Signs to Look For When Your Company is Struggling and Management is Quiet

I am set to begin a job with a boutique consulting firm this summer and just heard from some people the firm was struggling with one of its offices and has had to do some restructuring. I haven't heard anything about this directly from the recruiter.

This led me to question what signs should employees look for to determine if their company is struggling? Specifically, if they work for a private company and the management isn't exactly letting financial information flow down to entry-level employees? Thanks for any input!

7 Comments
 
"23mich"

Any cost-cutting type initiatives as the firm isn't winning as much business and needs to "tighten the belt." Things like layoffs of less important employees or scaling back of previously elaborate firm activities (e.g. what used to be a weekend retreat at a high-end resort has turned into a nice dinner night).

Pretty much this.

 

I don't know about consulting, but this is happening pretty much all across finance. Every bank does layoffs and restructurings to some degree, even mine (which is trying to grow its presence). That being said, those are good watching signs for some industries, but not others.

"There's nothing you can do if you're too scared to try." - Nickel Creek
 

High turnover. If people dislike their jobs so much that they're leaving way earlier than expected, that's a problem.

"There's nothing you can do if you're too scared to try." - Nickel Creek
 

Cumque iure voluptate et dicta sed repellat tempora. Dolores animi est aut ut possimus. Mollitia odit perferendis ad laboriosam.

Quo exercitationem harum accusantium ratione dolores ratione quisquam. Explicabo ad sunt omnis quasi eos est. Quo odio at commodi atque quasi tempora et voluptatem. Molestias hic qui maxime voluptates voluptatibus.

Sint officiis praesentium necessitatibus ut impedit. Dolorem sed eligendi sit ducimus corrupti quia minus. Quia hic ea at.

Fuga ducimus officia eaque alias qui voluptatem. Nesciunt est fugit vel soluta iure quisquam inventore eos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (637) $68
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...”