4 Best and 4 Worst parts of consulting

Considering consulting? This blog outlines four of the pros and cons of working in consulting to help you decide if it’s right for you. 

The Best Parts of Consulting

Being a consultant can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career. Here are some of things you can look forward to in a career in consulting:

  • Working alongside incredibly driven and smart peers 

  • Tackling diverse projects across industries 

  • Frequent travel opportunities paid for by the firm

  • Accelerated promotion through a meritocratic career structure

  • Continuous learning and development opportunities

The Worst Parts of Consulting 

It isn’t all roses. These are some of the challenges consultants face in their career:

  • Demanding work pace makes work-life balance a challenge. This is particularly at the beginning when you’re adjusting to life as a consultant

  • Balancing both client and firm priorities can be tricky

  • Constantly proving yourself fuels insecurity for some people

  • Lack of stability - you’ll likely change projects every 6-9 months

  • Can be hard transitioning between vastly different roles

Is Consulting for me?

Here’s some questions you might want to consider when deciding if the pros outweigh the cons for you:

  • Are you energised by variety and constant new challenges?

  • How do you handle ambiguity and changing conditions?

  • What work-life balance do you need to thrive?

  • Do you crave deep expertise or enjoy being a generalist?

If you want to reflect more, check out our blog on how to know if consulting is right for you.

Find the Best Fit For You

Consulting offers huge upsides like working with talented peers, variety, travel, and accelerated promotion traded off against challenges like work-life balance, politics, and engagement gaps. Weigh both sides to decide if it's the right career for you.

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