as i type this, i'm in a club lounge sat opposite somebody being interviewed for an MC position. she works with accenture at the moment - SITE. the interviewer has the most unbelievably loud croaky voice and from what i gather probably does work for a half decent strategy house. i can't believe how desperate she is to climb the greasy pole, so naive and seemingly impressed by things like the cost of consultants hotel bills. she's talking about how accenture offers no career progression and how it's "good" to have all nighters and no control over her own work schedule because it's "important people go through it". she's "glad" she's done this that and the other, seemes obsessed with "masters degrees" and is constantly talking about what other people and all her friends are doing in their careers. it's people like her who make life difficult for the rest of us. the interviewer is totally up himself, talking about how he was making multi-million pound decisions when he was 22 and had a team of assistants working for him. he seems like quite a balanced chap but a total workaholic, keeps going on about how he socialises with colleagues on a friday night. and he has the most unbelievably annoying, deep croaky voice. she's giving her good advice i guess, but is so smug and content with himself it's actually making me feel bad with myself! she on the other hand keeps talking about what her friends are doing at accenture, kpmg, deloitte, etc... obsessed with brands and image and having everything for nothing... He's also talking in very high level conceptual terms about "direction" and "handling situations" and having a "social circle" etc... also seems to be giving her the time of day only because he fancies her... a few moments ago he just mentioned her "maturity" even though it's pretty evident she's a naive kid! no gravitas or composure whatsoever, all she seems concerned with is her "career progression" and what her friends are doing and how SITE has been "really really good".. watching this embarrassing episode has reminded me why i never want to work with people like this again. i would quite literally rather be unemployed than dragged back into that kind of over-competitve atmosphere, surrounded by 25 year olds scrambilng for jobs that simply aren't plentiful enough to go aroundso there... just thought i'd share that with you all

I bet he bangs her!

was she fit?

Croak, thanks for the interesting little snapshot of what's bad (and some good) about our way of life. Odd that they'd choose to do this in a club lounge - not the most private of surroundings for such a discussion.As for goonmyson and anon, really mature attitude guys.

no, i don't think he'll bang her. he came across as too 'serious' and 'businesslike' and 'responsible' for that. i think he was getting off on almost being like a sort of demanding father figure and someone who's 'been there/ done it'. i just got the impression that he genuinely takes the whole 'mentoring' thing very seriously and just likes talking about consultancy to anyone who will listen. probably the same sort of personality to the guy who wrote "the mckinsey way"she wasn't fit as such. dressed quite femininely, nice skirt and haircut, naive/inexperienced outlook on life. but also a bit fat and not exactly an oil painting. 6 out of 10.

What's SITE then?

"strategic IT effectiveness"i got the impression that her understanding of IT strategy doesn't go very far, more like she went to work for accenture after graduating because she saw the tiger woods adverts and was impressed by the big name and general lure of 'consultancy'

She can lose weight. You'll never be handsome, or gracious.

She can lose weight. You'll never be handsome, or gracious.

Croak - Thanks. IT, yawnsville

MAS please don't take my comments personally. even though i can deduce from your comments that you're a grossly overweight woman, i didn't mean to offend you. no doubt you'll reply saying that you're a man, have won various sporting competitions etc... but we all know the truth!

Add croak to the "mature" list ...When did this turn into a pi$$ing contest?

fair do's all, I expect most of our started out our careers pretty naive, I did, you learn through hard knocks and experience

"even though i can deduce from your comments that you're a grossly overweight woman, i didn't mean to offend you."Haha

Nope. I'm a girl!!! Neither fat nor slim and no great sporting achievements. Definition of Gracious:1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous. 2. merciful or compassionate: our gracious king. "even though i can deduce from your comments that you're a grossly overweight woman" = Not gracious.Fair view on your personality I think.Apologise for the ugly inference - I'm sure you're dashing.

ok, now we have proof that MAS is an idiot."Nope. I'm a girl!!!" Well you really put me right there, I sure was wrong when I deduced that you're a "woman". Idiot. And lets be honest now, I was right about the grossly overweight comment too.

And people wonder where consulting's reputation as a boys' club for pompous idiots comes from...

And people wonder where consulting's reputation as a boys' club for pompous idiots comes from...

Two questions...1. What's wrong with boys clubs?2. What's wrong with a little pompous idiocracy?I am bored as hell with all of this PC crap, I like girls, they even make the office a better place to be, but I'm a man. I have manly thoughts and do manly things with other men.Get over it.

big lettuce shaker?

Hear hear. As consultants we're supposed to be open and direct in our communication. PC nonsense drives me nuts. I wonder if anyone's ever done a study to work out how much it costs the economy in lost productivity.Like the earlier poster, i like having women around the office too. But only when they act like women. There's nothing worse than a woman who acts like a man and looks like a rhino.

What about a woman who acts like a competent consultant? Surely then they can be as effeminate or as masculine as they want?PC nonsense would be an interesting discussion. Only if there are a fair few women that frequent these forums though.

Croak you are going to make me cry in a minute ……. You are being such a big bad boyWhy are you so uptight about my comments anyway? Is it because you can only ever pull fatties?I notice you didn’t agree you are ungracious. Fair play though - my referring to myself as a girl as opposed to woman is much funnier. Ha ha ha. You sure are clever and have definitely sussed me out as an idiot. I bet you would ace any interview.Anyway all this talk of me being a big fat lezza has detracted from your original excellent post about how the interview you witness reminded you that you would never want to work at a strategy house. I agree, with conclusions like “so there” you are probably much too clever and I definitely don’t think you are “up yourself” like the interviewer you mention or “obsessed with brands and image” like the interviewee.I wish I could be more like you.

Croak, MAS, why don't you two just hook up and get it over with!

MAS, you sound quite tasty - what are you doing later?

I know I should say I'm going out with my other Rhino friends but in reality goz, I loved the whole "I have manly thoughts and do manly things with other men". Can I be Jane and you Tarzan?

I think Tarzan's looking for John, not Jane!

It's a killer line, it always works. I'll wrestle your rhino in the jungle any time MAS!

LOL, I'd love to see a pic of this MAS character, she sounds like a right warpig!!

I'm entering consulting from industry and look forward to being surrounded by people who are more ambitious. Nothing is more frustrating than working for a complacent multi-national with a bunch of chair warming underachievers who don't give a d**n about the quality of their work.PS - been enjoying the heartwarming banter... sophomorically entertaining as usual. ;-)

jj- warpig? Never heard that one before. I suppose I could describe myself - but you'd never believe I was hot .....Are you sure you're not croak in disguise a little bitter at loosing the battle?

Did anyone pull MAS? If not can I have a go?

Hi all,I was slow on spotting this forum, but what a treat!MAS, as a fellow female I think your fantastic and your comments to croak had me in stitches! Face it lads, MAS is running rings around you all!Well done honey, this forum needs more women like you! Love it :)

Yeah Claire,wow - girrrrl power.Yawn

Yeah Claire,wow - girrrrl power.Yawn

Yeah Claire,wow - girrrrl power.Yawn

Well, her increasingly desperate attempts to hold her own aren't quite working, so exactly who she is running rings around is anybody's guess