Evening all.....I have a first class degree in maths and am being coveted by Investment Banks and Mgmt Consultancies after applying online. I would prefer Consultancy at this time but the idea of living in hotels puts me off. Not a proud thing to admit, but I am a bit of a weakling. I need a routine with my diet, excercise and sleep - especially diet. Are you able to tell me if, on a client engagement away from my home office, if I have the option to stay in accomodation where I can cook myself? What is this minimum period of tenure, assuming the option exists?Thanks.

if you have a first in maths, be a trader or a quant (depending on personality) - don't waste your time in MC

*exercisePS, to be clear I mean what is the min length of time the client engagment must be to qualify for non hotel accomodation.

in a sense it's down to you - the firm/project should only care about margin impact, so if you are able to do a short term let deal that is the same as a hotel (and doesn't lock you in for an excessive period if the project gets canned), you'll be fine. in the past that probably meant a min 3m let but post-Prescott with thousands of empty flats in the regions, you may be able to get a 1 month let

Everybody who replies to this thread, can you please provide some background to your comments? I am not being arsey, but telling me not to waste my time in MC doesn't help. Please provide some reasoning to help me make decision. One other thing: If it is the "bankers can make millions, consultants can't" argument, I am not too interested in this. My family own businesses and money isn't an issue. Thank you all.

If money isn't an issue, then don't worry about the hotels they put you up in, you can afford to simply take on your own short term lets.

Tell us more about these businesses your family owns. Be descriptive and detailed.

It'd typically be 3 months to make sense for the project to look at renting a flat/house rather than putting people up in the preferred hotel chain. However, there are ways around it for shorter-term engagements. In larger cities, you can opt for a room in an aparthotel which isn't necessarily more expensive than a regular hotel and lets you do your own cooking. Or you may be able to find a smaller hotel or even a B&B that will let you have more control over your diet (regular room service will definitely make you fat and sick). If you're stuck with a chain hotel and no control over room service, you may still be able to find a local restaurant that will cater for your needs.You do, of course, run the risk that you mark yourself out for the wrong reasons. If you've got a genuine dietary requirement, then make that clear when asking the firm to accommodate your preferences. Your colleagues will tend to think you're a bit strange or anti-social if you're in "special accommodation" of your own while they're all bunking down in the same hotel.On the exercise and sleep front, most corporate hotels will have decent gym facilities but frankly client demands can blow your sleep and exercise plans out of the water at any moment.Overall, I would make your decisions based on the assumption that you will not be able to maintain a regular routine. If you do manage it for a few weeks or months at a stretch, then you can consider it good fortune.

Is that relevant? Just because I am well off, doesn't mean I want to fund my own temporary accomodation - unless it is absolutely necessary.All of you bright people should know that people that make lots of money are generally very frugal. We don't despise free lunches.

I am a seasoned Traveller with a background in Benefits Consulting and find that towing my own mobile home to client site is the most convenient option. You could probably afford a Celebrimax 2000 while I have to settle for a twenty year old Fungus 3.

I retract. You're perfect for MC - can I recommend PA Consulting.

BoatBased on twenty years experience (including mentoring of many new grads) I would advise anyone with a preference for routine not to follow a career in management consulting, particularly if a motivating, financially rewarding alternative is available. Aside from the comments already stated about the difficulty of avoiding hotel living, there is also a machismo in MC that is part of a new grad proving themselves. It is expected that you will forfeit your life, even when it is not strictly necessary, just to prove your commitment to the firm. You can be a genius and single-handedly develop a new model that knocks a billion quid off a client bank's capital requirements, but if you do so between 9 and 5, then there will be partners who will regard you as a shirker. Spend 18 hours locked in the basement each day, just to come up with a staff allocation spreadsheet and they’ll see you as someone they can mold as they wish.The bad news is that Investment Banking is not much different – certainly not in any of the revenue generating elements. Junior staff are there to be broken and rebuilt.If you genuinely have little need for financial excesses, woud you consider applying your skills in way that might benefit mankind?

Mr. Cool wrote..."Based on twenty years experience...I would advise anyone with a preference for routine not to follow a career in management consulting, particularly if a motivating, financially rewarding alternative is available."Pretty much spot on IMHO. Routine is a very rare commodity in consulting, and the higher the notional tier of the firm, the rarer it is.The only caveat that I would add is that this is increasingly the case in other roles also (although perhaps not to the same degree) assuming that you wish to progress rapidly.EC

Thanks for yr input.I'm not sure MC is for me. I am not afraid of hard work, don't get me wrong, but I need to have a routine, especially when it comes to diet. I won't be able to function very well if I am eating rubbish food and eating on the go. I would also prefer to sleep in the same bed every evening.Thanks again.

My advice. Fk corporate servitude, bypass it alltogether. Get some money from your parents and travel around South East Asia. Play online poker if you feel like doing something, or invest in shares, but don't put too much money in either. You will have to break your routine with food, thoough, but because you'll love the new food you try, not because some bald headed pretensious pr1ck of a partner wants you to eat sh1te at your desk and keep crunching numbers at the same time.

But is that bad? Are you being serious? Is there so much pressure at grad level that you can't have an hour lunch break or leave at 17:30 at least twice a week?

Yes, I've worked at places where there is that much pressure. Right now I have a job with long lunch breaks and leave at 5, but it pays sh1t. I have to look for a new job where I will feel more like a wage slave again or spend the rest of my life being frugal. If you come from money you don't have to make these kind of choices.

I don't understand why would anyone put themselves through this? No matter how much money is in question, and at grad level it can't be too much anyway, to put yourself through this is just beyond my comprehension. I understand your concern Boat, and I am similar to you in the sense that I like to leave work at reasonable hours, and eat healthy, take long lunch breaks and have some normality in my life. I have almost given up on the idea of working at MCs and I hear IB are even worse.

You may get an hour lunch break - we used to quite frequently go to the pub for lunch on a Friday. But you could never plan it more than an hour in advance, and definitely don't rely on it.7pm was absolute best case finish, but generally it was much later. 10-11 was fairly standard, 3-4am was not common but certainly not unusual. And a couple of times we worked through the night and next morning to get a deck out the door. I work in industry now...

Hi,It depends on the package you negotiate. Where have you been looking for work? In the UAE you might be able to get all your own accommodation, travel costs, etc paid by the company, check out local recruitment agents for more information or Bigdaw

I recognise D's comments and it doesn't get any beter as you go up the ranks as you are expected to lead from the front... a mate of mine is a heavy (in every sense) partner at Deloitte and says he still pulls an all nighter about once a month

Seriously, Boat, you sound a bit pathetic. You have a first and a high opinion of yourself. Great for you. People have been very nice to you so far, and I'm not entirely sure why. Listen to Mr Cool - he talks a lot of sense. Here are my thoughts on your posts:"Is that relevant?" - You brought it up first."Just because I am well off, doesn't mean I want to fund my own temporary accomodation - unless it is absolutely necessary." - Fair, but you introduced money not being an issue, not us. "All of you bright people should know that people that make lots of money are generally very frugal." - Ah, so now we find out that you make lots of money. Interesting. In which case, why bother going in to consulting? Or IB? Just keep doing whatever it is you do that makes lots of money."I won't be able to function very well if I am eating rubbish food and eating on the go. I would also prefer to sleep in the same bed every evening." - Just how moddycoddled are you?"I'm not sure MC is for me." - I agree. "I am not afraid of hard work, don't get me wrong..." I disagree. "...but I need to have a routine, especially when it comes to diet." You sound like my granny. She wouldn't be able to hack a job in the real world either.

Dan - just how many years of being someone's b*tch do you need to be before you start believing that demanding a decent lifestyle is being like your granny? The deep insecurity and need to please that drives people like you amazes me. I agree that given Boat's requirements MC & IB are out of the question. However, there is a world of opportunity outside these narrow spheres which would still qualify as the "real world".

Oh come on - my gran is 96! Now whilst I love her dearly, I very much doubt her ability to hold down a job "in the real world" due to the fact that she has dietry requirements and a full time carer. That was the allusion, anon. Maybe this is more appropriate to the analysts reading this forum:Did anybody here watch Scrubs last night? There's an intern in the hospital, supposed to be learning his trade, but refuses to do anything difficult. Now, don't get this kid wrong, he's clever and articulate and knows his stuff. But the trust fund and picture of the wall of him with his trustee parents at the hospital's opening ceremony make him think that he's so much better than the rest and can get an easy ride. He's in for a big wake up when Dr. Cox comes across him, but just doesn't realise it yet...

Boat,No offence - but you come across as someone who's a tad over-confident, and a bit soft.If I were you, I would seek roles that place less emphasis on team-work and more on raw intellect.

I worked with Dan's granny on a big strategy job. I felt she overpromised and underdelivered.

Boat, you are absolutely right in feeling that way. I can see where you are coming from. It is the submissive "I wanna please my boss and prove I am worthy of that bonus" narrow minded "you either do MC or you are worthless piece of shite" types that just don't get it. They don't have any life even if someone offered it to them. Having said this, you really shouldn't consider going into either MC or IB. There are better alternatives anyway. Good luck.

Tell us more about these better alternatives you mention. Be detailed and descriptive.

Ok, admittedly, the wealth issue was wrong of me to bring up; I just wanted to get away from the money argument and focus on the issues surrounding lifestyle etc. My family is well off and I don't have to worry about earning millions from my career, but to suggest I do not do anything is a bit silly - I have to do some sort of work.There are a few comments suggesting I'm soft, but during the construction of my original post, I highlighted this. I admitted I was a weakling, but how anyone can disagree that I do not mind hard work when they haven't even met me is odd; uncanny, even. I want to eat healthy food, I want to spend an hour away from my desk during the day and I would prefer my own living quarters. And that equates to a person that can't work hard during the hours that they are working?!?

For whatever reason Boat, I also have dietary requirements and I not in any way soft or weak. It has been an issue in my career but I have managed to steer through it. If you family financial situation is as it is, I can think of a million more satisfying, challenging and worthwhile careers outside of consulting than just some patronising 'something for the good of mankind' effort.

OK I'll bite. "lifestyle issues" - don't have any. I may skip the odd dinner and work late but I am in control of my diet, exercise regime and travel. To address your query head on: your projects determine the living & travel arrangements, not you. If this simple fact is a dealbreaker, then yes you're not cut out for consulting. Most projects will be more flexible than people believe; you'll never get what you want right away, but deliver on a couple of huge asks and you will never be questioned on your serviced apartment.The problem with steering away from the money issue is that you are taking away the ONE rationale for being in consulting for 90% of the people on this board. Most people will compromise on diet, working hours and living arrangements to chase the £200k dream. If this is not your situation, then why are you in this industry?

many people drift into consulting because they have no clear idea of what they want to do and think it will give them a good grounding / act as a springboard to something else, which is hugely oversold. it's a mass-employment industry with a relatively low barrier to entry, but a very high barrier to subsequent long term success. it is therefore easy to drift into and then get stuck there - and anyone who looks slightly round peg in square hole is unlikely to succeed. if you have no differentiators, then go ahead and drift in - but if as it seems you do (above average numeracy, enough money to alow you to take risks) then leverage those advantages...

Ha ha.You lot work the same hours as us bankers, but we earn WAY more than you do!And we don't have to live out a suitcase either.Ha ha ha.

Hi..I never really felt I could post here but since someone mentioned the barriers to entry..I wanted to pick up on this. I have a 2:2 Hons and a D, E, E at A level. But I like to think I am brighter than that. I got in with the wrong crowd at the wrong times and neglected my education.Do you think Management consulting is out of the question? Please take this post seriously. Have any of you ever worked with someone with a poor education? Do you think I will be out of my depth?

Nicholas, here's a non cynical, straight forward answer to your question.In my view, forget Big4 or MBBB, but don't worry about that. Way over-hyped. You can carve out a perfectly good career in MC but find a niche that works for you, make a name for yourself and grow from there.Your problem is going to be getting the first gig and getting taken seriously, but trust me, if you can tell a decent story there's no reason you can't get into a second tier.You're going to get all kinds of bullsh1t answers on here from winkers taking the piece. Ignore them.

Thanks to those who provided helpful comments.I have decided to go down the Investment Banking route. I will now join either Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley.My decision was based on the travel issue.

Boat,Sorry to burst your bubble, but have you actually talked to anyone in IB? They will tell you there is a routine, and it is that you will work LONG hours, most likely 7 or 8am until 1am regularly. You will not see daylight, much less have regular exercise, and your diet will consist of whatever you can order in to your desk. As for sleep, get used to 4 or 5 hours a night. IB pays well- but you will definitely have to sacrifice a lot for it. If you want regular routine, just work for a retail bank- they have an easy life compared to MC or IB.

Indeed, well said. It's about time this mummy's boy got a wake up call.

I don't mind long hours as long as I get an hour lunch and have my own living quarters. RE sleep, I have spoken to a friend who is a M&A trainee and the latest he has been home since he started is 8pm. I have just text him and asked if he, or anybody he knows at JPM, works until 1am "regularly". His text message reply was "LOL".Sorry to burst your bubble, but is it possible that I may be more productive than you in the hours that I will be at my desk?

oh the innocence - it's not about productivity at all, it's about compulsory visibility

re: aww bless.My personal award for the shortest, most relevant post ever made on this forum goes to the previous poster.Compulsory visibility, you rock.

nicholasI have no education past 16 and joined MC as an experienced hire. However I've yet to meet anyone else in the same boat.

Yes - good phrase - compulsory visibility.Boat, You cannot treat IB as a single homogenous place to work. Certain trading jobs can only be carried out in market hours so Comp Vis will be low.Middle office can be done at all times of the day.Cap Markets and M&A will have a higher threshold.ironically IT and Change jobs can have some of the highest Comp Vis quotients, as they are an internal version of mgmt consultancy cultures.

"If I were you, I would seek roles that place less emphasis on team-work and more on raw intellect."What type of roles would these be? I'm a 3rd year w/ a 1st at a top uni and have been applying to consultancies because the work seems interesting. I have pretty good people skills but I just don't like working on teams that much - I always prefer to just do it myself

actuary. IB quant. hermit.

Professional sperm donor

I think I would need a female assistant if I took on that role and she would need to be prepared to work long hours and go beyond the call of duty!

Oh dear, the level of wit makes me weep on here sometimes. But luckily there are so many other gems to keep me going