I’ve been offered a Consultant grade in a big 4 consultancy, after 10 years internal consulting experience. I felt I’d hit the ceiling in my current organisation and wanted to work for a variety of clients on different types of projects.In response to my talk of leaving, the organisation I work for has offered me a manager post, 5 staff, same package as the consultancy.My career ambition is to become a Director in industry / the public sector. I don’t see myself in the Consultancy in 10 years so would need a route back directly into a management role.The consultancy would be a great experience, with some superb staff and I am sure interesting assignments. I am sure I would progress up the ladder with them, but at the end of the day I would be getting assignment (project) management and client skills, not wider management experience which I think I would need for a senior role elsewhere.Is this scenario familiar to anyone?Should I jump into consulting or take the deal my organisation is offering?

Definitely move.Ask yourself why you had to resign for your company to offer you a promotion. Then understand that they are only doing so because it is more expensive for them to spend time and money replacing you. Otherwise, realistically, where has this manager post come from? You’ll be doing the same role on more money and the reasons you were looking to leave in the first place will resurface quicker than you can imagine.If the consultant role is an increase and they are only matching this LEAVE. Get a couple of years in consulting under your belt and then go back to a much higher level role in industry where you will also command a much higher level of respect from your colleagues.

Good point about where this manager job came from .. Thanks for the comments

What are you going to do then?

Sorry I just cant understand how 10 years of experience brings you in at consultant grade ie. the grade of a 23 year old with 1 to 2 years of experience. sounds like your getting shafted.

It depends on the company. A C3 at Accenture is very different to a Consultant at PWC.

It is Consultant at PA.Am I being shafted?

YES. ask what the average age is for that bracket; if they refuse to tell you, ask what the average number of years of experience is. See how old your interviewers are. Im sure people from PA on this board can give more insight. Its a MEGA shaft.

Jonno it dosen't sound right to move over to PA at Consultant grade given your experience - as a headhunter active in the consulting market I would expect a Consultant to have maybe 2- 3 years out of graduation, not 10 years of commercial experience. If the package is significantly better than where you are it is probably still worth moving but you should perhaps clarify exactly what level you would be joining at.Incidentally never be tempted to stay in this situation - you are wielding a proverbial 'loaded gun' with your current employer - the loyalty has gone and can not be resumed there. Be decisive and go!

I have never had a candidate join PA at consultant level with 10 years internal consulting experience. You say 10 years of internal consulting experience. Has the whole 10 years really been focused on internal change? or has it just been recently? and what's your industry alignment?

It is 10 years change management experience, covering organisational restructuring, IT implementations and BPR.Background is public sector.

did you interveiw anywhere else?

sublte recruitment agent.