Hi everyone Reflecting this weekend on exiting consulting. Any good stories?Have great weekendTC

Yes, go contracting :D

Yes I just got paid my first bonus of my post-consulting life, and this month's paycheck is more than my previous total annual take-home.Get out if you can.

Where did you move to for that?! Got a job for me? :)From what I've seen, generally consultants tend to get paid more than people in industry. Not in all cases of course, and not more than your bankers / top lawyers etc, but still as a group consulting is pretty well paid. So surprises me when consultants talk like they are underpaid - is it just grass is greener thinking?

From my experience the grass is greener, but I also think that's because my consulting experience has given me a leg-up and that I wouldn't be in this position had I tried to work my way up from the bottom within this industry.In a way this illustrates why it's difficult to compare. I often had access to payroll data in my consulting life so have a good idea what different roles were paid. But what do you take as a comparison to your position in consulting? By age? Probably the least appropriate measure. By approximate grade/level? By perceived level of ability? By responsibility? The latter is probably the trickiest as some aspects of my consulting career now seem like a pretty easy life compared to now.

Hey DCF - what area did you move into and after how many years in the consulting industry? 5+, 10+....?You say certain aspects of your consulting career were easier than what you have to deal with now - could you elaborate slightly on what these are?

Hey DCF - what area did you move into and after how many years in the consulting industry? 5+, 10+....?You say certain aspects of your consulting career were easier than what you have to deal with now - could you elaborate slightly on what these are?

Into Financial Services after 8 years in consulting, from senior manager to VP / junior director.In consulting the scope of my work was relatively limited and "contained". I knew (more or less / in theory!) how long the project was due to last and once it was finished I didn't need to give it much further thought - onwards to the next client and the next project. I also had what now seems a luxurious amount of time to analyse problems, come up with solutions, present them nicely... Now it's just relentless, and with a lot of direct financial (P&L and balance sheet) responsibility.

I'm thinking of maybe making a similar move when I get to SM level (couple of years to go yet) so that's decent insight.Thanks!!

[quote]I'm thinking of maybe making a similar move when I get to SM level (couple of years to go yet) so that's decent insight.Thanks!![/quote]No payrise for me (until 2016 bonus) but left consulting after 9 years and the grass continues to be greener!

I left McKinsey after 3.5 years to take a job in industry.I've loved the change of pace- I've been able to spend a bunch of time with my family, start playing sports again and work on a bunch of projects that I always wanted to (like writing about consulting...oops)Whilst I'm paid slightly less than I was as a consultant, it's been completely worth it for me and would (and have been) recommending the change to everyone I can.______________________I started a blog about consulting and what it's like at www.theconsultingcoach.com

Yes....you've got to live your own life...most consulting becoming commoditised now and I think being a partner is just hassle.How much money does anyone need?

I'm currently also thinking of leaving consulting after 4 years and am already applying for jobs in industry. I would also like to spend more time with my family and enjoy freetime and am prepared to earn less. It's worth it. I really enjoyed the time in consulting but now it's time for me to move on.

I had 5 years in industry (FS), have just done 2 in consulting and am now thinking of moving abroad and doing a rubbish job in an environment I like.Life is too short for this crap.

Yes, Go for contract