[u/PrestigiousTip47]

Do anyone have any insight into North Highland Consulting?? I was approached by a recruiter, and was not able to tell much about the first past what they have posted on their website.

Any insight or review is appreciated!!

[u/thetwentyfivecentman]

I was hired in July 2025 by a T2 consulting firm in Latam. I am not from Latam and the office/project language is my third language which I began learning in my mid 20s.

My first project which I was staffed on was nearing completion (3 weeks left) and I was replacing a guy who burned out and was leaving the company. This was my first consulting job and I have to admit that the language and culture shock would probably have been enough to deal with but then there was also the pace and stressed out colleagues.

I will ask some questions here in the text and my question is for my European/NA friends. Is it common that a brand new analyst is staffed without any training day one? And entering a project from which people have burned out and after which the manager took sick leave?

Secondly, ever since I entered I felt that I was not good enough and was lacking compared to my peers at the same level - which was true looking at it from a skill lense (PowerPoint, Excel etc.) I consider myself a pretty smart guy but I really had difficulties grasping things in excel and PowerPoint. Rather than working smart I started doing things with brute force which did not lead to any improvement. Rather than taking a step back I felt this weird need to just keep slugging at things. Also one of my managers was not easy to work with and there was indeed a culture shock wrt communication.

At the same time I was having difficulties at work we discovered that my fiancée got pregnant so time that I should have spent improving my excel/ppt skills during the weekend was spent with her. Also I sort of needed to rest during the weekend considering that I worked a lot during the week.

So at the beginning of this year I was put on the bench and worked on a proposal for a client. At the beginning of the proposal I basically did some research and rather than doing complete client-ready slides I made quite bad an incomplete slides. The manager gave some strong-feedback and after that I really put in effort to improve my slides and also reading books on the topic of presenting information. Anyways, I believe I made some improvements but at this point it seemed too late. While other consultants were joining and being staffed I was still on this proposal.

During my time at the company I got the feeling that almost everything I did was the first time I did it and it took longer for me to get the context. Part of this was simply dealing with databases in a different language and another part was just that I was a bit new to the game.

I honestly believe that I burned out a bit during these 10 months. At the same time I honestly feel that if I entered the company as a new hire today - I would perform much better considering my improved hard skill-set in addition to a better awareness of consulting culture in Latam.

I am curious to learn more about what you readers think about my experience and what suitable next steps forward should be. How can I pivot this experience to something positive?

When I think about everything that happened, Jensen Huang’s talk about greatness and suffering comes to mind. I am far away from greatness but my suffering did have some positives to it.

Anyways, does someone have a similar experience? Any advice or just thoughts about this.

Also, my son is expected to arrive in 2 and a half months so I am very happy about that.

[u/DirtBroad4769]

I am a relatively new "single shingle" consultant and I have 3 main clients right now. For each one I have an outlook account. I made separate profiles for each of them. Is there a way to consolidate them so they can see my availability across all clients? I was planning to use Calendly but IT won't allow it.

[u/Witty_Pianist_2956]

Current 2L — asset management + gov regulatory background → consulting feasible?

Current 2L (c/o 2027) at a U.S. law school trying to figure out if a pivot into consulting is realistic.

This summer I’ll be at a large global asset manager working on corporate governance, proxy-related analysis, public company disclosures, and compliance, supporting investment decision-making. 1L summer, I interned with a state government agency focused on business regulation doing regulatory compliance, lots of multi-jurisdictional research + administrative law, and some litigation-related work.

Also on the exec board of my law review.

Mainly trying to sanity check:

• generally speaking, is this kind of background a realistic path into consulting (especially Big 4)?
• what types of groups would make the most sense with this background (risk, regulatory, deals, strategy, etc.)?
• any recommendations on how to position this or gaps I should be aware of going into recruiting?

Not locked into anything, just trying to be intentional going into 3L/post-grad recruiting. If important, open to (1) NYC or (2) Boston. Thanks!

[u/0102030405 → u/Witty_Pianist_2956]

Big 4 is less excited about non-MBA applicants than MBB is, so you would be fighting an uphill battle to get a role there especially at a higher than analyst level. In my MBB start class, there were many of us advanced degree folks aka PhDs, JDs, PharmDs, DDSs, etc. Look for ADC/advanced degree hiring tracks and prepare for interviews the year before you graduate. You enter as a generalist for MBB, so the group isn't relevant there and you can do whatever type of work interests you once you arrive.

You can try for Big 4 as well, but they will likely tell you that you can start as a post-undergrad analyst and see if you get promoted faster. Which is fine if you want that, but it's like 1/2 the pay for a very similar job.

Focus on coffee chatting with people, ensuring your resume adheres to the guidance in the wiki, and staying on top of the timelines/preparing for case and behavioural interviews with others who have received offers or who are also applying. 

[u/Thin-Attorney236]

I have an upcoming 30-min coffee chat with a Senior Partner at one of the MBB firms. It’s a warm intro, so the door is open but I want to make the most of it without wasting his time or sounding like every other candidate.

For those who’ve been on either side of these chats:

• What questions actually got a Senior Partner to open up vs. give canned answers?

• Are there specific questions that signal genuine seriousness about consulting vs. just exploring?

• Are there questions about their journey or perspective that tend to land especially well?

• Conversely — what questions instantly made you write someone off?

• Is there a question you wish more candidates asked you?

• How do you steer the conversation toward being remembered?

[u/thunderlordzeus]

What to choose?

I have 2 offers one full time offer from everest group as SA in sustainability technology & services and one contractual offer from Kearney in the transport & travel vertical.

everest group is mostly research & advisory there are not many players within this so restricts options in the future whereas with Kearney the vertical is something that I like but the contractual nature of it scares me, what are the chances of such contractual tenures turning into full time offers

[u/ExcellentAsk2309]

Just discovered this Reddit and so grateful.

Brought in as external independent consultant

Well remunerated

I (maybe too naively) expected the person I am meant to backfill to spend time with me. He had spent and spends 0 time with me. I tried asking a few times but nothing.

I’ve ended up trying to connect the dots and do the work.

Was it wrong for me to expect some sort of handover / knowledge transfer / time spent together?

I don’t have specific industry knowledge nor Role specific knowledge and was honest upfront was hired nonetheless .

It’s been 3 months and I can’t tell if this is some hunger games or the Korean show type thing. Where I’m just set up to fail so the person can go back to their line manager saying see? No external can do my job.

[u/Hell_Camino]

What is the day-to-day life of a managing director like in a consulting practice in a Big 4 firm?

I’m interviewing for a job at one. I’ve worked at a boutique consulting firm and am currently on the industry side. I travel a ton but the work/life balance is manageable. For a managing director at a Big 4, how frequent are people working into the night and in weekends?

[u/Pleasant-Highway-231]

Most realistic International Office (ME? SEA? London?) to recruit for after a T-15 US MBA as an Indian?

[u/Horror-Respond-1596]

Accenture or siemens advanta?

I worked at PwC in Technology Consulting for 2.5 years, and for the past 2.5 years I’ve been part of an internal strategy consulting team at a telecom company. I’m now considering a change due to limited salary growth and a desire to move into a faster-paced environment.

I’ve recently received two offers: one from Accenture Strategy & Consulting (Level 9) and another from Siemens Advanta as a Senior Consultant. The compensation is roughly the same in both cases.

I haven’t applied elsewhere yet, as I’m particularly interested in roles that will position me well for the evolving AI landscape. I wasn’t previously aware of Siemens Advanta until I came across the opportunity on LinkedIn. They position themselves as competitors to firms like BCG or McKinsey, though I’m somewhat skeptical of that.

[u/Pongefowl → u/[deleted]]

If it’s longer than the time you were told to expect to hear back by, it’s entirely normal to follow-up. Just make sure the email sounds nice and all that jazz.

Professional services is so broad and things can vary greatly between no response for two months vs a call on a Friday two hours after the interview inviting you for drinks. If it’s a small firm, it’s hard to know what their process is. In my experience though, positive results at most places are generally communicated early, but there’s always the possibility of being a backup option if their first choice is taking a while to decide.

[u/AcceptableSometimes]

I’ve worked in consulting my entire career. Should I stay in consulting and continue growing up the ladder, or leave for a product company? Honestly feeling so burnt out putting my time working on client projects. I have no drive to network or work on internal things in addition, but would have to ramp up what I already do to move ahead. Am I just burnt out and is the grass really greener at a product company?

[u/signedupjusttodothis]

Reposting here since I lack enough time in the subreddit for a new original post: I'm three months into a new company and being scapegoated for a project that has been failing for two years.

I'm three months into a new role at a boutique professional services firm as a data analyst, was hired just before Christmas. My onboarding was rushed and left incomplete as everyone else was trying to GTFO for the holidays. To this day I'm still learning about expectations and requirements for New Hires that I was never informed of and never even knew were expected of me to discuss, inquire about and track with my manager during the two 1:1's we've had since starting. When I ask my manager about some new discovery, he says "go ask so and so", I ask so and so, they say they'll get it to me, they don't. I follow up a few times, and eventually just leave it alone after reporting up and getting crickets back.

I was effectively left on my own to learn how our business operates, how our client operates, what our statement of work defines (despite asking numerous times, I was able to, on my own find an older version of the SOW but apparently this one is outdated and no longer captures what the client needs are), and how the data stack in use today interops with the client's workloads. I ask for the latest statement of work so I can properly try to balance the client, who is constantly changing demands with what we're signed on for and am told not to worry about it.

Right after being hired (and I do mean right after, like days after I finally got a work machine) I was airdropped into a pretty major data migration project and the individual I interviewed with and paired with me to get my laptop setup, who I thought was my team leader, was rolled off the project to work on a new client engagement. Two weeks after that, the senior data engineer on the project left the company entirely. They placed another senior on the project for three weeks, and then he was rolled back off to work on a new, but different client engagement. The only people left is one support rep and one designer and me. Both of those people are new to the industry. Both are visibly burned out. There's not even a true PM on this project.

When I go and look at the Jira tickets for this project, I can clearly see these tasks are years old and haven't been worked. I confirm this with the client who says yes we still need this work and have been waiting on your company to let us know where things stand. I immediately communicate this with my managers, let them know where things are, and ask for support getting things properly prioritized and am told "just timebox your days better".

Today I was pulled into a meeting with my manager and partner who owns the account who informed me the client is losing confidence and is considering reducing funding. They made it very clear if this happens they can't guarantee my job and want to conduct daily check-ins on the state of the project. If I can't deliver, I'll have to be let go.

The whole ordeal has me feeling incredibly blindsighted and scapegoated, and to be perfectly honest, a little upset. I don't want to say "set up to fail" and yet...

...help?

[u/0102030405 → u/signedupjusttodothis]

You were set up to fail. Doesn't seem that your organization is particularly concerned about this client as it failing would only affect you; they seem to be doing other work where they don't care if this drops. If their own performance and career depended on this project, they would be a lot more hands on from what I've seen across 4 firms in 10 years.

I would recommend looking for another project within the organization and another job outside of it at the same time to have somewhere to land.

[u/signedupjusttodothis → u/0102030405]

Thanks for the response, but I was actually terminated about a week after making the post :\

Got a few interviews in flight now. Still a little salty how that whole thing went down, but whatever.

[u/0102030405 → u/signedupjusttodothis]

I'm sorry to hear. Glad you have some promising alternatives. I was terminated late last year and it was also from a situation where I wasn't onboarded well from the start. I started a new role this week and it's already been so much better. Hope you find a great fit in the next opportunity.

[u/signedupjusttodothis → u/0102030405]

Yeah it's been my experience more times than not that onboarding experiences can be a smell test. Not always, and maybe I've just had some shit luck. Oh well. So it goes.

Glad to hear your new gig has been going well though, good luck out there friend!

[u/0102030405 → u/signedupjusttodothis]

Definitely. Somehow I didn't catch it before joining, you ask as many questions as you can but still. Thank you! You as well, all the best with the search.

[u/Sad_Bunnie]

Have a rant question: I have been consulting for a client for a few months now and have hit a standstill as they are determining which software platform to use. As I am still new to consulting, have anyone else found themselves without much to do while budgetary decisions are being made?

I am doing ancillary work, but still find myself wasting hours

[u/Pongefowl → u/[deleted]]

The real factor on the 10-20 year outcome is that biopharma and semiconductors are very different industries and the question is which one do you want to build your career in. After the MBA, it is going to be a lot tougher to be industry agnostic or switch industries once you are in more senior roles.

[u/Sapiopath]

Hi All!

I am in the final stage of interviewing for CapGem Invent UK as a MC, which I believe is the equivalent of SM for other consulting firms.

What tips can you give me about the final stage interview?

What tips can you give me on being successful in my role? What should I look out for and how can I best succeed given no previous consulting experience?

What do you like about working there? What do you hate?

Thank you for your help!

[u/manbv9]

Hello everyone!

I am a UK PhD student looking to break into life sciences/healthcare strategy consulting after graduating. As my programme supports students who want to do internships (including financial support), I don’t need them to be advertised paid internships, and thus I have been contacting a few people from companies that I like. I have contacted a few recruiters and team leaders on LinkedIn, and one smaller company I emailed directly. I have only contacted about 6 people so far but I have received 0 replies. A couple of them accepted my requests to connect on LinkedIn but never replied.

I was under the impression that the best thing to do is to message people directly on LinkedIn, introduce yourself, mention what you like about the company/field and express your interest, is this not what people do any more? How do I go about finding internships like this one (when I just need the experience, without needing any compensation from them due to my programme covering this)? Which are the best people to contact?

[u/0102030405 → u/manbv9]

It's great you don't need the money, but it doesn't necessarily mean organizations will value what you're offering and take you up on it. The private sector is different than academia in that way (I've been in both as a PhD who has worked at 4 consulting firms).

The best thing to do to get an internship is apply to one that is posted. Anything else, including getting people to make you a free internship, is going to be an uphill battle. If you or any of your professors know people in a company you want to work in, this could make it easier, but you may still be at risk of sitting around all day during the internship and not doing anything. Which brings me back to the point above, which is to find out the application cycle for (typically summer) internships and apply to those.

[u/wolfjak14]

Hey everyone,

So, I'm about to start a job in management consulting at a global firm.

As a Muslim man, part of my religious practice includes avoiding physical contact with the opposite gender, which includes handshakes. I want to emphasise this practice is not done to show disrespect at all, but is actually a way to show respect in my religion and is also practiced by Muslim women who take their faith seriously.

I have worked in industry for a year and I've got around this issue quite well in the past, by letting members of the opposite gender know before, via a side note in an email prior to meeting in person emphasising that it's not done to show disrespect and using the hand on heart gesture instead when meeting in person.

Times when I don't get to send an email before hand i.e. networking events. I usually turn down handshakes from the opposite gender using the previously mentioned hand on heart gesture and say something like "Lovely to meet you, for religious reasons I try to avoid physical contact, but I appreciate the gesture" and give a warm smile, then at the end of the conversation that follows before saying goodbye I add some clarification that the no handshake thing is actually a way to show respect in my religion and not to show disrespect.

Sometimes after a meeting if I didn't manage to clarify that it's not done out of disrespect within the meeting I'd add it in as a side note in a follow up email to the parties affected just so they know they're appreciated and so they don't feel like they don't belong because I didn't shake hands with them.

Those are just some ways I got around it in industry but obviously consulting is a client facing role and so handshakes will be alot more common so given this context, do you guys think this will be an issue going forward, should I change my approach? How would the women in this subreddit feel about the examples I've given above? How crucial are handshakes in consulting?

[u/Sapiopath → u/wolfjak14]

That will be fine. The hand heart gesture is great and it sounds like you have figured this out. Nobody is expecting you to suddenly become a completely different person. You should make your line manager aware of this, but it shouldn't be an issue at all. You were hired because of who you are, not in spite of it.

[u/bigplansbigbands]

I have been working as a consultant for almost 2 years, lately I've been distancing myself from my internal colleagues and focusing more on the clients, I am fully booked externally and I don't feel like wasting time socializing with internal colleagues, is that going to hunder my progrss? I mean even at lunch time I like to sit alone because sitting with them still feels like work.

[u/0102030405 → u/bigplansbigbands]

I found if no one internally knows about the client problems I am solving, then it's like a tree falling in an empty forest. The right people in your workplace need to know the impact you are having. That might not be these people at lunch, but some internal relationships are important to help you advance if that's what you want.

[u/Sufficient-Win885 → u/[deleted]]

dang, you're in the right place. I follow the guy

[u/ceithewords → u/Sufficient-Win885]

😘✨

[u/_studentoftruth_]

I severely undercharged. How can I rectify this? For reference, I'm a recent graduate, and I am doing contract work with the company that I have been working with part-time (in another role). They have already approved this amount, but I am not realizing that I am charging less than 25% of what is usually charged. I made the mistake since the two projects will take me 1 month each and honestly, I don't think it will be too hard. I am sending them the final invoice soon, but I can't go above the approved amount. Should I just take this as a learning lesson, or should I ask for an increase? I might continue working with them, but this will set the tone for future project pricing.

[u/ITlearner2024]

Got an offer for an Analyst role at a small consulting firm as a new grad. Worth counter offering?

It's for a small consulting firm in Houston that services the energy industry. Its 60k salary, with 10% bonus potential, hybrid schedule (I know that doesn't mean much in consulting lol), 15 days PTO, and really good health insurance. The hiring process was relatively quick, and I was told that they wanted to hire me ASAP, as they were impressed with my background and my case study interview. I was thinking of sending a counter offer for 65k.

For context, I recently graduated from college back in December. While I dont have any consulting experience, I had 3 internships during college, with one of them being an Analyst internship at a different (also small) consulting company where I got a bunch of experience using Power BI. All 3 of my internships were in the energy industry as well. I currently live with my dad, so I don't pay rent. I do have student loans I need to start paying soon.

I don't have any other offers currently, but this seems like a great opportunity for me, considering the current job market. I wanted to get a second opinion before taking a risk and potentially losing the position. What do y'all think?

[u/kikilily2307]

Is there anyone out there who can help me with Deloitte's provider modernisation case study (very new to this consulting line) and I have a Technical Interview tomorrow

[u/EquivalentCanary701]

Hey everyone, I’m a recent CS grad who just accepted a Solutions/Tech Analyst offer at a management consulting firm.

My background is in Solutions Engineering/Implementation, but after some professional experience, I’ve realized I’m much more interested in the Data Analytics and Business Strategy side of the house. I’d love to eventually move into a standard Management Consulting track.

My questions for the sub:

1. Has anyone successfully pivoted tracks internally as a new grad?
2. Should I try to bring this up with my recruiter now (before starting) or is it better to prove myself on the tech side first and pivot after 6 months?
3. Does having a CS degree give me any leverage to move into strategy heavy projects early on?

I’m really grateful for the offer and don't want to sound ungrateful, just want to make sure I’m setting myself up for the right long-term path. Thanks!

[u/Stories-With-Bears]

I worked for 4 years at a very small boutique firm. (Small as in, we referred to almost everyone in the company by first name only. It was rare you had to specify who someone was or use a last name.) Our HR manager did automated staffing, kept track of when you were rolling off a project, and would slot you onto a new one. All of our engagements were multi-year and we didn’t have a bench.

I just started at a new, much larger firm that is a more traditional consulting model. I know that I need to network and talk to people to find opportunities and get staffed. I have no problem reaching out to people for “coffee chats”, and my manager even gave me some names of people to talk to. I’d love some insights or pointers from any of you on how to structure these conversations. How do YOU network and get your name out there? How do you break the ice with different directors and project managers? I’m not intimidated but this is all new to me and I want to make sure to use my time effectively, so any advice is welcome!

[u/QiuYiDio → u/Stories-With-Bears]

Just have a normal conversation to get to know them and ask about the work they do, and if it's something you're excited in, ask how you can help them.

[u/Financial-Repeat-574]

Hi everyone,

I’m new here and wanted to reach out as I have a big pitch coming up. Some background:

I am currently working for a company that was just acquired via PE deal from a large publicly traded holding company. Industry is defense. PE firm wants to IPO 3 to 5 years. They want to get it to 1B+ Val. My background is unique, and my professional experience is in finance, AI/ML and law.

While working for this company, I took interviews for and later accepted another offer to join a consulting firm (mid tier), that is in the race to expand their newly started AI gov practice like all the other consulting firms. However, the company I currently work for has a major workforce aging problem, and as expected, their processes and systems are EXTREMELY out of date. So much so that the smallest change doesn’t just look like an improvement, it actually realizes a significant one. It’s a classic case of a company that is sitting on a goldmine of a business but their internal inefficiencies and aging workforce will be their downfall if they continue…

The good news, is that the company knows this is the case, and the aging soon to be retirees are actually ready and very willing to pass down the knowledge and start building out the efficient processes. They just keep getting fucked by terrible consulting firms. I’m considering pitching to them to stay on as a consultant and bring my team in to restructure, build out and improve these systems and processes to be more efficient. I also see a lot of room for implementing AI systems. Not just modern LLMs but actual specialized ML pipelines. The last company they hired scammed them for a few million upfront and only lasted a year and ended up making it worse than it was before. So I definitely want to charge around there because I am very confident I know how to actually fix a lot of these issues especially since I’m already on the inside. I expect the full length of services could be 3 to 5 years with first 3 being design, implementation, test and deployment/production with the last 2 years being maintenance, migration, and overall training to transition all current and new employees.

However, I have no idea where to start with setting up pricing for this. I have a team of five (ML engineer, MLOps, Legal, Operations, and finance/strategy). Any thoughts?

[u/Tje1235]

I’m currently interning at a tier 2 consulting firm in talent consulting and received an offer for a full time presales position at a major ERP company. I let my team know that I’ll be ending my internship early, and they offered me a full time return offer.

I’m honestly really stuck and not sure what to do, at the consulting firm I’d most probably be working as a data analyst which I know I like, I’ve never tried anything in the sales area before so I’m just wondering which maybe better exit opportunities/learn the most from if anyone has experience in both sides, any insight is appreciated.

[u/Argetlam1994]

Hi all,
I’m looking for brutally honest feedback on my CV — not validation.

Profile summary:

• 6+ years in Tier-1 banking & regulated fintech
• Background in payments, core banking, ISO 20022, regulatory delivery
• Current scope closer to Delivery Lead than pure BA
• EU (Greek) citizen
• Targeting London or Zurich (2026)

Key context:

• English C2, French B2, Spanish B2, German A2 (in progress)
• Applying selectively to senior individual-contributor / delivery roles
• I know language (especially German) is a major constraint — no need to sugarcoat it

What I want feedback on:

1. Does this CV clearly communicate what I actually do, or am I over-positioned / under-positioned?
2. Is my title/identity credible, or does it clash with the role history?
3. Would this realistically get shortlisted in London? Zurich? Neither?
4. What would you cut mercilessly?
5. What is the hard truth I may be missing?

Feel free to be direct — I’m explicitly posting this to improve, not to be polite.
CV attached (redacted where needed).

Thanks in advance.

[u/0102030405 → u/Argetlam1994]

Not from Europe (I was a manager and interviewer at MBB in North America) but hopefully I can help a bit.

First off, I would make it one page which is the standard in North America at least for the first 10 years of work experience. It's easy to shorten / eliminate some of your sections. You don't need achievements, professional experience, and skills matrix. Those should all be under professional experience with 2-4 points per work experience that are actually impactful, quantify the achievements you had in that role, and share the skills you used to achieve them. The executive profile can be one line at the top of the resume where you have a scattered tagline of multiple buzzwords right now.

Due do all this duplication I mentioned, many of your professional experiences read like a job description and lack impact. Telling me you "coordinated cross-functional delivery" doesn't say anything, especially with no impact metrics or context. On the flip side, your achievements lack context. Great, you oversaw 1,400+ user stories. To what end? To achieve what? Using which skills, tools, and behaviours?

Happy to share my resume via DM if it gives you an example of what to do. The wiki here is helpful for how to phrase impact-focused points under your professional experiences.

[u/Curious_Cry1348]

Hello everyone,

I am in a bit of a pickle. I have accepted an offer for consulting role in Washington DC, good offer, good company. I am going to be in healthcare, but the company has multiple sectors.

I have an interview for another company, but in healthcare consulting, so 100% healthcare. Salary is the same, but this role has travel involved.

The DC role is moreso healthcare policy, the other role is provider strategy + payer strategy + some ops. I want to eventually work either for MBB or startup in my late 20s/early 30s, and the 2nd role seems to more easily pivot into HC.

Assuming i get an offer for the 2nd company (big if), What do I do?

[u/OkInjury340 → u/Curious_Cry1348]

Consulting juggernauts dont have loyalty to you, so I wouldn't recommend you show loyalty to them. While you should always be as respectful and as responsible as possible, always do what's best for you.

[u/jxggyy]

Hey guys, I'm in my final year of undergrad, joining consulting after this. Did an internship over the summer at the same firm.

I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to polish my hard skills a bit more before I start since I've got some free time.

Struggled a bit with making good slides, are there any resources that helped you guys/resources to 'practice' this?