IBM Strategy consulting

I have a friend at IBM who is trying to sell me on joining their strategy group and is willing to push my resume. Consulting was my dream career out of UG though it didn't happen. Any thoughts? I'd like to join a top ranking MBA program at some time in the future and would like to do corp strat or a stint at MBB in the future.

 

i think taking this job at IBM (if you can get it) will help you a lot in terms of chasing an MBB position i'd consider that first to really get a feel of what strategy/consulting is like first, before you consider other options, like an MBA

make pursuing this option your first step

.
 

As a consultant, I would strongly advise you to think hard about going for IBM, whether your career goal is corp strat / MBB or Other. Couple reasons:

  1. From an MBA standpoint, I think showing progression at a good F100 company in strategy or finance will look better than IBM. You will be competing against other F500 ppl, not MBB consultants for a spot.

  2. From an MBB recruiting perspective, they dont really like to hire consultants from other firms. Especially the likes of Accenture and IBM, you will tarnish your resume.

  3. You'll end up working harder and for less money at IBM than your current job.

 
entropy_increases:

As a consultant, I would strongly advise you to think hard about going for IBM, whether your career goal is corp strat / MBB or Other. Couple reasons:

1. From an MBA standpoint, I think showing progression at a good F100 company in strategy or finance will look better than IBM. You will be competing against other F500 ppl, not MBB consultants for a spot.

2. From an MBB recruiting perspective, they dont really like to hire consultants from other firms. Especially the likes of Accenture and IBM, you will tarnish your resume.

3. You'll end up working harder and for less money at IBM than your current job.

^ Listen to this guy here!

The MBA application point is definitely valid. Almost every MBB pre-MBA consultants are going to apply for that MBA, and a huge majority of IBM/Accenture/ Big 4 consultants are also going to be applying. It's going to be difficult for you to stand out amongst that crowd. If you manage to get yourself into more strategy/management roles at your company, it could actually be more beneficial for your application.

Regarding salary, sure IBM is going to pay your a nudge higher. Spread that over the year, the amount is negligible. But the extra hours would easily render the financial benefits not worth the effort. The 40 hr weeks you have right now at this pay is pretty sweet. Those hours are extremely rare at IBM strategy, a good week would 50 but expect the norm to be 60+

You might think getting some consulting experience might help with MBB down the road but you really have be careful on what firms you pick. If it's something along the line of Oliver Wyman, Booz, and top 2 of the Big4, sure it can help. However, it's rare to see many IBM/Accenture lateral to MBB. I've heard a few consultants call this the "Accenture kiss of death" (pretty sure one of them was an Accenture consultant too, looking to switch). A quick search on Linkedin would help you check these too.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/guide/consulting-case-interviews><abbr title=McKinsey, Bain and BCG&#10;>MBB</abbr></a></span> Future Past:
I've heard a few consultants call this the "Accenture kiss of death" (pretty sure one of them was an Accenture consultant too, looking to switch).

Just a guess, but that may be the cultural difference from a private partnership and a publicly traded company. Most of the Partners I know at both Big 4 and McKinsey, BCG, really believe in the professionalism of what we do. And being a professional means putting the client ahead of the firms financial interests on occasion ("investing"). The two people I know at Accenture and IBM tend to speak about how their work is much more financially driven as they have the conflicting priorities of what's "best for the client" and what's best for "shareholders."

My only point being, you may be able to mitigate the cultural differences if you are aware of them. However, I still believe the initial poster is correct that for MBA applications they will like seeing F100 over "another consultant."

Good luck with your decision,

TT

 
xelink:

You might think getting some consulting experience might help with MBB down the road but you really have be careful on what firms you pick. If it's something along the line of Oliver Wyman, Booz, and top 2 of the Big4, sure it can help. However, it's rare to see many IBM/Accenture lateral to MBB. I've heard a few consultants call this the "Accenture kiss of death" (pretty sure one of them was an Accenture consultant too, looking to switch). A quick search on Linkedin would help you check these too.

The top 2 of the Big4 being Deloitte and who? EY? I've always just thought of Deloitte as the top and then 'the rest' in terms of their consulting arms.

 
entropy_increases:

As a consultant, I would strongly advise you to think hard about going for IBM, whether your career goal is corp strat / MBB or Other. Couple reasons:

1. From an MBA standpoint, I think showing progression at a good F100 company in strategy or finance will look better than IBM. You will be competing against other F500 ppl, not MBB consultants for a spot.

2. From an MBB recruiting perspective, they dont really like to hire consultants from other firms. Especially the likes of Accenture and IBM, you will tarnish your resume.

3. You'll end up working harder and for less money at IBM than your current job.

I considered that as well. I'm kind of leaning in that direction. I know people who did BB IBD for a year or two and then went elsewhere and my comp/hours were comparable straight out of UG to what they're doing now.
There's still a part of me that wonders "what if." Since I had really set consulting on a pedestal for some time.
idontwearglasses:

What group is this specifically?

Strategy and Analytics
 
entropy_increases:

2. From an MBB recruiting perspective, they dont really like to hire consultants from other firms. Especially the likes of Accenture and IBM, you will tarnish your resume.

Depends if this the internal strategy group (which is run by former MBB consultants and has a good reputation), or the client-facing group (which is similar to Accenture and the like).

"'In summary, people are morons and who cares. Make a shit ton of money. I've never seen a Ferrari paid for by what people think.' - ANT" -rufiolove
 
xelink:

Pay at IBM would be around 10k higher.
I would be working harder though and likely be spending about 2-5kish a year in additional living expenses.

Based on what you said the IBM position is really $1K to 4K (after tax) more money, for more work, and with an iffy chance it will be regarded as better to what you are doing.

My opinion is stay where you at, because $1K is not worth it. Also, all consulting firms appreciate deep industry knowledge, sure you will not know how to create proposals in 2 days, but that's fine given you are developing industry experience.

 
Best Response

Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation on this board. I worked at Accenture in their Strategy group and was able to leverage that experience into a top 5 business school. Upon graduation, I am now at a MBB and many of my former colleagues in the Strategy group at Accenture have been able to do the same (although my technology friends have not been as successful). It appears that many people automatically assume that IBM and Accenture only do IT work when Accenture has a Management Consulting practice is probably one of the largest in the world.

I can't comment about IBM Strategy and the kind of exit opportunities it offers but in my opinion, your decision should largely be dependent on how prestigious your company and your current role is. If you are doing standard FP&A or Operations stuff, good luck getting into a top b-school even if you kill the GMAT. MBB target schools are brand whores so as a F500 applicant, you will be competing against rockstars at Google, Facebook, Disney, ExxonMobil, Starwood, etc in Business Development or Corporate Strategy roles. And since b-schools take much less people with F500 backgrounds as they do with consulting backgrounds, I don't think the competition would be any easier.

From my personal experience, MBB seemed to value my previous consulting experience and working at Accenture Strategy has allowed me to be successful both in terms of getting into a good business school and also job prospects afterwards. Therefore, if IBM Strategy is anything like Accenture Strategy, I think it's definitely worth considering. Regarding the hours - I'm sure it will be more work but I've learned in life that there is no such thing as a free lunch and the projects that have had the worst hours have also been the ones that I've grown the most on. Regardless, all of this is moot until you have an offer in hand so best of luck to you if you decide to pursue the opportunity.

 

Spot on - many ex ACN, Deloitte etc. strat people make it to MBB. IBM, not so much - and the reason is that IBM does not actually do strategy consulting.

I am basing this on what friends who have worked there for 5-6 yrs have told me; it's essentially pre-sales with little leeway for unbiased advisory.

 
ConsultingMonkey04:

Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation on this board. I worked at Accenture in their Strategy group and was able to leverage that experience into a top 5 business school. Upon graduation, I am now at a MBB and many of my former colleagues in the Strategy group at Accenture have been able to do the same (although my technology friends have not been as successful). It appears that many people automatically assume that IBM and Accenture only do IT work when Accenture has a Management Consulting practice is probably one of the largest in the world.

I can't comment about IBM Strategy and the kind of exit opportunities it offers but in my opinion, your decision should largely be dependent on how prestigious your company and your current role is. If you are doing standard FP&A or Operations stuff, good luck getting into a top b-school even if you kill the GMAT. MBB target schools are brand whores so as a F500 applicant, you will be competing against rockstars at Google, Facebook, Disney, ExxonMobil, Starwood, etc in Business Development or Corporate Strategy roles. And since b-schools take much less people with F500 backgrounds as they do with consulting backgrounds, I don't think the competition would be any easier.

From my personal experience, MBB seemed to value my previous consulting experience and working at Accenture Strategy has allowed me to be successful both in terms of getting into a good business school and also job prospects afterwards. Therefore, if IBM Strategy is anything like Accenture Strategy, I think it's definitely worth considering. Regarding the hours - I'm sure it will be more work but I've learned in life that there is no such thing as a free lunch and the projects that have had the worst hours have also been the ones that I've grown the most on. Regardless, all of this is moot until you have an offer in hand so best of luck to you if you decide to pursue the opportunity.

Listen to this guy.

Another former Accenture consultant here that was able to get an offer from MBB. Ended up not taking it though :)

My advice to you, though, is don't settle. Don't get into an IBM recruitment process just because it's convenient. If you really want to lateral into strategy consulting, launch a full-scale job search and consider all your options, not just IBM. Don't half ass the process, because that produces half-assed results.

 

Ducimus eaque ipsum esse mollitia facere suscipit. Earum et in molestiae iusto dolor ut fugit. Optio fuga iste beatae distinctio atque deleniti explicabo.

Quas et exercitationem aut et voluptatem deserunt voluptatem. Veniam dignissimos aut architecto ut ad eos sunt. Vero aut iure illo minus vitae dolorem necessitatibus dolorum.

Vel impedit ea aut et numquam. Repudiandae recusandae dolorum quidem recusandae optio nostrum. Et dolorum quidem sapiente rerum voluptatem. Quos quidem necessitatibus rerum sequi molestias. Similique excepturi officia repellat nihil aut ut ipsam. Ex ea architecto cumque assumenda assumenda mollitia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • Cornerstone Research 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.7%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $368
  • Principal (25) $277
  • Director/MD (55) $270
  • Vice President (47) $246
  • Engagement Manager (99) $225
  • Manager (152) $170
  • 2nd Year Associate (158) $140
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (108) $130
  • Senior Consultant (329) $130
  • Consultant (584) $119
  • 1st Year Associate (538) $119
  • NA (15) $119
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (145) $115
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (341) $102
  • Associate Consultant (165) $98
  • 1st Year Analyst (1046) $87
  • Intern/Summer Associate (187) $84
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (547) $67
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”