Help deciding between OW vs Boutique
Hey guys, anyone have any advice on which is the best offer to take for an entry level position?
One is a boutique firm (not yet well known) with whom I have an amazing cultural fit, with very interesting strategy work but is limited in its sectors--with my preferred sectors not generally represented. It's in London which some may say is world-leading for business opportunities, but after having lived there in the past it's ultimately not a city I'd like to live in long term. The hours seem quite good for consulting with infrequent traveling, at least from what they say (50-55/wk).
The other is OW, which has a good fit for the office I'm in, but not necessarily for overall company culture (how important would this be given its global staffing model?). OW's got a good representation of sectors including the ones I want to pursue most, but I've heard not all work is interesting (i.e. not always pure strategy) and FS is not an area I'm particularly interested in. My offer is for the city I'd most want to live in and could see myself there for the foreseeable long term (I know they say for your first gig location is not as important, but it's also near impossible to get a job here in consulting due to language requirements, with 5 other firms not even considering my application for this reason).
Can anyone shed light on which they think would be best? FYI pay is basically the same, but living standards for OW city are naturally lower than London. Obviously OW has the prestige and widespread sectors, but for EMEA is it limited mostly to FS and risk management as it seems to be in New York? And the boutique firm would be a much easier lifestyle with more strategy-related work, but would the limited sectors and lack of brand name limit my exit opportunities, especially if I want to leave London?
From what I've seen these forums are the best for getting experienced, informed opinions as opposed to young college kids shooting the spit. Experience with OW outside the US would be particularly appreciated! Thank you :)
What are your long term goals? OW may have better exit opps, but if this boutique firm has the clients that you might want to join later (which it doesn't seem like) then it might be worth joining. Especially if this is post-undergrad, I wouldn't worry about overall fit too much (though it is a consideration) - particularly because you feel that the culture is still a decent fit.
Thanks for the advice!
I'm coming out with a PhD so do not plan to go back for another degree, which works with both firm's structure of not needing an MBA for progression :) but tbh I'd be more interested in exiting into industry like you mentioned, most likely in the retail/consumer sector (do you know if OW's retail practice is prevalent in their project pool?).
My main question with fit is whether or not OW will be too technical for me, given that I come from a social science background. Do you know whether it would be more financially focused vs. actual strategy/management consulting focused, and whether you get a say if you prefer one over the other? They used to have a GMC vs FS path choice but now it's all lumped into one.
OW is a great strategy shop. Yes, they're particularly strong in FS, but they have plenty of retail work that can be done, if that's where your interest is. I'm sure OW would be able to provide you industry exit opps there. Personally, I think given your background and the two practices, OW is your best bet. At any of the strategy shops you will be able to dictate your career if you are a strong performer - OW included.
I would go ow. They actually have a pretty strong retail practice (not the same level as finance though) and despite recent posts suggesting the opposite, ow is not just technical modeling
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