JoeFerguson Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I have been researching this field and have been reading websites of some of the major firms (BCG, McKinsey). Just wondering if anyone knows anything from first hand experience. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtruelove Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I would suggest looking into a career in man cave consulting. That is going to be the next big thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I have been researching this field and have been reading websites of some of the major firms (BCG, McKinsey). Just wondering if anyone knows anything from first hand experience. Thanks. What's your academic/work background? The white shoe consulting houses are pretty selective in their recruiting/hiring practices, since resumes are their biggest marketing tool. New associates are essentially indentured servants for two years, so don't expect to have much of a life outside of work. Tough time to gain a foothold, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I have been researching this field and have been reading websites of some of the major firms (BCG, McKinsey). Just wondering if anyone knows anything from first hand experience. Thanks. A 'consultant' is basically someone who borrows your watch to tell you what time it is, then charges you an exorbitant fee for his services. Good work, if you can get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFerguson Posted June 6, 2009 Author Share Posted June 6, 2009 What's your academic/work background? The white shoe consulting houses are pretty selective in their recruiting/hiring practices, since resumes are their biggest marketing tool. New associates are essentially indentured servants for two years, so don't expect to have much of a life outside of work. Tough time to gain a foothold, as well. PhD in Chemistry. Interviewing for research jobs doing science, but no offers yet. Trying to keep my options open and look for "alternative" careers for PhDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 A 'consultant' is basically someone who borrows your watch to tell you what time it is, then charges you an exorbitant fee for his services. Good work, if you can get it. A consultant is a guy who knows 1,000 different ways to make love, but doesn't know any women. I used to be a consultant. Joe, I'll PM you this weekend with a few thoughts. Lurker is right on the money on his post, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 A consultant is a guy who knows 1,000 different ways to make love, but doesn't know any women. I used to be a consultant. A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?" The shepherd looked at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answered, "Sure." The yuppie parked his car, whipped out his notebook and connected it to a cell phone , then he surfed to a NASA page on the internet where he called up a GPS satellite navigation system, scanned the area, and then opened up a database and an Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas. He sent an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, received a response. Finally, he prints out a 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized printer then turns to the shepherd and says, "You have exactly 1586 sheep." "That is correct; take one of the sheep." said the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and bundle it into his car. Then the shepherd says: " If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?" "OK, why not." answered the young man. "Clearly, you are a consultant." said the shepherd. "That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?" "No guessing required." answers the shepherd. "You turned up here although nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked, and you don't know crap about my business. Now give me back my dog." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dog14787 Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?" The shepherd looked at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answered, "Sure." The yuppie parked his car, whipped out his notebook and connected it to a cell phone , then he surfed to a NASA page on the internet where he called up a GPS satellite navigation system, scanned the area, and then opened up a database and an Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas. He sent an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, received a response. Finally, he prints out a 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized printer then turns to the shepherd and says, "You have exactly 1586 sheep." "That is correct; take one of the sheep." said the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and bundle it into his car. Then the shepherd says: " If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?" "OK, why not." answered the young man. "Clearly, you are a consultant." said the shepherd. "That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?" "No guessing required." answers the shepherd. "You turned up here although nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked, and you don't know crap about my business. Now give me back my dog." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ieatcrayonz Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, This whole thing sounds familiar. Was there any mention of Turk Schonert? And what exactly was this guy going to do with the sheep he won? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennesseeboy Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 PhD in Chemistry. Interviewing for research jobs doing science, but no offers yet. Trying to keep my options open and look for "alternative" careers for PhDs. What about the Pharmaceutical industry? I have lots of people with chem backgrounds go into that and doing quite well (legal pharmaceuticals, that is.) . Another possibility but probably not one you're thinking of is law school. The patent bar is doing very well and a J.D. Phd in chem would be a hot commodity. As to consulting, what do you offer that the company doesn't have? I do a lot of consulting on my specialty in law, but have a day job to fall back on. When I retire I may do a lot more..but I'm not in any rush to retire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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