I've been offered a graduate position by Detica to work as a Technology Consultant in their Guidlford office. As a doctoral graduate the starting salary is about 27k basic plus bonuses etc which takes the package up to about 30k. What I wanted to before I accept the offer is what i can expect to earn with a couple of years assuming I put the required effort in and how easy is it to move up the corporate ladder? Also how easy is it to move from Detica to one of the 'top 5' consultancies? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

detica are a niche player but have a good reputation, do 2 - 3 years, then bank your experience and move on

Having never worked there, i can only give you second hand info but the vast majority of things i hear about Detica are positive. Maybe, slighly less so as it's grown, but it's a very well respected firm at what it does. I hve friends who've gone there from the 'big 5', and compare it favourably. Essentially, you'll learn a lot, and if you perform you'll be rewarded. After a few years you might want to take what you've learn't and move on.... from what i hear (anecdotaly) they tend to lose more people to banks, rather than the 'big 5'. overall, as a first Job you could do a MUCH worse.

i HAD A FREIND WHO WENT IN AT SENOIR CONS ON £78,000, PLUS BONUS ABOUT 34%THEY PAY QUITE WELL BUT NOT THE BEST

thanks for the info. Would I be limiting my future prospects by going in as a technology Consultant? Would i be better off trying to get in to another BU or is the experience all worthwhile?

Depends what you want to do in the long term. I think Detica have business consulting unit. I'm guessing you have a technical/science PhD, which they'd initially want to exploit on tech problems. My feelings with detica is that the younger/more dynamic Telco/FS practices, are gonna give you more chance to develop broader consulting skills. But as i said before, still a good option as a first job. Do you have any other options at this point anyway?

DD,I have a mechanical engineering first degree and a PhD based around materials/environmental technology. So in answer to your question, yes, I have a very technical background. However, i think I also have a lot of so called 'softer' skills as i have completed numerous courses in Leadership, project management, financial management, etc. I have just started working for a traditional engineering consultancy. I don't feel, however, that the work is quite what i thought it would be (nor how it was described for that matter). Also, the structure is such within this type of company that i feel I won't be able to move up as quickly as I would like to think I can, i.e., you must have X amount of years experience before you can be at a certain position.At this current stage i have not applied to any other consultancies but I was offered a position at Detica before I took up my current position, and now feel I perhaps made the wrong decision in terms of progressing my career.Ultimately, I have always wanted to be in consulting as its the diversity of work and the client interfacing aspect that I enjoy, rather than the specific field.Sorry for the long reply!

I kind of took for granted that you'd have the soft skills, doubt Detica would have offered you a job if not. While they have a bit of a techie bias, they are still a consultancy, and they would still want to be able to put you in front of a client. This is all based on consultancy in general, as i said, i have no direct experience with Detica.If you're in an engineering consultancy, i'd jump at Detica! While it's not (and wouldn't pretend to be) Mckinsy or Bain, you will learn valuble consultancy skills, that will add weight to your CV. At this point in my own career, i probably wouldn't go there as i doubt i fit their niche. But as a grad, i'd have seriously considered it. At the end of the day mate, you're obviously a smart guy, look a where you are... and what could be gained by the move, and work out which is likely to take your career in the direction you want. If that's out of engineering, then you're clearly in the wrong place at the moment.

Deticonfused, Tech consulting is a Profession (like Business Consulting, Operational systems etc) in Detica; the Business Divisions are Govt and Commercial, which split down accordingly. Get on the web and do some research, no company likes lazy applicants - good luck, all the same.