Hey guys,
From what I've gathered from speaking with consultants, places like Bain and BCG seem like fantastic places to work. The people appear to be happy and well-paid. Glassdoor/Fortune lists also support the idea that the consultants at BCG and Bain are happy. If they are so happy, why is there such a culture of "2/3 years then out" (often for inferior pay) on this forum? Is it different in real life, or are the consultants not as happy as they seem? Any input is appreciated.
From a guy on reddit:
"The fact that you have to accept as a traveling consultant is that you just aren't going to be there for a lot of things. You aren't going to be making soup for a sick wife, coaching a little league team, joining the mid-week double date, etc.
That isn't the life you have signed up for."
Sums it up nicely
My personal experience is that a lot of people actually start off in consulting and not wanting to stay for many years. They value the incredible learning experience and often want to do something else after those few years. Also, I have heard people mentioning leaving for less travel and settling down with a girlfriend. People have also told me that it is a very up or out system, why would you stay if it is quite obvious you won't make partner or will have trouble being promoted to project manager?
Attrition generally runs about 70/30 at every level -- about 70% of the folks who leave do so because they want to do something else, for whatever reason (great opportunity presents itself, more pay, fewer hours, less travel, more stability, P&L responsibility, burning desire to work on social justice issues, want to try a startup, want to move to a new city where there is no major airport, whatever) and about 30% leave because they don't have a choice.
It's not generally true that you leave for lower pay, it's typically the same or a bit higher although the trajectory is much flatter almost everywhere else. Specifics vary of course.
In the end, it was a very simple realisation that the client I needed to serve with full dedication and commitment was my family and not McK or any of its clients.