I'm having a real hard time deciding between two career paths post-MBA. I indicated in my applications that I want to do either one of these, but now that I've been accepted, I really need to decide which one to pursue. My ultimate goal is to go into industry, where I can leverage my engineering background, like Google or Apple or something. I'm especially interested in the rotational leadership programs. That said, some of my friends (non-MBA PhD folks) are going to McKinsey, which makes me want to go to M/B/B, too. So let's list some pros and cons that I can think of. Top-tier consulting Pros: Management consulting experience, pedigree, higher pay, network, lots of exit opportunities Cons: Bad hours, lots of quantitative work that I may not enjoy, but it's only for a couple of years Industry job (leadership program) Pros: Better hours, something I might enjoy, get to climb the corporate ladder sooner, more opportunities to leverage my engineering background Cons: Worse pay, bumping along in the leadership program for a few years One downside to both of these things is that by the time I finish consulting gig/rotational program, I'll be 34'ish. I'm definitely leaning towards an industry job, though, since the pros seem to outweigh the cons, and I think I will be more established if I go the industry job route. Can someone please make some suggestions on rotational leadership programs with tech-related companies? Thanks in advance!

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Industry job or consulting?

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GoBruin

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10 Jun 2010, 21:14

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milias

GoBruin

Milias, the interview slots are open on Ross' website. Looks like next year would be a good year, BCG has opened up 30% more interview slots, Bain opened up 15% more slots.

Take a look. Looks like we can bid at most of them EXCEPT McK.

Awesome! Can you provide a link to the interview site? Thanks!

My Impact, under interview bidding.

skaballet

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12 Jun 2010, 19:58

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GoBruin

One word of caution, the number of interview slots are not set in stone and are subject to change until the day of the interview. Hopefully this won't happen but last year a few firms reduced (sometimes significantly) the number of interview slots very close to the interview date.

milias

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12 Jun 2010, 20:04

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skaballet

Thanks, skaballet. The lady from OCD did mention this in her presentation at the Ross Rendezvous.

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17 Jun 2010, 07:03

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AlexMBAApply

In any case, long story short (regardless of whether you're married or single) - consulting is a great place if you're still unsure about your career goals, whereas industry is a better bet if you know what you want.

Excellent post!

milias

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If I already decided that I'm not going into MC, would it still make sense for me to participate in the MC recruiting process (for internship or FT)? Is there experience to be gained? Would MC firms be able to tell right off the bat that you're not really interested in MC? And if by luck of the draw, you actually end up landing a top-tier consulting gag, would you turn it down?

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22 Jun 2010, 02:43

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milias

You might want to go through the recruitment tab in iMPACT and read the terms and conditions (including penalties for engaging in recruitment process for experience). Apart from that consult the MBA2's who should be able to give you a reality check.

milias

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Roger

LOL! Yea, after I posted that, I checked out the bidding page in iMPACT and saw the terms that we have to agree to. I guess we aren't allowed to do that.

skaballet

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22 Jun 2010, 06:58

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You would not want to do that. Consulting interviews involve way too much prep to go through them just for the sake of the experience. That would be crazy. It's valid if you want to just do consulting for the summer and not full time, but not if you know you'll just turn an offer down anyways. Focus your time, energy, and efforts on the career path you really want. It will be time much better spent.

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22 Jun 2010, 09:56

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Slight diverson but tangential:

I've heard from many sources that its easier to get a consulting FT offer than a consulting summer offer.

What do people do in the summer that helps them get a FT gig if they strike out for a summer gig? Do they go into industry in summer?

GoBruin

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22 Jun 2010, 10:02

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unhedged

Yes, generally something in the industry route like Amazon, Apple, AMEX types. But if you look at it, usually the recruitment numbers for FT are better than the Intern numbers for consulting / IB

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It is probably because it is way more difficult to train and staff a summer intern consultant than a full-time one. In Banks, bodies are always helpful. With consulting, if you don't have the right project lengths running at the time your summer may have a pretty unrewarding time (no project completion, arriving half way through or whatever). Plus consultants like to pick up people with experience elsewhere. Banks want you to prove that you are prepared to work stupid over anything, so the summer helps more there.

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Just a quick suggestion. I was looking for a guide on rotational/leadership programs, but couldn't find one. If a guide doesn't already exist, would it be possible for one of the mods to create one? Thanks!

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06 Jul 2010, 16:23

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milias

That is very hard. If anything most of the GM programs of some sort of Rotation or Leadership program (even if it doesn't rotate). It's probably easier to name the ones that don't rotate which I can only think of Apple right now.

GE has multiple rotations programs:
Corporate Audit Staff
Edicson Engineering Develpment Program
Human Resources Leadership Program
Experienced Commercial Leadership Porgram
GE Healthcare Quality Leadership Program

Amazon has:
Human Resources Leadership Development Program
Pathways/Operations Rotational Program
as well as Leadership programs in:
Area Management/operations -- Product Management - Financial Analyst.

Eli lilly has:
Lilly Leadership Development Programs - 2 year rotational for marketing/Finance/Human Resources.

Honestly this would just become a rediculious list. Milias, you should probably figure out what sector you want before you looking into rotational programs.

milias

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10 Jul 2010, 18:39

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milias

Thanks for the reply, GoBruin. I'm mainly looking at rotational programs in GM/marketing/strategy/business development. I would like to be able to leverage my background in engineering. So I'm thinking industries such as high-tech, energy, sustainability, etc. I'm trying to stay away from software/internet-related companies. I want to work for a company where manufacturing/operations is a major component.

I was looking at oil and gas companies, but I'm still struggling with the ethical part of it, and the life commitment kinda scares me. Ideally, I want to work in the sustainable energy field, but the thing is that most of those companies are fairly young, and I don't know if they have gotten around to developing mature roational programs yet. I was looking at GE, but the ones listed on their website don't look like they're best fits for me - could be wrong, but I'll need to find out more about them.

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12 Jul 2010, 10:39

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milias

I was looking at oil and gas companies, but I'm still struggling with the ethical part of it, and the life commitment kinda scares me. Ideally, I want to work in the sustainable energy field, but the thing is that most of those companies are fairly young, and I don't know if they have gotten around to developing mature roational programs yet. I was looking at GE, but the ones listed on their website don't look like they're best fits for me - could be wrong, but I'll need to find out more about them.

Random rant, unrelated to you but I don't think working for oil and gas is unethical. If people have a problem with oil and gas then they should just not drive, not heat their houses, don't turn on electricity, disconnect there internet, throw out there phones. In the end oil and gas run the world. They provide a service, and make the world go round. End Rant.

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18 Jul 2010, 21:48

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i take it none of these rotational programs do internships, only full time offers 2nd year?

GoBruin

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19 Jul 2010, 10:03

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ayz

i take it none of these rotational programs do internships, only full time offers 2nd year?

Many if not most do. But summer really wouldn't be a rotation, you just go intern for the summer. So it's just interning at a GM fortune 500 type deal. then afterwards you either go into GM for a specific position, or you go into a rotation program. It really matters which company. I think for like United Airlines at least they have both types.