My first lesson in the real world after I graduated was that the big name consulting companies are in many instances just well managed brand names. They are often used by management to "objectify" decisions tat are already made. Specifically decisions that are not easy to sell to everyone like layoffs. It basically goes like this:
1) We think X people need to go
2) Hire BCG/McKinsey (the more recognized, the better so usually one of the two)
3) After an "independent" audit they recommend X people need to go (sorry we can't really do anything about it, after all this famous consulting company recommended it)
Had the same experience with technology consultants when management wanted to switch the tech stack to something they thought they needed. At a smaller company I worked for, we basically needed to add a tech consultant to all bigger projects as insurance for big companies that were our customers and that was a hot mess because they knew it and sent the most junior/inexperienced people who were usually a net negative on productivity.
I also had two cases of very lackluster big name consulting companies. One had done some of the calculations in the wrong currency which lead to interesting results and one had the classic slides with names/logo of another client on them. Back at university I strongly considered putting in some years at a big name consulting company to boost my CV, make some money and get insights into some interesting projects. It seemed like genuinely interesting work, too. Pretty glad I didn't go that route.
I'm curious if someone here has more positive experiences working with (or maybe for) consulting companies. My current mindset is...avoid at all costs.
I have worked at a top tier consulting firm to improve a companies technology offering.
From my experience, there are two stories consultants of these companies tell themselves. One of them is the one you just told right now.
The other is where they can genuinely help with the problem at hand. Some consultants really provide objective value to
the current working of a companies system and provide well needed direction to a companies strategy.
Our firm has helped change operation fundamentals for these firms at crucial points in their lifetime.
Honestly, the people who make it big in the firm have a great knack of delivering.
It's a 50-50 from what I know.
It is true consultants have less skin in the game, they can basically not deliver and the firm gets more business from other big names.
But reputation is everything, one consultant that delivers splendid on a project has his reputation to maintain.
1) We think X people need to go
2) Hire BCG/McKinsey (the more recognized, the better so usually one of the two)
3) After an "independent" audit they recommend X people need to go (sorry we can't really do anything about it, after all this famous consulting company recommended it)
Had the same experience with technology consultants when management wanted to switch the tech stack to something they thought they needed. At a smaller company I worked for, we basically needed to add a tech consultant to all bigger projects as insurance for big companies that were our customers and that was a hot mess because they knew it and sent the most junior/inexperienced people who were usually a net negative on productivity.
I also had two cases of very lackluster big name consulting companies. One had done some of the calculations in the wrong currency which lead to interesting results and one had the classic slides with names/logo of another client on them. Back at university I strongly considered putting in some years at a big name consulting company to boost my CV, make some money and get insights into some interesting projects. It seemed like genuinely interesting work, too. Pretty glad I didn't go that route.
I'm curious if someone here has more positive experiences working with (or maybe for) consulting companies. My current mindset is...avoid at all costs.