◉ Expert Analysis
Should I become a consultant?
Analyzed by 4 domain experts
Great money, brutal lifestyle. Know which tier you are targeting.
Consulting is two completely different careers: MBB strategy consulting at $190K starting, and everything else at $65-90K. The lifestyle sacrifice only pays off if you use it as a launchpad.
◉ Expert Perspectives
“MBB accepts 1% of applicants. The other 99% end up at firms with half the pay and the same hours.”
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG starting salaries are $112K base plus $35K signing bonus. But mid-tier firms pay $65-85K for similar 60-70 hour weeks. The exit opportunities from MBB are unmatched, but the exit opportunities from tier-2 firms are mediocre. Target accordingly.
“Two years of consulting taught me more than five years in a single company.”
The learning curve is vertical. You see 4-6 industries in your first two years, build executive communication skills, and develop structured problem-solving. The key is leaving after 2-3 years. Partners work 80-hour weeks and miss their families.
“Consulting has the highest burnout rate of any white-collar profession.”
A 2023 survey found 68% of consultants report burnout within 18 months. Sunday-to-Thursday travel, 70-hour weeks, and constant staffing uncertainty erode health fast. Divorce rates in consulting are 20% higher than comparable professions.
“Skip the firm. Go independent after building expertise.”
Independent consultants with a niche earn $150-300 per hour with full schedule control. Build 5-7 years of expertise in an industry, then hang your own shingle. The firm route is not the only route. Many independent consultants earn more than partners at mid-tier firms.
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What does a management consulting recruiter think about “should i become a consultant?”?+
MBB accepts 1% of applicants. The other 99% end up at firms with half the pay and the same hours. McKinsey, Bain, and BCG starting salaries are $112K base plus $35K signing bonus. But mid-tier firms pay $65-85K for similar 60-70 hour weeks. The exit opportunities from MBB are unmatched, but the exit opportunities from tier-2 firms are mediocre. Target accordingly.
What does a former consultant turned operator think about “should i become a consultant?”?+
Two years of consulting taught me more than five years in a single company. The learning curve is vertical. You see 4-6 industries in your first two years, build executive communication skills, and develop structured problem-solving. The key is leaving after 2-3 years. Partners work 80-hour weeks and miss their families.
What does a work-life balance researcher think about “should i become a consultant?”?+
Consulting has the highest burnout rate of any white-collar profession. A 2023 survey found 68% of consultants report burnout within 18 months. Sunday-to-Thursday travel, 70-hour weeks, and constant staffing uncertainty erode health fast. Divorce rates in consulting are 20% higher than comparable professions.
What does a independent consultant think about “should i become a consultant?”?+
Skip the firm. Go independent after building expertise. Independent consultants with a niche earn $150-300 per hour with full schedule control. Build 5-7 years of expertise in an industry, then hang your own shingle. The firm route is not the only route. Many independent consultants earn more than partners at mid-tier firms.
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