Counseled out from elite boutique in Boston 1 Year In - What Now?
I worked at an elite boutique strategy consultancy in Boston and was recently counselled out after 1 year of employment (post college, pre-MBA entry-level position).
They told me I am allowed to say that I am currently employed at the firm on my resume until I find another job. However, my last day of work and payment was at the end of July.
When I asked HR how they would reply if a potential employer called to confirm my dates of work, they said "don't worry about anyone calling - they don't want to jeopardize your current employment by alerting us that you are looking for a new job."
Three questions:
- Is this really something I shouldn't worry about? Should I really just pretend like I still work there?
- What options exist for me right now, with only one year of ‘real-world' work experience? Can I lateral do an entry-level position at another consulting firm? 'Start fresh' in a new industry? Does this year of work experience give me any sort of leverage when looking for a new job?
- I'm sitting on a 99th percentile LSAT score from June 2011. Combined with my high GPA and prestigious undergrad, I'm well positioned to get into a top 8 law school. Will this affect my law school applications?
Sorry to hear that...I am pretty surprised they would do that just after 1 year. It is a 2-year deal usually.
Anyway, as for your questions 1) No, don't worry about it. Actually, most background check will only verify the dates; and what you explained is something that consulting firms do a lot.
2) Options: experienced hire at another consulting firm (probably lower tier firms: PwC, KPMG and boutiques). Internal Strategy (a bit harder to get in), corporate functions (finance/accounting, marketing-- you basically can work on all of them) The fact is, it will be closed to impossible to be an entry-level in top consulting firms.
3) Probably they won't care. Most Top students at Law School have 0 work experience.
Good luck. Check LinkedIn, your school career center
1) Don't worry.
2) You won't know until you look around.
3) Law school admissions are 100% metrics (GPA + LSAT) driven. They couldn't care less about work experience.
Depending on whether it was performance, culture, or business needs, maybe you can move to a client...if there's anyone in your firm who supports you.
what did you do to get pushed out?
also, it won't matter a bit for law school.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Chimpout - as to why I was pushed out - mostly due to business needs.
Along with a few other analysts, I was utilized less than half of the time over the past year. I was simply the "poorest" performer among the under-utilized analysts, and somebody had to be let go.
For what it's worth - at my annual review I was told I was "meeting expectations." Sigh.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, the low performers from my class who were encouraged to leave early (i think some could've stayed for awhile longer but weren't getting promoted) all got pretty great positions.
You'll be fucking bored if you don't do anything substantial for a year. If you're passionate about law, then "substantial" doesn't have to be what would be considered a normal exit opp from an elite consulting boutique.
Have you talked with any headhunters? I almost left my firm after ~15 months, and I had many headhunters offer me positions starting around a year. I'm assuming your classmates like you, and you went to a good school...you definitely have a network to leverage, in terms of people who would be hearing about things (from headhunters, at other firms). Timing at another consulting firm might be tough, unless you have a friend from undergrad whose office is actively recruiting now for immediate starts.
Hey guys,
Thanks for all the replies. They've been very helpful.
Just to clarify my first question to make sure everyone understood...
My last day of employment was at the end of July. HR told me it was 'okay' to put on my resume that I was 'presently' working there "until I find a new job." This was based off the assumption that a future employer would not background check me. They did not say they would 'lie' about the dates I worked there.
Given all this - is it a huge risk to say I presently work there? Won't a company that hires me verify my dates of employment after the fact? Moreover, would I continue to say that I work there once I go on an interview?
Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks again.
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