Hi , I am in process of going through an Interview with BAH. I am not an MBA and have 9 Years experience in Telecommunications Consulting , System Integrations, Solution Architecture . I was told by my agent that I can be offered a Senior Consultant or an Associate role. Also I will be given my interview result just after the interview with partners.What I want to know is 1) How probable is Associate Role?2) What can I expect as salary in Associate and Senior Consultant role?3)Is it Worthwhile making this change?

1) 50% likely. My advice - make it clear you want to join as an associate and can bring industry knowledge with you. You'll end up doing pretty much the same stuff but will have more responsibility and pay. Go in as high as you can.2) Not sure but don't fret about the pay. No doubt it will be far ahead of anything anyone else is offering. BAH is good like that.3) Yes... EXCEPT if you don't want to travel or don't want to work long (and I mean LONG) hours. Do NOT underestimate the lifestyle change you will be letting yourself in for. Me? - I'd rather take a £30K drop and get home at 6 every night.

You should be pushing for an associate role. With your experience as long as you have taken on project management / line management roles previously then thats where you will fit in.You should be expecting at least £60khow far are you with the interview process. I am suprised you are through a recruitment agency as I believe BAH do it all themselves

Thanks Anon.Me a workoholic , Anyway I do sit it offices , putting at 60 hours per week. I as may well take a good name and salary. One more questionHow open are companies like BAH about negotiation on Salary , Role and things like MBA sponserships ? Is it negotiable or "take it or leave it " kind of scenario...

what level of experience would BAH be looking for to recruit an experienced hire as a senior associate?

you'll have to be VERY good to join BAH as an SA.... first rate academics, powerful industry experience, phenomenal interpersonal skills

assuming I joined as an associate then, (A1). how long to get to Senior associate, then principal and partner

I'd say 2-3 years to reach SA (very tough to make the grade however... few make it)from there, another 2-3 years to get to principaland then say 3 years to make partnerWith BAH, if you're good and can manage the politics, your career will take off VERY quickly

so assuming i am good, what are the politics issues I have to manage

the same as everywhere else or BAH specific?The down sides for working for BAH are then1) Long hours, 70 hour weeks2) Office politics3) More travel than most consultanciesany I have missed

yes you missed the unpredictable nature of the work, not knowing until the last minute whether you'll be able to go home at 9pm and see your family or whether you'll be stuck in the office until 2am at the whim of a principal

are principals and senior associates quite powerful then within Booz allen?how much time do you generally spend in the office and how much at customer sites?

yes, they are very powerful.whatever a principal says goes, goes.whatever hours a SA says you're gonna work to make sure the principal accepts the team's work, you doboth have the capacity to make your working life a misery or alternatively a joy depending on how they take to you and the demands of the projectTime on client site - allow for 80%. Friday is office day

how good are they at making friday office day. No matter where you are will they try and get you back in the office on a friday? how about if you are out of the Uk or even Europe?

they are VERY good at it. you can pretty much guarantee you'll be in the office on fridays.the only exception is if you're working in saudi or something like that

then the long hours are less of a concern. you are only likely to be working them monday - wednesday and you are away fom home anyway, then flying thursday evening and in the office friday out of the door at 5pm

don't bank on it chum... you make the hours sound trivialalso, out of the office by 5pm on a friday??! haHAHAHAHaHaHAHAHAaAA!!!!! that is the funniest thing I have EVER heard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!also, you forgot to mention what happens on saturday and sunday......I'm in stitches here

Anon , Seriously 60-70 hours week is not such a big deal . I dont know about you but I am from IT background and the kind of the projects where you need to put 60-80 hours is not rare . In fact the time is defined more like "Whatever it takes.". In fact even after that you dont get paid that much.

Also , In this thread , we keep mentioning Office politics. Is there any office where office politics is not there ? I think Anon , you are a bit over critical on BAH. What I find surprising is your comments on the company are quite ambivalent. In one side you are say it is very good place , on other side you advise not to work in there .