CONSULTING Vs FINANCE

[blitz_kt]

well I am not taking CAT this year... anyways I don't want to do MBA ... why waste time and all...for preparation etc...

I got a good percentile last year .... but somehow I realised that CAT is more of a vicious cycle if you don't understand the game and yourself....

Consider this and tell me if I am wrong... starting June/July you'll start preparing for CAT... until Nov you'll do nothing else but CAT prep... no job search nothing better read but just same aptitude probs and same RC passages...

if at all you make it then you go busy for GD-PI or you'll depressed by the results that you couldn't make it.... this will go on until April-May and then bingo two more months and June is back... and post a couple of self-motivation movies claiming you-can-do-it-all you'll energise yourself for CAT again....

so I decided to opt out of the vicious cycle this time and explore more of what I wud like to do after MBA .. rather what I wud do after CAT..... I hope (just hope) there are more ppl here who think that I am not wrong in having opted out.... (my good percentile last yr was the major reasons ppl gave me for preparing again.. but to end it all I chose to save my 1100 bucks plus time-money equivalent)....

seems the topic is diverting.... sry abt that... !! to myself...

[drizzle]

Originally Posted by blitz_kt

well I am not taking CAT this year... anyways I don't want to do MBA ... why waste time and all...for preparation etc...

I got a good but just same!! to myself...

yeah, thts true. it's good to knw what u require out of urself rather thn just pushing urself for no reasons...

[bizskool]

Look for a shift to techno proj mgmt/program mgmt role if u can manage. or a role more client facing including requirement gathering. if any internal vacancy comes up/allows to work in BD/Pre-sales for RFP/RFQ dev. these options will lead to future in consulting. however most of these roles prefer BE+MBA.

[blitz_kt]

guys I need some info regarding Opera Solutions... it's a recent startup started in 2003 by expartners of Mckinsey

www.operasolutions.com is their website... however i cudn't make much out of the website... please let me know if any of you guys have idea (either thru website or otherwise) abt this company.... and thnx for the same...

[MartianOnEarth]

Haven't heard of the company (Opera Solutions) before, and if it has been around for 3 years and hasn't made a splash yet, it warrants a deeper research effort.

On a general note, for many McKinsey consulants who are victims of the up-or-out policy, there are basically 2 exit routes - either join one of their ex-clients in a senior role with a juicy pay package or start their own venture. And the degree of success varies radically.

Most that join the industry/ex-clients stay in the limelight and climb up the corporate ladder. For the second (adventurous) category, - who take the challenge of proving to the world that they can implement the ideas that they've been preaching at exorbitant hourly rates - the story isn't as hunky-dory as one would expect. Strategy and implementation ---> Two very different ball games, as you'd expect.

Maybe my lack of real knowledge about this specific clan comes out in this post or maybe I've hit the nail on the head. Would let you respond and let me know.

[Kat-Kit]

Originally Posted by blitz_kt

Hi.... I don't know if this thread is still active... but I had to ask.....

I am an undergraduate who has been working in IT for 2 years. Now when I have made up my mind that I want to do consulting post MBA, I haven't yet made up my mind to do MBA immediately.

The only thing I can boast of is three months of international client experience (Airbus UK to be specific ), opening up Toastmaster's club in my company and some small posts in my college.....

I was also looking for a job change, so can you guys help me out regarding

1) In such case how entertaining would the companies be to take a non-fresher candidate

2) In what ways would going into consulting field right now would help my placement aspects after MBA

3) Practically, what is the sort of work that a fresher (wrt consulting) does in these companies

4) Does that work really give you an idea (even remotely good) of consulting field.

5) 'Beggars can't be choosers'- but will the sort of company that I choose - strategic/full service/boutique/others affects my career plans later.

hope to hear from all of you soon on this...

Hi
Please let me know what did u do , as i'm also in same fix now....have 1.5 years of IT experience in Production Support .
Desperately looking for change ....have plans to go into consulting after MBA and looking for a job switch in consulting .

Please suggest / share your experience .

Thanks !

[thomas.wai]

Hi all,

McKinsey, Bain and BCG are the leading professional service firms in the industry. All the three consulting firms have a "up or out" policy, you may be curious to know how long in average a McKinsey consultant will stay...

In Europe, a typical McKinsey may be staying around three to four years. The first one to one and a half year non-MBA graduates are joining as a Business Analyst while a MBA typically join as an Associate. The pay scheme is competitive in the company and you will probably be glad to know that you would start be flying business class in and out of your country. In fact, even if you are selected for their final stage of case interviews in another country, you would be flying in a business class.

It is true to say that for those who left McKinsey continues to do very well in their career in industry, because of their vast experience in project management as well as good networks with other top professionals in the industry.

The consulting industry is competitive but it also offers a challenging workplace for many to make a difference. You may like to go here: Top MBA Jobs: MBA-Connection Job Board in Asia - Becoming a Better Candidate to find out more about the industry.

All the best.

Kind regards,
Thomas

[thomas.wai]

Hi all,

McKinsey, Bain and BCG are the leading professional service firms in the industry. All the three consulting firms have a "up or out" policy, you may be curious to know how long in average a McKinsey consultant will stay...

In Europe, a typical McKinsey may be staying around three to four years. The first one to one and a half year non-MBA graduates are joining as a Business Analyst while a MBA typically join as an Associate. The pay scheme is competitive in the company and you will probably be glad to know that you would start be flying business class in and out of your country. In fact, even if you are selected for their final stage of case interviews in another country, you would be flying in a business class.

It is true to say that for those who left McKinsey continues to do very well in their career in industry, because of their vast experience in project management as well as good networks with other top professionals in the industry.

The consulting industry is competitive but it also offers a challenging workplace for many to make a difference. You may like to go here: Top MBA Jobs: MBA-Connection Job Board in Asia - Becoming a Better Candidate to find out more about the industry.

All the best.

Kind regards,
Thomas