By next June I´ll have my double degree on Business Administration and Law in "Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona", both with quite good marks. I´m fluent in advanced English and available to travel but not to move. Since time ago I have been considering about entering a strategy consultant job in Barcelona (Spain), but due to the great amount of consultancy companies I am really confused. Nowadays, before applying, I´m trying to balance Mc Kinsey and Accenture. On the one hand, I notice the first as most elite one and more focused on strategy. On the other hand, Accenture seems to be bigger and as a result, have more career opportunities. Do you have any idea about it?

This is a serious question?!McKinsey. Every time.

I'd go for Accenture any day. Go on - be a Tiger.

Why are you so sure? I ask you because I haven´t had any personal contact with neither of them apart from the economical press and their web sites

Depends very much on the kind of work you want to do. But if you're interested in doing strategy then McK are generally considered to be the premier organisation in the field, Accenture aren't even in the same league, and strategy forms a very small part of their business.Which is not to say you might not get better assignments at accenture, a certain ammount of luck is involved after all. However I'm sure in terms of your future career, you'd be far better off with McK on your CV.

Quick pop quiz for you. Do a google search and see how many ex-McKinsey consultants you can find who are now CEOs or Board members of leading global businesses. Then do the same for Accenture.I'd bet a small fortune that you find more McKinsey alumni in positions of power than you do Accenture alumni, even though Accenture must have ten or twenty times the number of alumni...There's just no comparison between the two - bit like the thread on here asking whether to go to INSEAD or Said business school. Seriously...

If you are ambitious and want to climb to the top, it is McKinsey every time. If you want to become an IT project manager, it is Accenture... Both companies are vcery demanding of their employees but if you can stick McKinsey for even 2 or 3 years, you are pretty much set in terms of career. The other factors is that with the world becoming smaller (not literally of course), you have to think about the international strength of the brand. Accenture's brand varies enormously from region to region while McKinsey is admired and respected everywhere in the world.

sorry, one other point. It sounds like you have not applied yet. Do you not think you should hedge your bets a little and just try to get some offers first. Make the decision when you have a decision to make... A lot of very good people get rejected for reasons they never truly understand..

Of course, I totally agree with you about having an offer to have to decide. It might sounds bizarre but I use to focus on just on objective not to waste my energies. I mean, I prefer making reasonable sure about which company apply firstable instead of applying to the "easiest" and becoming "captured". Admittedly, I must make the most of myself.

well, so there´s nothing much more to say...