Hi - I have an offer from IBM as well as a boutique strat firm specialising in Telecoms, and am wondering which would enable me to progress my career further to return back to industry in 3-5yrs time?I should mention I'm currently working as an internal consultant for a telco, and I want to work in MC for a few years to gain consulting experience.Thanks!

without naming your botique company, youre question is completely senseless. How can you even post something like that? be ashamed.

Good point -- a tier 2 boutique firm that I do not want to name as they'll know who I am!! (Of the same calibre as Diamond / OC&C but focused on Telecoms.)

Sorry to be rude, but that really shows that you're totally confused about why you want to move into MC.Gargantuan IBM is at the opposite end of the spectrum from a small specialist firm.I'd question why you're in this position ...

It's actually quite simple. Either to work in IT consultancy at IBM across multiple sectors, or focus on the more strategic elements within the telco sector at the boutique.If only people could answer my original question, rather than waste time criticising...

Dave, Boutique on this one buddy!! The deep blue is not as warm and inviting as it might originally seem!

Hi Dave,Why can't people answer a question without having the whole bloody thing spelt out to them? Ignore the nit pickers - should be at work mate. Anyways, all I'd advise is that you question IBM hard about the work they do in "strat". They're a well known brand name but not for Strat consulting so be carefull as it may be more systems imp than you realise.

Totally agree with K. Amazing how many areas of IT get labelled as "strategy" within IBM. This may be OK if you are an IT strategist. If you are a more general business strategist you may well find yourself pushed into IT projects or remaining under-utilised.

As someone who used to work in PwCC, and was part of the deluge of those who left, I can confirm that the strategy unit are, like the rest of BCS, little more than sales agents for the hardware, software, and outsourcing arms of the business.