I’m a rising senior starting to prepare for FT recruiting, but recent life circumstances have me tied down for around two years post-graduation. Are there any consulting firms (any type) that have a reduced/nonexistent travel commitment for new analysts?
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I’ve heard LEK rarely travels.
You can typically expect reduced travel in private equity due diligence practices. I would look into Strategy& Deals Strategy, EY-Parthenon, and LEK
Bain has a phenomenal PE DD practice but I didn't list them above because AFAIK you join as a generalist, whereas you'll be more focused on PE DD at the above 3
In addition to the options listed here, many boutique firms with specific industry/geographic focus don't travel much at all (and sometimes offer great work life balance in general). The obvious downside is lower brand name recognition and lesser diversity in the types of studies you'd be working on.
Anything federal
Among MBB Bain tends to be the best at keeping you local. At my firm (another MBB), we are told that we can prioritize one of three things: industry, location, people. If you are adamant that you want to be local, and are flexible on the rest, that shouldn't be an issue (provided that you are in a big city).
Usually all three allow for local vs. travel preferences. Bain is more local generally, sure, but the other two will usually try to accommodate preferences. This is indeed more feasible in larger staffing pools (big offices/ regions).
At a slightly more senior level, if you have a personal reason beyond a "simple" preference, e.g. young child or family issue, reach out to HR and they usually do their best to keep you local.
If you're NYC based, then most of your projects will be local
Economic consulting has almost zero travel below the Associate/Senior Consultant level.
Bain if you go for MBB - my first two years I flew four times. Just have to work with staffing a bit.
If you're at LEK you'll be working til 1, 2, 3am regularly. Do you just need to by physically in your city, or do you have home obligations? If so it's not a good path.
If OP has actual obligations during the week no consulting firm outside the Big 4 is a good idea
Lol, okay kid. I forgot Consulting we are supposed to do pissing contests between the 80 hour MBBer and the 65-70 hour Big 4er
highly doubt thats true for lek... at that point isnt it just ib with shit pay?
This is correct. Source: 4 friends that went there out of college, including one that did 8am - 3am 3 nights in a row. Most worked til 12/1 regularly. Very different model from any other firm. Way heavier hours than MBB too.
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