I'd like to get a view of how a lead analyst in an Analyst firm (with the likes of Datamonitor, Gartner, Forrester) is perceived by MCs. I'm currently one of them, and am responsible for a team of analysts focusing on a industry sector, in my case retail banking, with considerable work in consultancy (market driven projects). I want to move to a MC one day and wonder where I'll stand with say, a strad consultancy. Any views? Know anyone made the move?

Can anyone help this guy out? I'm in a similar position and would like to know what the career options are after experience in these types of places?Thanks

Nothing wrong with your background. Your challenge is that MBB rarely hire outside the industry for mid-level consultants. kreally only 2 entry points to an MBB firm -- out of college (as an Analyst), or out of Bschool (as an Associate). Virtually all Sr. Associates/Managers to Partners/Principals/Directors are promoted from within...or hop from one MBB-type firm to another. Of course, there are always exceptions, like if you know someone who's a Principal/Partner at MBB....

And apart from MBB, what are the other exit options from this position?Thanks

The two obvious ones are:- IB analyst for the same industry you're covering- Corporate strategy and planning position at an FTSE 1000 company in the same industry you're covering

what's it like working at these analyst firms? sounds very interesting to me. as an IT consultant fed up from moving from one project to the next it sounds good to work at an analyst firm and develop that deep insight into technology trendsis the money good?

Thanks for that Beng - are these quite conventional paths to go then?To anon (2): the money isn't as good as many top MC firms, although it can still be fairly decent.

I beg to differ on this. I am an executive at a client firm and have worked with consultants from McKinsey who were employees of analyst firms like Yankee Group and Gartner.