So I see PA are in the news again - being slated for some powerpoint slide that has been described as the 'worst ever'. How can one company have so much negative press?

Why am I not surprised!

Getting slated by the Daily Mail is a badge of honour.

you got a link to the news?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1269463/Afghanistan-PowerPoint-slide-Generals-left-baffled-PowerPoint-slide.html

Could be worse.Maybe PA should have used a mind map.

‘When we understand that slide, we’ll have won XXXX'I wouldn't gloat too much, non-PAers -the quote is what 99% of your clients say or think after being blown away by your killer deck.

Did Mr Bean ever work for PA Consulting?

I saw that featured in a (very bad) design articleDidn't realise it was PA's work!

-withdraws PA Grad application-

Oh come on, every consultancy produces worse than this everyday of the week.

Its a sign chart which shows negative and positive feedback paths in a complex system. I think it works pretty well.I don't work for PA but have studied soft systems mapping

It's refreshing to see the same rubbish trotted out on here by people who don't know the facts. Is this a secret forum for tabloid journalists? If people bothered to read some of the more fact-based media they would see that it was not just a slide but a presentation to demonstrate systems dynamics in use to explain a highly complex situation. But keep it up folks, it is the idiotic and childish unfactual drivel on here that I find so entertaining.Not a corporate stooge by the way before that tired old post appears.

How come there are a small group of people who seem to be obsessed with any chance to gossip about this company? Is the average age of the members of this forum 14?

Yep - more discussion about PA's decline shouted down by the cheerleaders. Seems the old tactic of dismissing it as boring didnt work

Genuinely interested to hear more: What is would such a feedback diagram (showing negative and positive feedback paths in a complex system) be used for?I.e. would the yanks use it to understand the downstream impact of influencing one party (e.g. bombing a village wedding)? Does it have any other uses?

Yes I admit I am a corporate stooge and a company cheerleader and I am ashamed to have pretended that I was just an ordinary person who thought this forum was for people to provide useful support and guidance to others. If people want to keep going over the same boring stuff then that is a good thing and I will never complain again.

Yes I admit I am a corporate stooge and a company cheerleader and I am ashamed to have pretended that I was just an ordinary person who thought this forum was for people to provide useful support and guidance to others. If people want to keep going over the same boring stuff then that is a good thing and I will never complain again.

"would the yanks use it to understand the downstream impact of influencing one party (e.g. bombing a village wedding)? Does it have any other uses? "This is the sort of insight that PA can bring to their clients - concrete proof that bombing civilians is not a good thing to do.No wonder the organisation is growing at such a huge rate

Given PA's very significant decline in numbers over the last year or so perhaps they have been bombing their own employees!

So how many people have actually exited PA over the past year?...and why would anyone stay?

Talk about dragging out a dreary story. Who cares. People are still joining.

People are still joining???? Why, oh why would anyone join a sinking ship like PA?

Boring - who says it is sinking? The people who don't like it who are leaving anyway? Or the people who are there and enjoying it? Or the people who are joining and who have spoken to people inside and like what they hear?Or is it that none of that matters to idiots like you who just like to gossip and stir things up?

The company is down in size from 3,500 to 2,200 when I last checked on EIS.No pay rises yet again this year, and the share price is flat too.And now one of our biggest public sector jobs has been canned.Sounds like a sinking ship to me

paER - I suggest you ask a grown up to teach you how to read EIS properly. ID cards isn't one of our biggest public sector jobs.I got a payrise on 90% utilisation.

I got a 4, and 86% utilisation and got nothing

"I got a 4, and 86% utilisation and got nothing"Count yourself lucky - in our practice you couldn't even get a 4 unless you had 90% utilisation or over.Still, we're told that we had the 3rd most profitable year ever last year. Quite where these profits have gone is anyone's guess because they sure as heck haven't gone on pay rises or bonuses.

The top 50 or so partners, running large public sector jobs, have snaffled them. These are the same guys that tell us all we should be happy to have a job.

As an observer, it appears that a lot of staff are really deeply unhappy with the company. I considered joining them 2 years ago and have flirted with the idea on and off over the years. I would however like to know what I would be getting myself into. So, in order to help me really understand the day to day 'life' of a PA consultant and see whether there is any validity to the things i've heard, can you give any actual phrases that you have heard partners say, or real examples of things that they have done, which would be relevant to someone thinking of joining. But please be honest... a 'true' picture is what I'm looking for. many thanks

Which part of PA were / are you considering?I work for PA and as one would expect, the culture, work and peer group, varies from practice to practice (and within that, team to team).The reality of the situation is that there isn't a "typical" PA experience or a "typical" type of PA person - it varies hugely. Some extremely good some extremely bad. As in insider (who is actually leaving) the commentary on this site bares zero resemblence to my experience at the firm which has been largely positive.

I would have to agree.I've worked for 3 consultancies in my time (currently PA). They each have good and poorer individuals amongst their ranks.The comments on this site generally bare no resemblence to the organisation I have worked for for several years. Where opinion is offered it's fair enough. I disagree with some and agree with others - I guess thats what sites like these are all about.Then, I look at some of the 'facts' offered on here, and as a rule they are simply incorrect.

"Then, I look at some of the 'facts' offered on here, and as a rule they are simply incorrect."But that's just your opinion, surely? You're not fighting "non-facts" with "facts". Rather than the voice of sanity or moderation, you're offering more yah-boo-sucks.If you're going to get all righteous, you need to back it up with some specific - yes - fact-based analysis.

Have a phone interview with PA, have 2 years experience in energy from a facilities management company and six months internship from an investment bankReading the website Is my experience suitable for a consultant or consultant analyst positionAny advice on phone interview preparation, please help. much appreciated

Have a go for Consultant but you'll probably be offered CA. Between CA and C it's fairly arbitrary - Cs are supposed to be able to lead a workstream but in practice it's often that they've had a supportive partner etc. behind them in the promotion rounds.The other point is should you get through the interview please read the comments on this website. I left a year ago and it wasn't a particularly happy place, and it seems like it hasn't got much better. In fairness, I think e.g. Energy, DSP have a clearer value proposition and hence might avoid some of the worst, but worth getting in touch with people there to see what it's like on the ground.

Thanks for the reply, but do you have any advice for the telephone interview. If successful what happens, would there be a case study, presentation, verbal or numerical tests.please help, first time interview with a consultancy

First interview with a consultancy? Holy Tamalae Batman! Why would you chose to want to work for this outfit? PA get a very bad press on here for a good reason. Try interviewing for a decent company instead.

Can't offer you that much help with the telephone interview - it always used to be face to face 1st rounds. My guess is it will be an HR interview, so checking for generic e.g. leadership, teamwork, initiative yada yada. Google is your friend here.2nd round might be case study which will focus more on the client engagement side than a strat house numbers job. Also probably some subject matter questions around energy sector.And re-iterate the above - do your DD before joining - there are some less than happy campers there.

PA use the competency based interview approach, so do some research on this and be prepared to "prove" the competencies that you identify in your CV, i.e. describe how you have used them successfully.The following might be out of date now, as it is a few years since I went through it.The telephone interview will probably be with a PC or MC, and last between 15 and 30 minutes. During the conversation it is a good idea to concentrate on your assertiveness, as there is of course no opportunity for eye to eye contact, interaction with the interviewer. Think of some interesting questions to ask the interviewer. Not generic, but ask about their own experience of working for PA, put them on the back foot a little. Probe them. Assertiveness is good.If you get through that, then the HR interviews (with numerical, verbal reasoning tests, psychometric analysis etc) will follow, and another interview with a PC/MC. Get through this stage and a partner interview and/or case study/presentation thing will follow.I have to say, as others have, you could pick better places....

Hey,Many thanks for the advice.

Ditto the other words of warning, be very sure you want to work there. PA is not like any other organisation I have ever worked in within consultancy and industry, and I don't mean this in a good way.....please think carefully.

Going in with your eyes wide open is a top tip. You might want to ask yourself why they are inviting you in through a turnstile through which a lot of people are going the other way. I wouldn't worry about the C or CA issue, if you keep your nose clean tat that level promotion is usually OK.I t is at PC and MC level that a mismatch occurs between what you are supposed to achieve and the level of control you have over your own destiny

Unless it'a a less resort, stay well clear. People are leaving in droves.