Do MBB consultants ever have time for social/dating life?

I just broke up with my (very longterm) girlfriend and will probably be starting at MBB in 2013. I've seen all of the stories about traveling M-Th, and never having time for friends/family members etc.

Being recently new to both MBB and single life, I'm wondering how the two mix exactly. Do people have time for relationships? Do people interdate in firms (I realize the M/F ratio probably isn't great) ? Is there any time during the week or weekends to meet people if one is in a major city like DC/NY ?

Any insights? I can handle being worked to death but not being celibate.

24 Comments
 

FBG$.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 
Best Response
monaco1we do but we don't cry about it on a website lol

OP's question is perfectly legitimate. If you're not going to contribute, then get the fuck out of this thread.

 
JDawg
monaco1we do but we don't cry about it on a website lol

OP's question is perfectly legitimate. If you're not going to contribute, then get the fuck out of this thread.

What the fuck did you contribute?

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 
JDawg
monaco1we do but we don't cry about it on a website lol

OP's question is perfectly legitimate. If you're not going to contribute, then get the fuck out of this thread.

problem is OP's question is not at all legitimate. First off, this topic has been beaten to death around here. A quick search would find the answers. Second, I don't understand how you could be too busy to socialize...I hope OP realizes that he isn't required to live in the office and gets to go home at night and on weekends. Finally, OP just got out of a long term relationship and is immediately looking to get into another one. He sounds like he needs to wake up and learn to be single.

 

Depends on the firm, depends on the office. McKinsey BAs travel 4 days a week, which makes it tougher for them. Dating can be tough, but it's not unheard of. You do get weekends off (generally), and people can handle being apart for the work week.

With Bain and BCG, it's a lot easier (from my anedoctal observation) because you're staff regionally. Plus, some offices will naturally have clients nearby so that you can go home during the week if you want. For example, I know plenty of people at Bain and BCG Chicago who don't travel 80% of the time or only to the suburbs. They see their friends during the week and date people.

By the way, what do you mean you "will probably starting at MBB in 2013"?

 

"you will always lose money chasing girls, but you'll never lose girls chasing money"

I just like that quote, but seriously...I'm sure you can do both as I've seen soo many already or getting married.

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!
 

ok here is some honest feedback. I work in consulting now and while the M-Th travel can be tough... I have a girlfriend now and its not that bad at all. Im home Thursday night and dont leave until Monday morning. If you cannot maintain a relationship with only being away three nights out of the week then its more than the job to blame. Also the time people go out and hang out are on the weekend, which you dont work so there is no problem

 
hockey1316ok here is some honest feedback. I work in consulting now and while the M-Th travel can be tough... I have a girlfriend now and its not that bad at all. Im home Thursday night and dont leave until Monday morning. If you cannot maintain a relationship with only being away three nights out of the week then its more than the job to blame. Also the time people go out and hang out are on the weekend, which you dont work so there is no problem

This.

Bonus: you can have slam pieces in all the cities you visit. Fuck chicks at the client city, fuck your GF Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun night.

Seriously though, the 3 nights away from your girl will be good for the relationship. + you've got weeks in between projects or the occasional 1st week of research+prep at home base before client site. People can complain about the travel it but they're just pussies/shouldn't have gotten into consulting and aren't on top of their shit.

Social: You have time to booze with your buddies too, Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun you can get drunk at your home city. If 4 nights/days of partying isn't enough, you can get sloshed with younger members of your firm at the client city in the wee hours of the morning if you've removed sleep from your schedule like I have.

 
Hoosier82
hockey1316ok here is some honest feedback. I work in consulting now and while the M-Th travel can be tough... I have a girlfriend now and its not that bad at all. Im home Thursday night and dont leave until Monday morning. If you cannot maintain a relationship with only being away three nights out of the week then its more than the job to blame. Also the time people go out and hang out are on the weekend, which you dont work so there is no problem

This.

Bonus: you can have slam pieces in all the cities you visit. Fuck chicks at the client city, fuck your GF Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun night.

Seriously though, the 3 nights away from your girl will be good for the relationship. + you've got weeks in between projects or the occasional 1st week of research+prep at home base before client site. People can complain about the travel it but they're just pussies/shouldn't have gotten into consulting and aren't on top of their shit.

Social: You have time to booze with your buddies too, Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun you can get drunk at your home city. If 4 nights/days of partying isn't enough, you can get sloshed with younger members of your firm at the client city in the wee hours of the morning if you've removed sleep from your schedule like I have.

Hockey - not only are you a fan of the best sport man has ever played, your two cents is sound. If you're dating a girl who isn't ok with not seeing you three nights, imagine what else she won't be ok with down the road. It's as if the consulting lifestyle is a nice little metric in seeing if she's worth keeping around.

Hoosier - Never will the term "slam pieces" not make me laugh. Thank you.

 

Thanks for the replies! What I meant by "probably" is that I have an offer I am deciding on. I'm a post-undergrad non-MBA entry (i.e. a bit older) and so I'm not doing this purely for the money but more for a career change.

 

Juggling MBB (whether traveling or working ~65hrs M-Th), friends, and an SO is really fucking hard. Don't let the loners on WSO tell you otherwise. That being said- I wouldn't let something like this be a deal breaker. Be disciplined, get your work done, and get out of the office ASAP and you can make it work.

"'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
 

The thing to look out for aren't the nights you're gone. Those are easy. A quick call while you're out to check in, etc. and it's all good, depending on your significant other. He or she doesn't expect you to be checked in, and after the routine sets in, he or she actually may like a little alone time.

The bigger problem is the time you ARE there. It can be easy to feel "always on." You've got your phone, your laptop, etc. with you almost all the time. You go out to dinner and get an email, and without even thinking you're checking it on your phone. You put up a finger to say, "i just need to respond real quick." And then only four minutes later do you put the phone down and say, "sorry, what were we talking about?" And then there are other times where you're not even doing the work, but your mind is still thinking about whatever it is. Stressed and anxious over something? That'll come through, and because you're only seeing each other for a few nights a week, that can seem more problematic than it would be otherwise.

That said, if you and your partner can sort it out, it's actually not that bad a situation. So long as you avoid making the mistake of saying that because you're out of town a lot, they should be doing more chores (this did not end well, my friends).

 

I like my bankroll bro, keep your fucking work life/balance.

I'm on the verge of tears by the time I log onto Wall Street Oasis, since I'm positive that a user has thrown monkey shit at me. But they haven't, and relief washes over me in an awesome wave.
 

I don't know, but I kinda like guys with busy schedule, hey I'm busy during weekdays too :) but is true tho, hard to find love in nyc, 26 ears old still single, because guys only want to hook up!

 

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