Drug Testing at Top Consulting Firms
I'm in Canada, and will be interning at an MBB over the summer. Do top firms (not just mbb, but others like Deloitte and atk) do drug tests on future full-time employees?
I ask because I am planning to travel and party hard in Europe before I start. Never done drugs before, but I want to experiment once in my life before I start slaving away...but I'm paranoid.
Will My Consulting Firm Do a Drug Test?
Generally speaking, our users shared that the firms themselves often don't do drug testing but the clients that you consult for will sometimes request it. Your staffing will often determine if you are tested.
BGP2587 - Consulting AssociateMany banks will require consultants to get drug tested (I was drug tested four times last year as a consultant with four different Financial Services companies). It will likely be a client-by-client thing as opposed to your firm drug testing you. Have never been drug tested by any company other than a bank or the federal govt., for what it's worth.
User @longn", a consulting associate, shared that they weren’t drug tested by the Big 4 but by their clients:
longn - Consulting AssociateI wasn't, and the big 4 probably won't either. It's costly, and b/c these firms have so much attrition per year, it's a major headache in terms of coordination and spend. With that said, just because your firm won't drug test, doesn't mean your clients won't (I've been to five fortune 500 clients and have been drugged tested at three of them).
All this being said, our users recommend laying off drug usage for a while especially ahead of the start of an internship program.
John-Doe8 - ConsultantBe prepared for everything = stop doing drugs. At least until you get through the internship.
How Long Will Drugs Stay In Your System?
upperhandy - Consulting Associate
- A single use of pot is out of your system in 2-3 days.
- More frequent use 1-3 weeks.
- Heavy use will last more than a month.
yeahright - Sales and Trading Vice PresidentAnything you are taking in Europe ragers will be out of your system by the time you test. Only Mary-J stays in your system for an extended period of time. Look it up...
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If you are paranoid, do not do it. Should have tried it earlier. Most large firms will conduct a drug test.
Don't dump all the hard work down the drain for drugs.
generally no they don't
maybe the big4 audit/accounting firms do, but i haven't heard of the private strategy firms drug testing
Banks & f500 companies do, and as a discretionary services, they might ask you to do a drug test as a consultant. It has happened to my colleagues who worked in MM banks in NYC who are consultants. I'm waiting for my turn in the next couple of weeks.
first time users of pot, will have traces of the drug around their system for up to 6 weeks quoted to me by an internal medicine med student/resident.
I know this thread is old, what chinchopperchinchopper said it's bullshit
A single use of pot is out of your system in 2-3 days
More frequent use 1-3 weeks
Heavy use more than a month
Anything you are taking in Europe ragers will be out of your system by the time you test. Only Mary-J stays in your system for an extended period of time. Look it up...
@"thelittlemushrooms" Your friend is really dumb... it depends on so many factors that you cannot even get close to generalizing a timeline for an individual person.
you're right, there is no way to generalize how long drugs stay in your system. but why take the risk in the case of OP?
No matter how long it stays in your system, you are giving the firm (your own or client's) a cause for termination.
Many banks will require consultants to get drug tested (I was drug tested four times last year as a consultant with four different Financial Services companies). It will likely be a client-by-client thing as opposed to your firm drug testing you. Have never been drug tested by any company other than a bank or the federal govt., for what it's worth.
Bingo.
If you're on a project for the next 12 weeks, feel free to burn one down Friday night.
What happened to your freshman year in college?
Just go to Ibiza and drink a lot.
I'm not sure how things work in the Great White North, but when I started at a large, non MBB consulting firm, I wasn't tested. I did get tested for a particular client though.
Depends on the client and if they request it; even then, firms will work with you (delay staffing, push you to another project, etc.)
I've heard of it happening before so would suggest it's not worth the risk, particularly if it will be on your mind afterwards
Consulting Drug Tests for New Hires (Originally Posted: 03/17/2011)
Hey Guys,
I was recently hired for advisory at one of the Big 4 firms, and I was wondering if they drug test. (specifically mary jane)
ps - i've searched.
Probably.
I had a friend start at PwC and never took a drug test. She was in tax, but I assume the process is standard across the firm.
advisory? bump!
Was never drug tested.
If this is such a concern for you, be warned that you may have drug tests on an as-needed basis. Some clients, especially those with government ties, require them, and staffing tends to be on short notice. Good luck -- sounds like you will need it.
What office? PM me if you want but if It's Deliotte in DC you could be fucked.
happypants, could you specify when you would get drug tested?
I wasn't, and the big 4 probably won't either. It's costly, and b/c these firms have so much attrition per year, it's a major headache in terms of coordination and spend. With that said, just because your firm won't drug test, doesn't mean your clients won't (I've been to five fortune 500 clients and have been drugged tested at three of them).
Since you're a new hire, you should be ok from now until you get on your first project with all the orientation and training you'll have to do.
just ask around once you get comfortable with some people, if they didn't warn you about a pre-screen drug test you should be OK as far as the offer goes-- Moving forward you just have to feel it out
I did coke with a PE buddy (who was the client) the night before arriving onsite and was drug tested the next day. (Note: This wasn't for Big 4). Nothing was ever brought to my attention.
Drug Test for Consulting Internship? (Originally Posted: 05/19/2013)
I'm starting a summer MBA internship at a boutique consulting firm (think LEK, ZS, Parthenon) next month and was wondering what the typical drug testing policy is like for interns and full-time consultants?
I accepted the offer several months ago, and while I have had lots of communication with the firm since then, they haven't mentioned anything about a drug test.
That said, for those of you in the industry:
if its either of the boston based ones i don't think they test
I suspect that most firms don't, but I've seen a few client organizations that test all their employees and outside contractors.
Maybe you shouldn't be doing drugs in the first place. And I don't just mean that to be dickish - consulting firm cultures are pretty fond of going out for drinks, and probably have a portion of alcoholics, but I can't imagine really any of my coworkers even having smoked a fair amount of weed in college.
Most consulting firms do not have drug tests. However, some clients require a drug test for the consultants they hire. Certain consulting firms will let you know that that particular client requires a drug test and let you opt out of that staffing assignment if you so wish. Of course, you will still raise some red flags if you choose to opt out, but at least it won't cost you your job.
Big 3 consulting drug test (Originally Posted: 03/21/2015)
I know there are other forums about this. I am just curious if anybody has information regarding drug tests at the MBB consulting firms, for a summer internship. I've read that testing is sometimes case-specific, and not firm-wide. Just want to have as much info as possible and be prepared for everything. Thanks!
Be prepared for everything = stop doing drugs. At least until you get through the internship.
well considering your name and picture are on here you should probably get prepared for a drug test now...
Casey, Casey...how can someone who goes to Harvard be so silly? Hope you didnt do this stuff whilst working on reports regarding unsafe structures, construction codes and commercial projects!
I have only ever heard of drug testing at my MBB with a very tiny set of clients who request it. All the clients I've heard of who do this are pharma companies, for what it's worth. It is not standard to drug test anyone as a matter of standard procedure - it's only done for these specific cases. (For comparison, another internship I did before MBB had me do a hair drug test as an intern!)
I don't personally know of anyone who has actually done this, but anecdotally I've heard if you think you'll fail the drug test you can just ask off of the case and they'll pull you off no questions asked.
I wouldn't worry about it, but probably best to be safe and quit doing whatever you're doing.
Double post
this has to be a troll
who would make an account with their real name and then ask a question like this?
firms don't test except when specific clients that ask for it
Bain/BCG definitely do not at any office. McKinsey also probably does not.
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