Hi all,I'm a 27 year old Management Consultant. I love what I do and have a lot of ambition. I want to leave my current firm (a global Consulting firm) as there is a real lack of opportunity to progress. They are hiring huge amounts of people but not promoting anyone. I would leave with a heavy heart despite this - I really enjoy my projects, am well liked and respected and I work with great people.I've applied to a few firms, both large and small, but nothing has really jumped out at me yet and I was unsuccessful in the one interview I've had so far. I'm attracted to the big 4 due to the brand recognition and have applied to a few roles. I have not heard anything back.I just feel lost. Can anyone offer any advice in terms of what I should do or perhaps recommend firms I should look at? Many thanks.

[quote]Hi all,I'm a 27 year old Management Consultant. I love what I do and have a lot of ambition. I want to leave my current firm (a global Consulting firm) as there is a real lack of opportunity to progress. They are hiring huge amounts of people but not promoting anyone. I would leave with a heavy heart despite this - I really enjoy my projects, am well liked and respected and I work with great people.I've applied to a few firms, both large and small, but nothing has really jumped out at me yet and I was unsuccessful in the one interview I've had so far. I'm attracted to the big 4 due to the brand recognition and have applied to a few roles. I have not heard anything back.I just feel lost. Can anyone offer any advice in terms of what I should do or perhaps recommend firms I should look at? Many thanks.[/quote]Who is your current firm? We're all (anonymous) friends here!

I think you need to take a step back. Statements such as "they are not promoting anyone" and a "real lack of opportunity to progress" make you sound like a little puppy jumping up and down begging to be taken for a walk.Is this really an accurate assessment of the situation? Is there really a lack of opportunity to progress or are you being unrealistic in your expectations. The Big 4 culture (also read Global consulting culture) is built upon very structured career progression and it's not uncommon (actually it's a rite of passage) to get "stuffed" at at least one promotion point in your career. There are a combination of reasons for this - but your performance is only going to be one of many. Others include business need, political considerations, time at level etc etc etcSo - my recommendation is: If you are an analyst level, you've spent 5 years there then you need to move because clearly you're not suited to the promotion track. If you're a Consultant level and you've missed one promotion point - look at why you missed it, have an honest assessment of yourself, your projects and the company. If you're at Manager level - then slow the hell down, learn - get content - and prepare the ground for additional seniority.It sounds like you in a career that makes you happy, you enjoy and where you have respect from your co-workers. Therefore I wonder why you would want to forego all of this on a whim.....

If you really want to change the job, then you need to prepare yourself for such rejections as well. But don't get stressed due to rejections. Try to find out the reasons. Ask some experienced people and try to get their suggestions.Try to do some modifications in your CV so that it can help recruiters to know more about you. Read some more useful tips at [url]http://bit.ly/1n0VyKt[/url]