r/consulting

Hi everyone!

I'm a 23 year old fresh undergrad. I've been working in operations + business development for the past 2 years alongside my studies. I majored in Business Information Technology.

I recently applied to one of the big 4 in the gulf for a strategy position. It seems my CV was found and I was internally recommended to a different team, and I was told that I will soon get an interview with the "analytics" team.

... what actually is that? I have no idea how to prepare and that's making me a little bit nervous. Is this a python and SQL position? If so, I'm not particularly qualified. Is it PowerBI and excel? Do I need to prepare for a case study? I'd appreciate any and all guidance on this please 🙏🏻

Thanks everyone

Why do consultants love to have 3 hour dinners? It boggles my mind that these jerks really want to travel and eat for three freaking hours to talk about stupid stuff like work. We spent 12 hours together today, that’s not enough? How dare you chain me to this dinner when the Knicks are playing the Finals? Jesus Christ, get a life you losers

I’ve been going back and forth on this and could use some outside perspectives.

I’m currently less than a year away from partner track/principal/AP at an MBB (about 3.5 years from partner). I’ve been with the firm basically my entire career. Joined after undergrad.

Performance-wise, things are going well enough. The challenge is that I’m not sure I actually want the partner path, I know this is an awkward time to leave, I’ve noticed recruiting for other roles rarely gives me the bump for my current tenure vs at the manager level etc.

A few friends and I have an idea for a small AI-focused advisory venture on the side. It’s very early and all of us have day jobs, unclear if they will want to do this full time, but I do.

The thing pulling me toward it isn’t necessarily the money, although upside is important. It’s the idea of building something myself, having more flexibility, choosing what I work on, and not spending the next 3/4 years grinding toward a partner role that I’m increasingly unsure I want.

At the same time, walking away now feels crazy. I’m so close to a title that would probably help my credibility. The compensation is obviously very good. And there’s always the possibility that I’m romanticizing entrepreneurship while underestimating how hard it is to build a sustainable business.

Part of me thinks I should stay another year, get the promotion, and then reevaluate. Part of me thinks that’s exactly what I’ve told myself at every stage of my career: “just make it to the next milestone.”

For people who have left consulting late in the game, especially those who were close to partner-track promotions, what do you wish you had done? Is being this close to that title a reason to stay, or is it a sunk-cost trap?

Edit: my co founders are more technical / connected with potential client populations and the work is related to what my current specialty is. My focus would be on non-tech delivery and closing deals (less on sourcing)