I'm an Oxford graduate (2005) with 18 months experience in a small strategy company and have received 2 offers - 1 from Deloitte in the M&A area (top end of analyst level) and 1 from BAH (1st year consultant). Which should I go for? Every time I decide I hear new information that makes me reconsider. I also have to decide by the end of tomorrow! All advice would be appreciated

Whichever company you got the better vibe from. Go with your gut, and if your gut can't decide then go with BAH.

hi I am in a similar position. What is the offer that BAH gave you if you dont mind sharing? How does the renumeration compare with Deloittes?

Using prestige as the only measure I would choose BAH.

I would definitely go for BAH. However, with either of these companies, you should be aware that there's a good chance you won't get much of a work-life balance. Personally, I'd rather take a slight pay cut and accept a less 'prestigious' job than work long hours. When summer arrives again, I don't want to waste away the balmy evenings by working long hours in an air conditioned office with artificial lighting whilst my friends and family enjoy spending time in the park and/or with each other.

Congrats on getting two top notch offeres.Personally I think u shuld go for BAH.Deloitte is in a totally different league. It competes with the big 4,cap gem's, PA's and EDS of this world. BAH is more along the lines of kearney, mercer, cluster,boston and bain.

Depends on what you want from your career. If you want to be an elite, high earning consultant but have no life, choose BAH. If you want a better work-life balance, choose Deloitte, you'll still have a good career. M&A is a good place to get trained in too. If you'd asked me at the same time in my life as you, I'd have gone to BAH. With the benefit of hindsight after 7 years at this consulting lark, I'd choose Deloitte.

BAH, no question as it will give you so much more ...If you are interested in cosulting as a long term career (i.e. you want to make partner fast), where and how you start is vital. Clearly, the higher in the foodchain the better (I mean MBBB). In the event you cannot make it with the big guys - assuming you have the right motivations/skills - there is a plethora of others consultancies that would be more than happy to give you that opportunity. You can even go "solo".If, instead, consulting for you is a way of fast tracking a career in industry, there is no better thing that having one of the big guys (MBBB) on your CV. And I have direct experience of that...So go BAH, you won't regret it

Thanks guys - very helpful! Ive decided now - thinking about it last night and then reading this this morning has really helped