| Topic Name: |
Consulting: What's the point for AC's? |
| Message Name: |
look at the upside |
| Date Posted: |
12/06/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I am a sophomore in college and was interested in consulting. The life for an "AC" however seems bland and torturous. From these boards I don't see much interesting at all: long hours, first to go layoffs, up or out in two - five years, dim partnership hopes, heck..not even an office to call your own. Are there any "AC"'s out there who are truly happy with their decision to go into this profession and enjoy their work? Besides prestige and high pay for an undergrad this profession seems like a pipe dream. |
| Message: |
I think you're looking at the downside without considering the upside. For one, an AC/BA/etc. has unparalleled access to work on clients' most pressing issues. Consultants are often the only 24-year-olds who get to walk into the offices of VPs of the worlds' largest corporations and convince them to make tough decisions. (Having your head ripped off by a VP is good experience while still a junior consultant... it builds confidence and poise.) For learning how to run a business and how to think like a successful executive, consulting is clearly the best career choice. I would do it over again.
That said, think very carefully about the firm you join. Frankly, I would not join a boutique that focuses on one function or industry, unless that funct/indust really interests you. The guys doing the fun work there are the gray-haired ones and the client exposure is limited. And I wouldn't join a Big 4. The work that I've seen from them is often very bland and torturous to read. I think that the pure-play strat firms provide the most balance, choice, client exposure, etc. (which means M/B/B, Monitor, Mercer, and Marakon)
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