All, I currently work for a small boutique firm about 30 consultants doing mostly strategy work. I have an offer from a top operational consulting firm (proudfoot, celerant, atk) etc. Should I take the job? I'm still pretty junior, about two years consulting experience. I like my current firm, but the new offer has better pay, offers more flexibility, better benefits, more global work etc. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

It sounds like an interesting offer. I am assuming you applied for this role, which indicates that things aren't quite right in your current firm and you do want to leave.Whatever your reasons for thinking of leaving, does this new job address the issues?If it does and the culture at the new firm is right for you, then in my humble opinion there shouldn't be much holding you back.

You really don't need others to tell you this is a good move for you, do you? Or is there something else in the mix you have not mentioned, which is making you hesitate?

Thanks for all the quick reply guys. The only thing holding me back is I'm not sure if I would like operational consulting. My current firm is small but does half strategy and half operational work, so at least the strategy aspect is still there. I think I'm more of an "analyst" would much rather do strategy work versus implementation.I tried applying for MBB but was rejected due to my lack of an undergrad business degree. I studied Biochemistry. I'm also looking at a few other firms specifically ZS Associates and Arthur D Little and have interviews coming up shortly.What are your views on the exit options coming out of an operational consulting firm?

I'm not sure I subscribe to the bigger automatically = better view.If it's not the right job function for you why would you go there? If you must move to a bigger firm, and undoubtedly there is reason to recommend them, make sure it's in the function you want to work. I'd wait for these strat interviews if I were you.

Odd that MBB rejected you for the Biochem degree - they are not subject specific for undergrad hires.Why apply to an operational consulting firm at all? ZS and ADL are very different to the likes of Proudfoot, Celerant etc., and unless you are talking about one of a small handful of operational firms ZS and ADL are in a different league - certainly vrs the likes of Proudfoot and Celerant (ATK being one of the honourable exceptions in this category). If you want to remain in strat stay there and decline this offer - you will find it very hard, if not impossible, to move back to strat if you move into ops cons and decide its not for you.Exits from ops are not really different that strat, although tend to be ops directed as you can imagine - senior roles in ops, scm, procurement etc as opposed to strat, marketing etc. You don't seem sure of what you want, I suggest taking some time to think it through, and Casio is quite right too: bigger is not always better.

I agree with what Mars a Day says (good advice as usual).I'd also go even one step further re: the final comment and suggest that bigger usually = worse. But, people always love having well recognised brand names on the CV (whether they are applying or recruiting). It's a shame that advertising actually influences so many people.