Drug Testing at Top Consulting Firms

I'm in Canada, and will be interning at an MBB over the summer. Do top firms (not just mbb, but others like Deloitte and atk) do drug tests on future full-time employees?

I ask because I am planning to travel and party hard in Europe before I start. Never done drugs before, but I want to experiment once in my life before I start slaving away...but I'm paranoid.

Will My Consulting Firm Do a Drug Test?

Generally speaking, our users shared that the firms themselves often don't do drug testing but the clients that you consult for will sometimes request it. Your staffing will often determine if you are tested.

BGP2587 - Consulting Associate:
Many banks will require consultants to get drug tested (I was drug tested four times last year as a consultant with four different Financial Services companies). It will likely be a client-by-client thing as opposed to your firm drug testing you. Have never been drug tested by any company other than a bank or the federal govt., for what it's worth.

User @longn", a consulting associate, shared that they weren’t drug tested by the Big 4 but by their clients:

longn - Consulting Associate:
I wasn't, and the big 4 probably won't either. It's costly, and b/c these firms have so much attrition per year, it's a major headache in terms of coordination and spend. With that said, just because your firm won't drug test, doesn't mean your clients won't (I've been to five fortune 500 clients and have been drugged tested at three of them).

All this being said, our users recommend laying off drug usage for a while especially ahead of the start of an internship program.

John-Doe8 - Consultant:
Be prepared for everything = stop doing drugs. At least until you get through the internship.

How Long Will Drugs Stay In Your System?

upperhandy - Consulting Associate:
  • A single use of pot is out of your system in 2-3 days.
  • More frequent use 1-3 weeks.
  • Heavy use will last more than a month.

yeahright - Sales and Trading Vice President:
Anything you are taking in Europe ragers will be out of your system by the time you test. Only Mary-J stays in your system for an extended period of time. Look it up...

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Banks & f500 companies do, and as a discretionary services, they might ask you to do a drug test as a consultant. It has happened to my colleagues who worked in MM banks in NYC who are consultants. I'm waiting for my turn in the next couple of weeks.

first time users of pot, will have traces of the drug around their system for up to 6 weeks quoted to me by an internal medicine med student/resident.

i'm not smart enough to do everything, but dumb enough to try anything
 
Best Response

Anything you are taking in Europe ragers will be out of your system by the time you test. Only Mary-J stays in your system for an extended period of time. Look it up...

@"thelittlemushrooms" Your friend is really dumb... it depends on so many factors that you cannot even get close to generalizing a timeline for an individual person.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

you're right, there is no way to generalize how long drugs stay in your system. but why take the risk in the case of OP?

No matter how long it stays in your system, you are giving the firm (your own or client's) a cause for termination.

i'm not smart enough to do everything, but dumb enough to try anything
 

Many banks will require consultants to get drug tested (I was drug tested four times last year as a consultant with four different Financial Services companies). It will likely be a client-by-client thing as opposed to your firm drug testing you. Have never been drug tested by any company other than a bank or the federal govt., for what it's worth.

 

I've heard of it happening before so would suggest it's not worth the risk, particularly if it will be on your mind afterwards

I previously worked for McKinsey in London and have started a blog about consulting and how to get into it at www.theconsultingcoach.com
 

If this is such a concern for you, be warned that you may have drug tests on an as-needed basis. Some clients, especially those with government ties, require them, and staffing tends to be on short notice. Good luck -- sounds like you will need it.

 

I wasn't, and the big 4 probably won't either. It's costly, and b/c these firms have so much attrition per year, it's a major headache in terms of coordination and spend. With that said, just because your firm won't drug test, doesn't mean your clients won't (I've been to five fortune 500 clients and have been drugged tested at three of them).

Since you're a new hire, you should be ok from now until you get on your first project with all the orientation and training you'll have to do.

 

just ask around once you get comfortable with some people, if they didn't warn you about a pre-screen drug test you should be OK as far as the offer goes-- Moving forward you just have to feel it out

Compensation is not commensurate with education.
 

Maybe you shouldn't be doing drugs in the first place. And I don't just mean that to be dickish - consulting firm cultures are pretty fond of going out for drinks, and probably have a portion of alcoholics, but I can't imagine really any of my coworkers even having smoked a fair amount of weed in college.

One of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.
 

Most consulting firms do not have drug tests. However, some clients require a drug test for the consultants they hire. Certain consulting firms will let you know that that particular client requires a drug test and let you opt out of that staffing assignment if you so wish. Of course, you will still raise some red flags if you choose to opt out, but at least it won't cost you your job.

 
caseycolucci:

I know there are other forums about this. I am just curious if anybody has information regarding drug tests at the MBB consulting firms, for a summer internship. I've read that testing is sometimes case-specific, and not firm-wide. Just want to have as much info as possible and be prepared for everything. Thanks!

Casey, Casey...how can someone who goes to Harvard be so silly? Hope you didnt do this stuff whilst working on reports regarding unsafe structures, construction codes and commercial projects!

 

I have only ever heard of drug testing at my MBB with a very tiny set of clients who request it. All the clients I've heard of who do this are pharma companies, for what it's worth. It is not standard to drug test anyone as a matter of standard procedure - it's only done for these specific cases. (For comparison, another internship I did before MBB had me do a hair drug test as an intern!)

I don't personally know of anyone who has actually done this, but anecdotally I've heard if you think you'll fail the drug test you can just ask off of the case and they'll pull you off no questions asked.

I wouldn't worry about it, but probably best to be safe and quit doing whatever you're doing.

 

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