I cant get my head around a concept and therefore I ask your opinion:Why is everyone in conslting deluded that this is a prestigious, well paid and glamourous profession?Why do the myriad of big 4 consultants think that they are on the peak of the service industry?I just can't get my head around it - were does this presumptious arrogance come from? The salaries are poor - low as industry, with longer hours and worse benefits. So why does everyone think they are brilliantly superior?My only theory is that everyone innately thinks they should be working at McKinsey - and by some stroke of bad luck they ended up at EY.But even then, McK doesnt pay that much - but they have other reasons to be arrogant for.

Tell me about it... yet we still end up with hundreds of desperados wanting to "get into consulting".I think a lot of it stems from people with big egos thinking that "management" is a good place to be, and therefore "management consulting" must be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

2 words,Exit options

The exit options are good, I agree - but not many people walk out of your average consulting firm (i.e. Toilettte, Accenture, Cap Gemini etc) 3 years after graduating and become an industry high-flyer. Maybe MBBB have something unique to offer here, but even then the hard graft and toil hardly seems worth it just to leap from the frying pan into the fire.

Really? explain that to me please. What 'exit options' do you have after 8 years at a consulting firm (MBB excluded) that you wouldnt have by entering industry directly??When do you ever hear of a top management coming from a big 4 / PA / accenture type place. Get real - its all a lie.

The grass is always greener guys - i mean yes its not the best paid job in the world (compared to IB for example) but at the same time, you're not gonna be hunting for tesco value whilst working at a consultancy - it is fairly well paid, with a fairly good w/l balance (dependent on where you work of course). So this is probably why there are lots of people wanting to get in. I guess every industry is not as glamorous once you get in - as you guys seem to know the inside story on it hence your comments. But to an outsider, it is bright lights.As for the arrogance, I couldnt agree with you more. Many people get so hung up on where they work, it makes them feel innately superior. I think it stems from the rigourous interview process and being around people with high achievement backgrounds that gives consultancies/banks an elitist feel. Its also part of the game - to appear very confident bordering arrogant as timid people are left behind (not that i agree with this i hasten to add!)At the end of the day, this culture of arrogance will only change if you & I BECOME that change. Yes we're f***** great at our job but that doesnt mean we need to kiss ass or shout about it from the rooftops to climb the corporate ladder or make ourselves noticed. Our quality of work does that for us.

[quote] p but at the same time, you're not gonna be hunting for tesco value whilst working at a consultancy [/quote]Nor would anyone else after reading/watching the BBC’s documentary on that subject today!

what documentary? have alink?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6676345.stmI think it's on telly tonight, but I can't be sure.

The thing is, can you imagine the practices at your local cornershop or "farmers' market" are any better? It seems the only way to get fresh food is by doing the whole "grow your own" thing.That or develop a strong digestive system.

awesome thread. anythoughts a year on?

I'm an analyst at Accenture. Consulting's far from a bad career choice. At graduate level there's not many other industries that pay as well. I have a pretty good work life balance, lots of holidays, decent pay and decent exposure and picking up some good skills and exposure that i probably wouldn't have got had i joined the grad programmes of the industry companies who I'm working at. I also don't work for HR.