Ranking the top European consultancies

October is over, so to usher in the new month we're releasing a veritable cornucopia of must-see rankings for job seekers. And honestly, what says "November" better than an insider's look at the top European consultancies?

The main course—the naked, cooked bird—of this November feast is undoubtedly the Vault European Consulting 25. This year, we've taken our main consulting ranking a step further: Instead of simply listing out the top firms based on perceived prestige in the industry, we've gone out and asked consultants what matters most to them when choosing an employer. What they told us was that prestige alone is not a determining factor. We've taken this feedback and created a new Vault European Consulting 25, showcasing the firms that are best to work for. This ranking was compiled using a weighted formula that reflects the issues job seekers care most about. Here's what we used:

• 30 percent prestige

• 15 percent overall satisfaction

• 15 percent firm culture

• 15 percent work/life balance

• 15 percent compensation

• 10 percent overall business outlook

And wait, there's so much more! Today, we also welcome the release of several other European consulting rankings. The prestige ranking remains an integral tool for job seekers keeping tabs on who's who in the industry; the quality of life rankings, the most prominent components of the Vault European Consulting 25's weighted formula, offer a closer look at hours, pay, firm culture and much more; this year's practice area rankings highlight the top firms in eight specific categories (business advisory, economic, energy, financial, HR, IT, operations, health care); and finally, rounding out the cornucopia, the diversity rankings examine the top European firms' diversity efforts with respect to women, minorities and GLBT.

So, there you have it! Dig in.