Pros
- Camaraderie: teams pull together to help each other out and keep things feeling fun even when they are busy. There's a great social scene beyond the core work.
- Less corporate feel: there is a higher degree of transparency and empowerment then at larger firms. Its easy to reach out to people in different offices at different levels for ideas and support. A lot less political.
- Exposure: you work in different industries, on various service lines and a lot of internal initiatives to modernize the business.
- Opportunity: good work stands out more and people are more empowered to engage in activities that in other firms might be reserved for the senior members of staff.
- Partnership with clients: you really feel like a trusted adviser to clients and form a strong relationship with them working to realize their vision.
Like all consulting it takes a certain type of person to excel. Its an intense, high pace environment at times where, if you don't have a positive problem-solving mindset it can be stressful but if you enjoy challenges and want to make an impact it can be very rewarding.
Cons
- Dealing with ambiguity: the work can be less straight forward and structured then it would be at older more established firms. Your often generating new IP, or closely tailoring it to specific clients context and needs rather then recycling established material and templates.
- Less brand recognition: you might find yourself explaining who the firm is and what they do more often then if you were with a Big 4 or Top 3 firm.