Hi all,I have just been offered a job on BT Global Services' Professional Services stream. I expect that I would like to work for a strategy house in the future, possibly after an MBA. What I'm wondering is whether working for BT is going to end any chance of getting into an MBBB or another Tier 2 strategy house.I would appreciate any advice or thoughts.Thanks a lot for your help,Rob

Probably yes, how is it that you think BT is going to give you experience of strategy consulting? Stop dreaming, you should use the BT consulting experience to get you into the consulting world and then make an interim move somewhere else (with MBA) and do some strategy consulting there before attacking the likes of MBBB.Better still - move now, you are wasting your life at BT.

Thanks for your thoughts.Does anyone else agree with Mick's analysis?Thanks again folks.Rob

Rob,do not listen to Mick..he gave you bullshit advice. If I were you I would stay at BT until I could claim Industry specialist status. BT is a big company and there are potentially great opportunities (Multimillion £ projects). Try to get Industry guru/specialist status, manage a couple of multimillion £ projects and then you can decide what you want to do. Top 5 MBA programmes are interested in one thing - Leadership potential. If you manager to prove that with BT there is nothing to be afraid of, especially from spreadsheet monkeys at a Strat house. Moreover, consultancies will line up to sign up someone with Industry expertise and valuable relationships.

Thanks anon.It's really great to hear from someone who doesn't make out that it is all doom and gloom; really helpful advice.Obviously it is good to hear the negative side of things too. But, again obviously, not as fun but thank you anyway Mick for being honest.Rob

I've worked for both BT Global Services and an MBBB, go figure. It's down to each individual's potential and excellence - if you think working for one of the most powerful companies in Europe is going to hold you back in consulting, please think again.

That's good to hear anon2.I know that BT have a lot going for them but you always wonder if, because of the nature of the work, doors into a MBBB are going to close in the future.Thanks for that.

I worked there until 6 months ago and having met with someone for lunch last week can only offer one bit of advice......Run!!!!

Thanks Dan.Could you please elaborate on that? Why run?Rob

I was in consulting. The company recently offered 'new start' - a redundancy package essentially - to the consulting community. A large amount of them jumped at the opportunity. Amongst a plethora of reasons:BTGS still operates almost solely on a 'time served' basis for promotion - there is no flexibility in this or any other system that the company employs.Global Services are struggling to bring in big profitable contracts, with an emphasis on winning anything regardless of its impact on the bottom line (margin isn't a criteria the company looks at when bidding for work).Unless you are joining because you're about to have kids and want somewhere to disappear in the crowd whilst working at home. This is made possible because getting fired would require either a feat of immense criminality or downloading of porn to a company laptop - Jerome Kerviel would be completely fine if employed by BT. His margins were probably better than any major deal won in the past few years.

Hmmm. Not very encouraging...Dan, so you have decided to get out.As this is a forum about consulting jobs, I assume that most people posting here are unhappy in their jobs. Therefore would be it fair to assume that there are many others at BT - those who are not looking for work and so not posting here - that are happy with the company and their work?

BT is still pretty governmental in its approach. It is bound to be different to working for an aggressive American company. You can do very well at a place like BT if you hang in there long enough and wait for everyone else to leave. You will not become a Partner at McKinsey unless you have put the time in and most do not make it that far leaving, by definition, those who have served longest as the top tier. Nothing unusual there. BT is still quite traditional so, quite naturally, they favour proven talent. There are, however, some bright young people, doing interesting work and being paid very well at BT. I would hang in there in your shoes. Bigger picture is that our good friend Gordan has made a mess of the economy and the UK is in for a pretty tough time generally. BT is a damned good place to take cover if the sh!t is about to hit the fan!!! You do not want to be taking big risks at the moment. A few years at BT will do you no harm at all.

Much appreciated 'think about it'. :)Rob

I managed to survive myself but remember the stress of trying to hang on to my job while 80% of my colleagues were made redundant and I needed to show continuity of employment as I was buying a house and getting engaged!! When the technology and telco markets crashed, everyone dived into BT. Last in first out if you take a risk now and the market continues to turn for the worse.

Robert,Don't pay any attention to Mick, he/she is obviously on a downer at the moment. You don't say if you're are working in consultancy at the moment but assuming you aren't I would go for it. You have nothing to lose and working in one of the largest telco's in the world as a consultant is not going to do your CV any harm. I would suggest you get going and take the opportunity and once inside the org try to find some good assignments that fit your career aspirations. I can't see how working for BT would damage your reputation or career prospects and they do have a very wide range of opportunities + the culture is less aggressive. You might want to post a thread to someone like Mars-a-day who is a recruitment consultant and get their take on things, after all these guys have a wider perspective than someone who has worked for only a couple of PS organisations??N.B. It's your career, you have to manage it!!Good luck.R

Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this discussion. The insights given were invaluable and helped to remove the irrational (?) fear that I was going down a road with no way back.Just to confirm, I am not already a consultant. I'm a fresh-faced grad.Rob

I work in BT and currently moving to consultancy.I can tell you that BT on my CV was super received by the big guys, including BCG and McKinsey although I am joining a 2nd tier.But hey it's just to enter the game and then it's up to me to sell myself later to MBBB.Go for it and forget who tells you BT is still a public firm. GS is the gem of BT and has the most skilled people (ex IBM, Mck, Gartner)Good luck

How long have you been working for BT? Did you enter via the grad scheme and what are your academics like?You're giving me hope ...

<i> I can tell you that BT on my CV was super received by the big guys, including BCG and McKinsey although I am joining a 2nd tier. </i>Why do I find this difficult to believe? Perhaps because I work for a Tier 2 and even we do not view BT experience as attractive or saleable to clients.<i> GS is the gem of BT </i>That&apos;s not saying much though, is it

I too am really encouraged by this too - thanks BT guy. Btw, how long did you work for BTGS until you applied to MBBB?BTGS2, are you starting in Sept?Rob

I worked in BT 15 months and not in GS but BT Group.I am joining AT Kearney and have increased my salary by 37%.This is the only problem with BT: they don&apos;t pay as good as other firms.If you want big bucks then look for Oil or Bank although it&apos;s a tough moment for the latter and I would consider it.Good luck.