/r/consulting

Photograph via snooOG

A community for consultants across industries.

Welcome to /r/Consulting, a place for current and former consultants. We welcome a broad range of topics on the front page, from news about specific firms, to working in consulting, to industry happenings, to lifestyle, to career planning. Jobseekers and those learning about the industry are welcome, but should use the appropriate megathreads instead of the front page.

 

Posting Guideline Highlights

Rule 0. All Reddit rules apply.

Rule 1. Posts should be relevant to consulting or to consultants. Commercial content is not welcome.

Rule 2. 'Learning about consulting' / 'how to get into consulting' posts and 'starting in consulting' posts should go into the stickied megathreads. Opinions / requests for information about specific firms should go in the "Interested in Consulting" megathread. Posts of this nature on the front page will be removed without notice. Please read the wiki for commonly asked questions.

Rule 3. Do not post illegal content or confidential materials.

Rule 4. Be a professional and be constructive / Don't be an asshole and don't be abusive.

Rule 5. No advertisements, "free" products, homework help, surveys, blogs, or any other spam.

The above only represents highlights of the rules. It is NOT a replacement for reading the full Posting Guidelines for complete details about these rules. By posting, we expect that you have read and understood all rules.

 

Flair
Feel free to edit your flair to reflect the industry you consult in or program you're studying!

 

 

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/r/consulting

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0

What do MBB slides accomplish?

I just started in ERP. I’m curious what’s so amazing about MBB and other high tier consulting companies slides. I don’t make slides myself. But considering how prestigious many of these firms are and that many of them revolve around these presentations I’d love to see some of them.

Are there any examples someone could provide? How do these amazing presentations make change happen?

Edit: Realized I came off a bit rude. I certainly respect these presentations and the folks that make and give them. I am truly interested in what they help accomplish.

4 Comments
2024/11/02
20:44 UTC

51

Working faster at MBB

How do you do high-quality work faster. I could always do my job well, but never had to do it fast too, and now finding it quite hard. Manager also noted that if I've more time, the output tend to be of higher quality, but MBB doesn't allow for the luxury of time. What advice do you have to do better work, faster?

24 Comments
2024/11/02
16:23 UTC

10

Managing Upwards at MBB

One of my development areas relate to better upwards management. How do you manage upwards and get the most out of your manager supervisor to be most efficient? rather than being passive and reactive? This is probably one of the most useful/transferrable skills post-consulting.

2 Comments
2024/11/02
16:17 UTC

2

Starting a small business while in consulting?

Context: Currently at boutique, moving to T2 in a few months. I have an idea that I’d really like to pursue but my priority is to ensure success with my employer and to ultimately progress to a relatively senior level.

How feasible is it to start an online business while in strategy consulting?

5 Comments
2024/11/02
15:41 UTC

1

Independent consulting after FAANG

I am an ex FAANG senior manager looking to become an independent consultant. My area of expertise is in strategic sourcing and procurement.

Prior to tech I worked at a big 4 consulting firm.

Anyone with a similar background / know how I can get started on independent consulting?

I did find several posts on the different firms / platforms to join and that was helpful!

4 Comments
2024/11/02
12:34 UTC

109

Which one of you did this?

14 Comments
2024/11/01
15:49 UTC

74

Independent Consultant - role is pointless

I was hired on by a big company to PM and provide occasional technical support as a subject matter expert to a subcontracted team. Now that I'm on board it's clear that this team is experienced, professional, and self-managing - they basically do the PM stuff themselves. Most high-visibility things that I could do would just slow them down. I don't know if the client realizes any of this. This is my first big gig like this and I am terrified that I am going to be fired once they find out I'm not needed. I would politely phase out the engagement but I don't have anything else and this pays well. Has anyone been in a situation like this? Is this just how it is sometimes? Should I propose to take on more...? I think the scope is quite clear for the subcontracted team and I'd just be gumming up the works if I got involved directly.

Edit: I'm independent consulting. totally solo, just me

37 Comments
2024/11/01
13:56 UTC

1

Seeking Guidance on Upskilling as a Senior Consultant in Healthcare

I’m a Senior Consultant at a large consulting firm, specializing in the healthcare sector. While my experience includes privacy projects, workplace health management, PMO roles, and organizational assessments, I feel like I’m lacking a specific focus. Currently, I’m working on two projects that don’t keep me fully occupied, and I spend a lot of time on proposals.

Since joining consulting two years ago, I haven't learned as much as I’d hoped. I hold a Master’s in Controlling but have recently done little in that area. I want to make the most of my available time, including weekends, to further my education.

I’ve considered using platforms like LinkedIn Learning to learn new skills. I’m particularly interested in Power BI and SQL, as I have no experience with either. I’m also a certified Scrum Master/Product Owner and have completed all training for PRINCE2.

What are some promising topics I should explore for a potential career pivot? I’m looking for areas that can be learned through courses and have future relevance.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

2 Comments
2024/11/01
13:29 UTC

5

advice on how to deal with no work assignment

i graduated college 6 years ago, i was able to get a very well payed, high end job for a tech company that specializes in IT consultancy, cloud advisory and architecture very early in my professional career.

i’ve been with this company for almost 4 years now, however i find myself constantly worried and with huge anxiety spikes due to not getting any work assigned. there has been periods in which i don’t get any project assigned for 2-3 months and it’s starting to get to me.

At first, i used the free time to up-skill and learn new things, however there is only so much you can learn reading and studying without having actual hands on real world scenarios. i am constantly asking for work, they tell me to learn this and learn that so i can get assigned other projects outside of my field, but it is just not happening, im not sure if im meant to take anything that comes my way even if it’s not near my expertise, i fear if i start to do this services to clients will be impacted due to lack of knowledge and experience.

the salary is very good and i have not been able to find a different job that offers as much or better perks without down-sizing my position. my manager sucks at mentoring and i feel there is just not enough support from the company on this matter.

Any advice would be appreciated.

3 Comments
2024/11/01
09:52 UTC

95

Consulting template deck - How did you build yours?

95% of the slides I build start from a previously built slide that I’ve put in my template deck. I assume that’s the case for most of you too…

Thing is, my template deck is an amalgamation of slides from many client decks, which I can’t share with everybody at my firm. They’re also slightly visually inconsistent since they almost all have different slide masters.

This week, my partner asked me to build a template deck with every type of slide that you would usually find in an advisory project, and I’ve been procrastinating so much. I just don’t want to put in the manual work to remove all confidential info and align formatting across all slides.

Hoping some of your can related.. How has your firm dealt with this?

32 Comments
2024/10/31
23:49 UTC

0

Question

Is this sub all or mostly people working for the big firms? Or are there legitimate consultants here?

6 Comments
2024/10/31
19:48 UTC

30

Got my first consulting client. Not sure what to charge.

I'm a computational biophysicist. I worked for 2 major pharmaceutical companies developing computational algorithms/pipelines for predicting and designing RNA-based drug candidates using ML and bioinformatic techniques. After getting laid off of my last job, I formed a startup where I planned on consulting/building pipelines for experimental pharma companies. Finally got a client, but I'm unsure what to charge per hour. I know that the work I'm doing will save them a lot of money and help push their production forward, but I also am new and need the work. I've seen people talk about charging 2-3x the rate for a permanent employee doing the same job, but that seems steep. I'd like to charge a low enough rate to be continuously funded and expand my work for them, but also not undervalue myself in case they decide to cut me loose once the first version pipeline is complete.

15 Comments
2024/10/31
19:27 UTC

16

Leave now or wait 1-2 years

I work at a big 4 firm, started here fresh out of Uni, it's been almost 5 years now, I'm an Associate Manager for one year now, and promised Manager by mid December.

I got an offer from a promising local firm, that is a subsidiary from a very large company in my country. The offered position is Senior Consultant position (lower than my current title) but the pay is higher and the workload is much lighter.

I am a parent, and need better work-life balance.

Should I leave? or wait 1-2 years and leave after securing the Manager title?

11 Comments
2024/10/31
17:28 UTC

6

Which consulting portals worked for you?

Hi everyone!

I’m currently registered on BTG, but I’ve found limited opportunities there so far—there just don’t seem to be many projects available. Has anyone had a better experience with Catalant? I’m also considering Talmix as an option. I’d love to hear about which platforms have worked best for you and any recommendations you might have!

4 Comments
2024/10/31
17:00 UTC

35

Success is causing my stagnation?

I work at a boutique firm where management loves me, my clients love me, and I am fairly well-compensated for my work. The WLB is great, and I don't have any complaints except that I can't grow because I'm not getting new projects since my schedule is always filled with the same core clients who don't want to let me go.

This means that I can't take on new work and skill-up in new technologies that I need to skill up in. It also bars me from taking on more responsibility since there is not any more to be had on the current clients. Other people keep getting hired on to work new projects and roles that I would like to be in, but because I manage a large chunk of the core stable business, they have had trouble taking me off.

From a business perspective, I get that I am valuable in the place I am in, but it's starting to restrict my growth so much. On one hand, I know how lucky I am to be in a stable position at this time, and on the other I feel like I'm getting left in the dust by my peers who've had growth opportunities that I haven't in the last year.

Any thoughts?

11 Comments
2024/10/31
16:30 UTC

308

Story of a severely low performer :(

Hey all,

I have been a consistent abysmal performer in consulting. Upon graduating, I thought that consulting would be a great and prestigious job. I was mistaken. I was never good at solving logical tests even when I studied a lot for it. So I couldn't even pass the initial tests at mbb and several other companies. Eventually I found a T2 where I could bullshit my way through and they were asking far easier cases. Some people were easily navigating through cases with minimal effort while I had to solve 100+ cases to be able to move forward. I never had any business acumen (I never knew what an interest rate is lol) so it was kinda hard for me.

Upon entering my first job, I worked a lot. I dedicated my week-ends and everything. However they didn't just ask me to work hard. They also wanted me to think and use critical reasoning. I was good at operational tasks and I loved them but they eventually wanted me to question and use brain power. That is when my world went upside down. I always loved obesience and unwavering loyalty to my superiors but I didn't like thinking. I don't love thinking I only like operational tasks. Upon my company realizing this, I was put on a PIP. I worked crazy hard and dedicated a lot. Everyone knew that I was a hard worker but when asked to use brain power, I quickly got demolished. Eventually they were either giving me basic tasks like research, ppt formatting or carrying boxes around for workshops (I loved doing them). Eventually I got kicked out.

Unable to solve cases and tests, I had to settle for a big4 consulting. I basically got a downgraded in terms of league. Big4 was far easier and I could hide under my managers. Many people were very low quality so I was able to blend in. High quality people were exiting to higher quality jobs while I was unable to move. Sometimes I were given brain usage requiring tasks but I evaded them by giving them to my analysts. Being a great ass-kisser I got promoted to managerial role. My doom started again when I got promoted. I was asked to lead projects and use my critical thinking. I was trying to deflect them but assigning these tasks to my analysts but I was discovered and I got chewed out. All my previous managers and partners left the company so there was no guardian angel for me to hide under. As a manager, I wasn't able to bring any sales or manage projects. I had the skill level of a first year analyst. I unfortunaly got kicked out again.

I went to Mba at an m7 and now considering my options. I want to stay at a place where I simply follow orders without using any brain power. I can work hard and deliver results if I am not asked to use my brain and knowledge. I don't like connecting pieces and creating complex analyses. I was thinking IB but got discouraged when I they told us that they were gonna make us think about deals and analyze big picture. I can't apply to a lot of roles in tech or pharma as they require case studies or thinking. I am scared I will be left without a job suitable to me. What should I do pls help? :(

Edıt: this is not a troll post but a grim reality of my miserable career. Is it your first time seeing a low performer loser?

131 Comments
2024/10/31
14:59 UTC

10

Boutique Experience Unfulfilling

I am currently a Senior Manager in a smaller boutique firm. When I entered the business 15 months ago, I was told that promotion to Director would be 12-18 months based on performance. In that time I have had notable success in terms of winning work and awards, but it's become apparent to me that there is no hope of promotion in that the MD has brought in two new directors in the past 7 months because of their connections (both are considerably older than me); one of the new directors is now my new line manager, and I quite like him/ can learn from him which is good. But the other is a complete ignoramus who is hated within the business. I have to work with him closely now, and it's making me lose the will to carry on. He's a dismissive narcissist who has had two formal complaints made against him, but is protected. I feel both wage trapped in that I do not see local opportunities for me that match my salary (and do not want to return to Big4) and same time I do like the overall people within the business (but the work is not fulfilling). I feel as though a change is due, and I just wanted to vent/ask for people's opinions on how they have approached a topic like this before?

1 Comment
2024/10/31
13:14 UTC

7

Need suggestions on Tech upskilling

I have basically been a "management consultant" for last 7-ish years. Don't know or understand technology much so far. I've been asked to pivot and drive large scale technology implementations if I wish to make a progression case.

Would welcome any tips, suggestions, materials I could leverage. I'm sure many people would have been in the same boat as I am!

1 Comment
2024/10/31
12:09 UTC

28

Can anyone shed light on the passive aggressive phrase "I've received feedback" line thrown around by managers and clients - is it a threat? a power play? or what...

...because invariably when I investigate the 'feedback' (which are always neutral or negative otherwise they'd say, "positive feedback") or push for more information, they often end up being completely inconsequential, don't have a material impact on a project or action, or when they do need attention are quick fixes that can be applied without much effort and deployed quite stealthily. In some cases, they there's nothing to fix or improve.

Bit of a rant but as a manager myself I've never used this language with team members because it reeks of boomer/genx style micromanagement. If something isn't working, or needs fixing, I clearly spell it out, mark it for review and move onto the next item. I don't play a guessing game with my resources with "I've received feedback" and then let the detail disappear into a nebulous pile of corporate doublespeak.

19 Comments
2024/10/31
10:02 UTC

18

Aussie Work Culture: Traditions, Drinks, and Fitting In

I don't know if this is the best place to submit this, but here we go!

I moved to Australia two years back as an international student, and I just wrapped up a consulting internship at a mid-sized firm. To celebrate, our small team (managers included) decided to grab drinks together. Now, I'm usually pretty confident and have a solid rapport with my managers, but today I just felt out of place.

The vibe was friendly, but so many conversations were loaded with Aussie references and jokes that I just couldn’t keep up with. It was like everyone else was speaking a language I mostly understood but couldn't fully participate in. The other interns, who are locals, hit it off right away, swapping stories about things I didn't recognize, and I ended up feeling like a bit of an outsider.

I know I’m not the only international student who’s felt this way, so if anyone else has stories of their own or tips that helped them bridge that cultural gap, I’d love to hear them! Since I plan to stay and work here long-term – and post-work drinks seem to be pretty common – I’d love to know how others managed to eventually feel more included in these settings.

Anyone else go through something similar? Any stories, advice, or tips to feel a bit more “in” on things

3 Comments
2024/10/31
09:43 UTC

0

Annual evaluation coming - what should I do ?

I'm in a consulting firm (not big four, not MBB), been working there for 9 months.

Annual performance review dropped today, and I have to self-evaluate first.

I've already received a performance review on my 6 months in the firm from my Manager, it was pretty good.

Now I wonder, how should I evaluate myself to basically, expect to have a promotion by December ? What should be my next "action plan" ? Given that, this is my first experience after graduation.

Thank you for your feedbacks!

8 Comments
2024/10/31
08:24 UTC

2

Post-it notes

Hi all!

This might be one of the sillier questions here, but ever since I started as a management consultant a few years ago, I've been wondering this:

With the insane amount of post-it notes we go through: what is the impact of consultancy on the post-it note industry? Like: how much of it is dependant on 'us' using them?

I haven't looked as thourough as I could, but no easy answers thusfar are available.

Any ideas?

3 Comments
2024/10/31
07:53 UTC

12

Looking for a funny, note for my girlfriend , who is in cybersecurity consulting role—any funny suggestions?

Hey everyone! I’m not in the consulting field, but I need some help. I’m looking for a funny, short T-shirt phrase for my girlfriend , who’s been a cyber security consultant for a while. Any clever ideas?

22 Comments
2024/10/31
04:40 UTC

13

Grand view research report

Hello everyone,

Im trying to do some niche market research and have found that this report has the specific data that i cant find anywhere else. I work in a big consulting company and we pay for a lot of platforms for reports but (surprise!) you dont always pay for the platform you need, i have also talk with management to pay for the report but they say we are already spending too much money on other platforms so no can do. Is there anyway that someone could give me a hand obtaining this report?

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/fish-protein-hydrolysate-market

Thank you everyone in advance and have a good day!!

11 Comments
2024/10/30
22:49 UTC

37

Where are common exits for MBB partners?

37 Comments
2024/10/30
21:36 UTC

0

How to smartly rollback on my decision without sounding confused?

Hey Fellow Consultants,

I am currently working in Bangalore office for my company. However, recently I found that my company has its office in Chennai (which is near my hometown). Initially, my HR was reluctant in transferring me but after my constant persuasion, they have approved my request and are in the process of assigning me a new manager who is based out of Chennai. But now I am feeling like I'll be missing Bangalore. My social life has been active here as I have been going onto numerous adventure trips, hangouts and comnected with my peers face to face for my doubts. The office in Chennai is less lively since its a satellite office space and mostly the work will be from home. I know I will start feeling isolated and my daily routine will go mundane. I want to talk to my hr to roll back on my decision but then I fear I might sound confused and indecisive to him. Please help.

2 Comments
2024/10/30
19:43 UTC

40

Moving into corporate strategy

About to make the leap from consulting to corporate strategy for a mid-large sized entertainment company

Anyone got any pearls of wisdom to share on what to expect and things to keep in mind?

14 Comments
2024/10/30
18:58 UTC

2

Help and guidance needed

I wanted to write this to ask for guidance.

I have over 14 years of experience. Most recently, I worked for Kearney; before that, I was in large tech, and prior to that, with another Tier 2 Consulting firm.

I left Kearney about six months ago. Despite driving $12 million USD projects and achieving 90% utilization, I didn't get along with the Senior Partner and received racial slurs. At the end, they manipulated my upward feedback (not case performance, which was solid at the next level mark, but 360 collegue scores) while I was on my honeymoon and didn't even give me a chance to present the truth.

After that, I did an independent consulting gig for a very large corporate here in the UK. Over the past month, I have been actively looking for a new opportunity, but the market still seems very stagnant. I've never been in a position where I had to sit idle and wait for the next opportunity. This time, I am fearing long-term unemployment. This whole situation has completely destroyed my self-confidence, and to be honest, I'm not sure what to do next.

5 Comments
2024/10/30
18:52 UTC

974

Who made this? 😂😂

214 Comments
2024/10/30
18:23 UTC

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