PricewaterhouseCoopers vs IBM GBS Consulting
IBM GBS Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory are two top career paths at my non-target and I want everybody to break it down.
What we know:
PwC:
PwC has a higher overall rank (#9) then IBM on Vault.com Top 50 Consulting firms.
PwC consulting was sold to IBM under ten years ago, so basically the entire IBM consulting team is made up of ex PwC. Which makes PwC even better on the culture side.
PwC in general has a more prestigious title in Accounting and Finance when generally speaking because of its Big4 rep.
IBM:
IBM looks like gold on a resume when applying for MBA school. MBAs not like Harvard or Penn but more like UChicago, CMU, other not top 5s.
IBM is full of the smartest people in general. They have a rule: gpa screening must be over 3.6 in almost ever circumstance in business. Lower for Technical majors. Hardly ever is the gpa rule bypassed for recruiting.
IBM is releasing their Optimization strategy software soon, which will be INCREDIBLE for CEOs to use on a Live basis.
Now the discussion: If I was an undergrad, and not an obnoxious trader, from a target or nontarget (both companies highly recruit both), which company should I start my career at? Which is better for Internships?
Lets enrich this discussion guys.
What are your longterm career goal? Consulting? MBA?
CPA, MBA, CFA and probably going to stay in the same firm that I end up choosing. All the way until partner or director level.
Lets keep these two job paths New York City focused.
there is no reason for a trader to get all three (CPA, MBA, and CFA) of the distinctions you mentioned, apart from the fact that the shortest of these takes at quickest 2 years... the CFA is the only one that would make sense and would likely take 4 years
I plan on completely changing my career path, that is why it is necessary to consider other certifications, especially CPA and MBA in Big consulting (if I choose to go with those guys) but for now, PwC and IBM seem to really attract my attention. Any more advice you could provide? It is very apprecaited.
FYI got an offer from IBM GBS with a 3.2... IBM really crappy consulting firm, fairly bright people but when I quit I know at least 5 others that were jealous of me and wanted to follow me out...
I didn't get that vibe at all to be honest. One of the partners i met was a pure tool, but the team seemed pretty smart.
Maybe your a pretty good consulting associate, but not academically savvy since you got in with a 3.2, but you still got in.
Can you elaborate on why exactly it is a "crappy consulting firm" please? Project locations? quality of people? non-targets vs targets performance? Which division were you in?
The focus I was looking at is market performance arbitrage, do you know anything about that?
Constructive comments please.
just send me a PM if you want to know more
You didn't elaborate on your career goals, but the CPA is pretty useless if you don't become an actual accountant (I'm only familiar with PwC transaction services, now advisory, so maybe it's useful there). The same goes for the CFA - I've never encountered a consultant at any level with the CFA. But again, maybe at PwC it's different.
But they're both fine opportunities and I'm sure you'll do well with either, but I think the degree to which you're impressed with IBM might be a little bit too high. They're a good firm, but outside of IT (and I realize that they do more than IT) they're just okay. Alsom, be wary of the Vault guides; they always insist on putting impressive boutiques like Monitor much further down the list than they should, and -- unlike in BigLaw -- they're by no means the definitive ranking.
Yep, IBM is not that great at all.
op, you need to calm down.
to answer your question:
i would take pwc over ibm..unless you can get into ibm's strategy group, which i doubt you can. (you need an mba for that). if you go to ibm, your going to be do a lot of IT work, but if thats something you want to do..by all means go IBM then. at pwc, youll have more strategy work, but not to the extent of pure strategy like at MBB,etc. also, do not look at vault rankings...they are stupid. there are many firms below pwc on the rank list that i would easily go for over pwc. but from the sound of things you dont even have interviews there, so before you ask see what its like at each firm...then if you cant decide between the two, ask us.
my 2cents
Also, while in general ranking schools is pointless, UChicago is most definitely a top program. It might not be Harvard, but it's comparable to Columbia, etc. and is a M7 school.
Thanks guys, this was good.
So i have some additional questions.
1) what are the chances of getting into big consulting if working for pwc for say 5 years?
2) would i be able to climb ranks aggressively with good performance without any certifications and no MBA?
Most Big 4 advisory groups I am familiar with require you to have progress towards (though not necessarily completed) an advanced degree or certification such as CFA or CPA to become manager (ie about 4-5 years). and it's tough to get promoted off of the track.
In my group, everyone with two synapses to rub together became a senior associate in two years and people became managers in another two or three depending on ability and business need.
PWC also has consulting work. MBA would be an advantage.
IBM CbD vs. PwC Tech Consulting (Originally Posted: 11/16/2014)
I am a college senior, with 2 options following graduation, that I am really having trouble deciding between; IBM CbD and PwC's Technology Consulting. I am more strategy inclined, and am looking to work across a breadth of industries. If anyone has any insights on either of these 2 positions, it would be greatly appreciated.
bump, I am also in the same dilemma
I'm also in the same situation. Have you made a decision yet?
I haven't yet, but leaning more towards IBM since they pay more.
Definitely IBM
Yup, IBM
PwC vs. IBM (Originally Posted: 09/27/2011)
Hey all,
I was wondering if you could all help me up with a issue I'm facing. I am a current senior getting my BSc in Finance and Accounting and have two offers from PwC's Transaction Services group and IBM's GBS group. There is a forum in regards to PwC Advisory vs. IBM, however, it seemed rather dated and I wanted to get a current point of view of these two companies now. Obviously they are in different division, ones consulting and ones transaction services.
My goal right now is to pursue my MBA within 3-4 years, and then go into IB after that. So my short-term focus is just seeing what would position me better go get into a top 5 or top 10 MBA program. With that in mind, I was not sure what you all thought would be more valuable in an MBA perspective? TS or Consulting? My fear for IBM is that I have heard they are on the decline, and also their known primarily for their IT consulting. I am in the Consulting by Degrees program, which is their rotational program, but i am not sure how much recognition their non-IT consulting groups get.
My second question would be, if you think consulting experience > TS experience, then how do you feel about PwC Advisory vs. IBM consulting? Should I try and change my offer?
Thanks for the help!
IBM
Which groups at PwC? Operations consulting is a good group, lots of lean management / six sigma work, or process design (ex. how to deliver billion dollar capital projects), and sometimes building performance managemen systems.
IBM is a great name though, strong leadership development, always recognized (and everyone says IBM is in decline, since the dawn of time).
I'm at PwC, I like it. Certainly some projects are more fun than others, but I think either would be a good name on your resume.
IBM just bought Algorithmics. If you can get in there, I would strongly strongly recommend it.
IBM CBD Business Analytics vs PwC Tech Advisory (Originally Posted: 11/16/2014)
I currently attend a semi-target university in the North East and recently got offers to join PwC 's Tech Consulting program and an offer from IBM's CBD Program for Business Analytics (different from the regular Strategy & Transformation program) for the SF office. I intend on exiting into the tech industry (think Google, Facebook), getting my MBA, or joining a startup at the end of my 2 years. Can anyone shed some light on which of these two opportunities would set me up better and why? The comp @ IBM is roughly 10-15k higher if that helps paint a better picture.
I was in the same boat - where did you decide?
I was in the same boat - where did you decide?
Definitely PwC
@"dthollow" why's that?
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