Just taken a graduate role with Deloitte in Consulting (starting this summer). After spending a few weeks reading the posts on this forum, I've become increasingly frightened that I've made the wrong choice, as opposed to say, banking, law, or accountancy.From what people say, career progression seems to be very difficult, pay relatively poor, hours long, work repetitive, and job stability not apparent.I'm almost tempted to jump ship before I've even started and reconsider my options. I'd hate, 2-4 years down the line, to have no exit options and be stuck in a rut, particularly when I have been aiming for the stars (as most graduates do I guess!)Any words of advice/reassurance?!

Argh - no need to fret. A couple of years of consulting at a firm like Deloitte will make you very employable. In a good market (like now) you'd be able to move to a wide range of competitor consulting firms - or to have your pick of FTSE employer if you've decided that consulting is not for you. Plus of course business schools take more students from consulting than from any other sector I know of.The anxieties on this forum are broadly that i) consulting has failed to keep pace with investment banking / private equity in terms of remuneration (but then the same would be true of accounting); ii) the consulting lifestyle is tough and so most reach a stage in their careers where they want to move on from consulting and do something else (but again this is true of any fast-paced City career - once you reach your thirties then these careers inevitably encroach on family life in a way that many choose not to accept); or iii) the individual's career path has not followed the trajectory they'd expected.I suspect if you asked most readers on this forum if they regret having started their career in consulting, very few would say they regret this decision. Except for a few that turned down an offer from Goldman Sachs maybe!!;-)You'll do just fine with Deloitte - my advice would be to go and enjoy the weeks before you start work so that you start your career primed with energy and enthusiasm.Good luckTony RestellTop-Consultant.com

Just picking up on a point made by Tony; Argh the very frustrations in consulting you are concerned about can be even more pronounced in industry and banking etc - look at the fear at ABN with the immanent takeover by RSB consortium or else Barclays, the possible new legislation to dampen the earnings PE and VC funds are drawing down, the fizz has gne our of M&A in the city, and big industry firms like the mobile operators have been haemorrhaging people as the market becomes so competitive that margins are little more than cost. At least 2 - 4 years in Deloitte will equip you with a broad, highly flexible, base of experience in real business issues, not just 1 niche vertical - you will have a great launch point to take advantage of whatever the market is doing at the time.

Tony and Mars, thanks so much for your replies, have put my mind to rest slightly.Picking up on one of your points Mars, re: having a broad range of business experience; this was one of the elements of consulting that I was initially attracted to, but reading this forum makes me think that employers don't like 'jacks of all trades'; will I be too much of a generalist after 2-4 years to get another job in industry?

you are right that there is suspicion of Jacks of All Trades but not at the level you are talking about. A career is a daunting thing after education, where you are really only worrying about the immediate objectives. You cannot expect to plan 10 years ahead. The one certainty is that none of us really know what either the market or our personal circmstances are going to dictate in the future. At this point, you should think only of getting stuck in and doing the best job you can for the next 6 months. Many graduates (I was certainly the same back then) spend too much time worrying about the future, wandering what else they could be doing, thinking about their career rather than getting on with the job they are being paid to do. If you just get on with it rather than wasting energy worrying about the future, the future has a funny habit of taking care of itself.By the way, the above advice is very much "do as I say, not as I do". I could have done with this advice at the time!

Actually if you have 4 years in many 'trades' ie 12 years 4,4,4 and your a jack off all trades you morph into a 'Hybrid' which is exactly what employers want.Look you only get one life, consulting is better than pulling teeth, giving medicine to geriatrics, counting beans, fitting pipes.You made the right choice, now remember to 'remain human' the Top MBA and PHD threads you see on the board are people having a laugh.As for consultancies 'letting people go' yes it happens, if lest say your in EDS and they are laying off public sector due to no orders....pop along to cap gem there is a LOT of public sector with them at the moment.How will you know this?This board , your mates, job sites.My top tip....STUDY!When you have a few moments learn something, anything!When on a flight go to the BMI lounge and nick 'Time', 'The economist' and the Business papers for your flight, read them. The world moves really fast.Take time to learn other skills. Technology, Management Accountancy (not financial its limited).Youll never be bored again.Work life balance.I work 60 hours a week, I love my job.My wife, she loves not having to work, her big house, a car, clothes.My children, they have a games room in the house PS3, XBOX, and Broadband.My biggest worry.One day having to retire :)Bit of a ramble, but im on holiday enjoying the sun.

Taxman enjoy your hols - guess it's "Pimms'o'clock" for you!Argh - with 2 - 4 years experience at Deloitte you certainly won't be a jack of all trades, you'll barely be a master of one trade. Life is not lived on railroads by the way - you can jump ship from consulting if you don't like it and it will be a great brand on your CV. Stop worrying, start doing it. NIKE!Incidentally, take it another way - Deloitte have been developing grads into consultants for a long time, they know how to do it, and what skills their clients (and therefore the market) want to see in their consultants. Do you really think that Deloitte, MBBB, ACN and all the rest would get it so wrong and be so successful? At Deloitte they will develop you to go to clients and do something which will solve their problems, add value or somesuch. Exactly what every other job in the world is for. So you know you have options because consulting is the proof of it. QED.