Job Responsibilities
-> Core responsibility is helping Fortune 500 clients (more
specifically in the Telecom vertical) devise effective IT strategy
and implementation of the same.
Split of typical consulting engagements tasks:
1. Interaction with core IT teams to analyse and implement
technology solutions(includes interactions with Dev team, QA teams
etc) - 40%
2. Reporting the progress of the project, timelines etc - 20%
3. Devising proper implementation strategy (this includes creating
documents, sitting in on calls etc) - 30%
4. Misc. activities like trouble shooting issues or finding issue
resolutions, conflict management - 10%
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Job Requirements
Min. Requirements at my level would be a B.S/ Engineering degree.
A master's is highly recommended. Core functional knowledge in the
domain, both via experience and formal education is a big plus.
Normally there's intense competition to get into the top
engineering schools. The selection of the right electives at the
undergraduate level to ensure proper technical backing is very
important. Fair amount of competition for this.
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Uppers
-> Pay ( :) No I wouldn't say that my boss! But the fact remains that I make
much more than my peers at comparable levels in other career paths)
-> Travel (If you're up for it - that is).
-> Extensive client facing roles - it really helps tone up your soft skills,
negotiation skills
-> An always "On" market - if you're skilled both technically and on the
functional level, you're always in demand.
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Downers
-> Hours - sometimes tight projects get out of hand. You may have
to 'live' at work.
-> Little time for social life, more so on weekdays.
-> If you're married and have kids - then another variant of
consulting which focuses on location and not on the vertical may
be a better option.
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Lifestyle
Lifestyle can be best described as "Corporate". There are corporate team
building events, business travel to client locations and fairly formal dress code
(this factor depends a lot on the dress code at the client locations). An active
networking habit HAS to be inbuilt into your system because that man in the blue
suit at that official gathering could well be your next lead for a $1 million
consulting engagement.
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Compensation
-> Present compensation structure: Base about 65K. Bonus component
can vary, but a component of 4-5K has been observed.
-> Stock options depending on the performance and also how well
you managed to negotiate at the date of joining.
-> Standard benefits of health and dental etc.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Advice for freshers - Get your fundamentals right. Soft skills are
REQUIRED. Consulting business thrives on your ability to ensure
that your ideas make it across the board room to the people who
make the actual financial decisions.
Job outlook - Very positive. There're are always going to be
organizations who would look towards consulting firms to optimize,
cut costs and improve metrics. But, remember - in this field more
than any other, you can either make it or break it instantly.
Remember to be among the best because competition is not just
intense with other organizations but also within your own!
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