I think that everyone here would agree that the best career advice comes from direct experience.What’s an important piece of career advice (how to get or succeed at the job) that only someone who has been a consultant would know?

Don't become like the miserable old gits around you. Just because they like an office atmosphere that is akin to working in a morgue, it doesn't mean you can't be a little ray of sunshine and happiness. Life is too short to waste it trying to gain the approval of some beady-eyed little partner wannabe by acting all serious and poker-faced. Do your job well and take your commitments seriously, but also be human and natural, the truly senior ones prefer that...