Work/life balance in consulting
Hey all,
Interviewing at a few banks as well as consulting firms. a big pull for me w/ consulting is the prospect of a more balanced business background as well as a more favorable work-life balance. the travel sucks, but the hours are better and i'd imagine a bit more active than the banker lifestyle (at least you guys get to stand up and make presentations :)
How do you guys stay active in the gym with the traveling lifestyle? hard enough to do it at an office working long hours, wondering what your tips are for meals, etc. when on the go?
Do you guys have time for side projects? Consulting seems to encourage a broad network of contacts, expertise, etc. do friends solicit advice on their entrepreneurial endeavors? you ever work on your own side businesses?
Are your weekends free? Varies according to firm, I’d imagine, but how many of you fly out to other cities during the weekend from the client site to visit friends/family, etc?
Are women immediately attracted to you when you utter the words “management consultant” ?!
Thanks all!
Beyond immediately. You see the attraction and hope in their eyes before you even finish the "sultant" part of "management consultant."
you got me at "man"
Nothing says "man's man" to a woman like "management consultant". "Man's man's man", even.
I don't intend to drop my side entrepreneurial endeavor anytime soon. ;)
Applied for a few consultancy firms before because I like the hours, didn't get the job though. Travelling may suck but I'd take it over sitting in a desk anytime. Women? I don't know since I didn't get the job, but my scumbag friend always brags about it.
Gym / eating - This is actually pretty easy for me. Every hotel I'm at has an ok gym, just have a set of non-weight / machine-oriented strength exercises in case I run into a place w/ only cardio equipment. So most nights when I get back, I hit the gym before dinner. On meals, it's easy to control what you eat when you're eating out all the time - just try to make sure your team isn't dragging you to get fast food all the time (this rarely happens - most teams I've been on, everyone wants to eat healthy).
Side projects - I have one friend who I'm helping put together a business, just helping, no personal interest in the venture. No projects of my own, but I do a fair bit of trading, so spend time on research, etc.
My weekends are 99.5% free - I've probably worked 3-5 weekends over the course of 3.5 years, and that means more than 2 hours of work (Sunday evenings I'll usually scan emails and prep for the week for ~1 hr). All of these cases were for DDs, and I just don't do PE work anymore after that experience. When I do leverage travel, it's usually flying my fiancee to wherever I am rather than me flying off somewhere else.
Not sure about the women piece - I'm getting married this summer, and my fiancee isn't a big fan of the travel ... until it means staying in a suite in South Beach for a week. I'd be shocked if most of these nerds I work with are pulling girls because they're a consultant.
Was just joking about the ladies aspect - trying to bring a little levity to the discussion. Thanks for your replies, all and congrats on your marriage charlie!
What jobs in consulting have the best work life balance? (Originally Posted: 12/07/2015)
While still being somewhat engaging?
Looking to make a career transition but at 29 I'm hoping to avoid 80 hour weeks.
If you join a MBB or even a tier-2 firm (LEK, ATK, etc...) you'll be putting it reasonably long hours & traveling. I don't think anyone gets into consulting for the work-life balance.
Econ consulting has 50 hour work weeks with pay similar to MBB and no travel. Of course it's pretty much a different industry, but the work-life is very good.
I'm in Econ consulting and have had 30-hour weeks and also 70+ hour weeks.
It's really up to the case and the partner you work for.
I have heard that internal strategy and consulting roles at places like Capital One and Intel and Amex have very good life balance but are not true consulting roles as you are an in-house staff member for a larger institution.
Cum iure dolor sapiente laudantium. Qui dicta quia culpa alias. Et expedita qui reprehenderit molestias voluptatibus culpa quis. Veniam excepturi minima nihil unde.
Et veniam voluptates aut asperiores sit doloremque architecto. Sint tempora qui ad rem necessitatibus ut officiis.
Ut quis aliquam excepturi aut maxime voluptatem. Totam perspiciatis et similique distinctio et officia. Non sed nesciunt corrupti facilis quidem. Perspiciatis asperiores labore ut asperiores. Quae et numquam illo et. Alias fugit nobis voluptatum quis expedita. Commodi hic qui odit.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...